Rescuing drylands: a project for the world

Environmental hazards menace life-support systems in drylands worldwide; science and technology can play an important role in enabling the habitats and their people to cope with these. Desertification is a global issue, comparable to other generally-recognized global problems such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, and epidemic diseases. And desertification can be stopped, if science and technology are mobilized in the service of a determined international effort. Three global initiatives are essential: (1) a drought early-warning system; (2) international desertification research centers; and (3) an international program to develop water resource technologies.