[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 86 (Thursday, June 17, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7238-S7239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PROTECTING THE EARTH'S SOIL FERTILITY JUNE 17--WORLD DAY TO COMBAT 
                            DESERTIFICATION

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, the gradual but accelerating loss 
of soil fertility and productive agricultural land worldwide may not be 
headline-grabbing news. But it is the kind of threat that, if not 
addressed, will exacerbate global problems of hunger, poverty, 
migration and conflict over local scarce land and water resources in 
the 21st century.
  The process of soil erosion and severe land degradation, often 
referred to as ``desertification,'' results from over-cultivation, 
deforestation, improper irrigation and drought. Most Americans are 
aware of the phenomenon from our own ``dust bowl'' in the 1930's when 
hundreds of thousands of farmers were forced to abandon their exhausted 
land. Today, dust bowls are occurring in more than 90 countries with an 
alarming annual loss of 10 million acres of productive agricultural 
land worldwide. Because of our own successful soil and water 
conservation programs, U.S. businesses, universities and non-
governmental organizations have a crucial role to play in providing 
technical expertise and support to communities around the world that 
are fighting land degradation.
  Today is World Day to Combat Desertification, which marks the fifth 
anniversary of a coordinated international initiative to address the 
land degradation problem. In recognition of this observance, I would 
like to share a recent Christian Science Monitor op-ed piece on the 
seriousness of land degradation in Africa written by His Excellency 
Mamadou Mansour Seck, Senegal's Ambassador to the United States.
  I ask that the article be printed in the Record.
  The article follows:

  Shrinking Forests--Will U.S. Aid in the Greening of World's ``Dust 
                                Bowls''?

                       (By Mamadou Mansour Seck)

       As a young pilot 40 years ago, flying over my country of 
     Senegal and across Africa's Sahel region, I remember looking 
     down on vast stretches of green fields and forests. Today the 
     view is of a yellowish brown landscape that's growing barren.
       Like many African countries, Senegal is losing precious 
     agricultural land to a process of soil erosion and 
     degradation known as ``desertification.'' It occurs when land 
     that receives little or irregular rainfall is overcultivated, 
     overgrazed, deforested, or otherwise stripped of its soil-
     fixing vegetative cover.
       Worldwide, with more than 10 million acres of farm land 
     becoming unproductive each year, ``dust bowls'' are 
     multiplying and raising legitimate concern about our planet's 
     capacity to feed its rapidly growing population.
       In Africa and elsewhere, desertification fuels a downward 
     cycle of poverty and hunger, which leads to migration from 
     rural areas to overcrowded urban centers including those in 
     North America and Europe. Desertification can lead to 
     conflict over scarce resources, threatening to undermine the 
     progress Africa is making toward democracy and economic 
     reform.
       But desertification is not inevitable. The U.S. can play a 
     larger role in stemming the tide by ratifying the Convention 
     to Combat Desertification, already ratified by 150 other 
     countries.
       The 1994 Convention focuses on food security and poverty 
     reduction. It also promotes African self-reliance, a shift 
     from aid to trade, the sustainable use of natural resources, 
     and the benefits of democratic participation.
       The U.S. signed the treaty in 1994, and President Clinton, 
     during his trip last year to Africa, reaffirmed U.S. support 
     for it. But

[[Page S7239]]

     U.S. interests in an economically healthy and politically 
     stable Africa would be well served by ratification by the 
     Senate.
       The desertification convention provides a coordinated 
     international framework to channel technical and financial 
     resources to communities where the fight against the 
     interrelated problems of desertification and poverty must be 
     waged.
       Under the treaty, developing countries must engage local 
     communities and organizations of farmers, herders, women, and 
     youth in a ``bottom up'' process to devise national action 
     programs.
       Senegal and other desertified countries around the world 
     are now active in this joint public-private planning process. 
     Senegal's capital, Dakar, recently hosted the Second 
     Conference of Parties to the Convention, attended by more 
     than 140 countries.
       Much more progress could be made with the help of the U.S., 
     which has successful community-based soil and water 
     conservation programs and is recognized as one of the world's 
     leaders on fighting desertification. The technical resources 
     of American universities, research institutions, and 
     businesses are urgently needed in the Convention-generated 
     partnerships with communities around the world.
       Unchecked, desertification will continue to foster food 
     crises, poverty, conflict, migration, floods and other 
     environmental disasters. No nation is immune from the 
     consequences.
       Africa's 750 million people look to the U.S. for leadership 
     on many issues, and desertification is one of the closest to 
     our hearts. We look forward to welcoming the U.S. as a full 
     partner to the convention.

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