But Zafar Adeel of the United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health, an expert on water management and a leading author of the report, warned that more needed to be done to combat desertification.

CNN: Growing deserts 'a global problem'

It was first developed and launched by UNESCO in 2000 in collaboration with the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to respond to the need to raise public awareness of this pressing environmental problem.

UNESCO: UK National Commission for UNESCO :: Education materials from UNESCO and partner organisations

Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

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