Capacity Building in and Mainstreaming of Sustainable Land Management (SLM)
Sustainable land management (SLM) involves the use of terrestrial resources and ecosystems e.g. soils, plants to provide goods and services e.g. food, drinking water, fuel, timber, without detriment to the long-term productive potential of these resources and their environmental functions. SLM is critical to minimising and rehabilitating the effects of land degradation, and ensuring optimal use of resources for sustainable development and poverty alleviation.
Underlying causative factors of land degradation, and environmental mismanagement in general, are poverty and undervaluing of natural resources. In both cases people focus on immediate economic gain irrespective of damage to the same resources they are dependent on. The latter in particular promotes inefficient use and wastage of resources.
Causes of or contributors to land degradation are many and varied, including:
- Clearance of vegetative cover
- Soil erosion by wind or water
- Natural conditions e.g. soil type, topography, weather/climatic conditions such as high intensity rainfall, natural hazards
- Invasive species
- Pollution
- Drought
- Unsustainable agricultural practices
- Habitat alteration e.g. urban expansion
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) entered into force on 26 December 1996. It aims to promote effective action through local programmes and international partnerships. Under the LDC-SIDS Portfolio Project for SLM, the GEF has helped to fund these projects which are being executed in 6 countries (Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) all of whom have ratified the UNCCD. They receive support of US$500,000 each.
The projects aim to mitigate land degradation by using SLM principles, thus maintaining the ecological integrity, stability and productivity of their terrestrial resources. Over a period of 3 years they intend to strengthen capacity in government, civil society and private sector institutions by focusing on:
- Integrating SLM into national development policies, plans and regulatory frameworks
- Developing institutional and individual capacities for SLM
- Developing capacities for knowledge management in support of SLM, including a computerised Land Resources Information System
- Investment planning and resource mobilisation for implementation of SLM interventions
Country Updates
Barbados
No activitiy
Dominica
Aug 2009 - Legislative review in progress; preparing public education component.
Feb 2009 - Synergies workshop held to identify ways of harmonising the various environmental initiatives underway in Dominica being managed by UNDP, and others relating to SLM.
Dec 2008 - Consultations held with Ministry of Agriculture to identify synergies with other projects.
Aug 2008 - Inception Workshop held.
Grenada
Aug 2009 - Preparing to conduct a gap and needs analysis for the sectors and departments involved in land use management.
St. Kitts-Nevis
No activity
St. Lucia
Feb 2009 - "Harmonising Environmental Initiatives in St. Lucia: A Synergies Approach" workshop held to identify ways of linking the various initiatives underway in St. Lucia being managed by UNDP, and others relating to SLM.
Sep 2008 - Inception Workshop held.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Aug 2009 - Preparing to commence the public education component.
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