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Journal of Arid Land  2020, Vol. 12 Issue (3): 538-544    DOI: 10.1007/s40333-020-0056-z
Report     
Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (G-DEP): Africa consultative meeting report
PENG Yu1,2, FU Bojie2,3, ZHANG Linxiu2,4, YU Xiubo1,2, FU Chao1,4, Salif DIOP5, Hubert HIRWA1,2, Aliou GUISSE6, LI Fadong1,2,*()
1 State Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
2 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3 State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
4 International Ecosystem Management Partnership, United Nations Environment Programme, Beijing 100101, China
5 National Academy of Sciences of Senegal, P.O. Box 4344 Dakar RP, Senegal
6 Faculty of Science and Technology, University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar, P.O. Box 5005 Dakar-Fann, Senegal
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Abstract  

In order to enhance and restore the ecosystems of natural capital in African arid regions, the Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (G-DEP) consultative meeting was hosted in Dakar, Senegal, from 23 to 25 September 2019. This paper details the first African meeting of the G-DEP. Consultative meeting reviewed preceding dryland ecosystems case studies, identified vulnerable arid and semi-arid regions, and proposed sustainable solutions to problems. It also identified the successes and failures of previous attempts to improve vulnerable ecosystems and ultimately formed an action plan to improve these attempts. Climate, ecosystems, and livelihoods for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) for Sahara and Sahel, and China-Africa cooperation on science, technology, and innovation are three extra main sections concerned of the meeting. Separately, more specific topics as the complicated relationship between these natural processes and human activity, including pastoralism, soil restoration, and vegetation regenerate techniques, were fully discussed. Consultative meeting also identified the positive effects international collaboration can have on dryland regions, specifically in the capacity of sharing information, technology, and innovation on purpose to develop a joint proposal for long-term research programs in African arid and semi-arid areas. Moreover, meetings that review the progress made on ecosystem management for the sustainable livelihoods in Africa, identification of priority areas, and the development and implementation of ecosystem programs for proper research and collaboration in African arid and semi-arid zones, have been proposed as strategic recommendations to enhance the global partnership for sustainable development. Furthermore, as the outcomes of the workshop, there are three steps proposed to handle African dryland climate changes, several aspects suggested to solve current dilemmas of the GGWI, and a series of actions recommended for G-DEP related activities in Africa.



Key wordsAfrica      Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (G-DEP)      dryland      ecosystem      consultation      Sustainable Development Goals      Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI)     
Received: 30 April 2020      Published: 10 May 2020
Corresponding Authors: Fadong LI     E-mail: lifadong@igsnrr.ac.cn
About author: *Corresponding author: LI Fadong (E-mail: lifadong@igsnrr.ac.cn)
Cite this article:

PENG Yu, FU Bojie, ZHANG Linxiu, YU Xiubo, FU Chao, Salif DIOP, Hubert HIRWA, Aliou GUISSE, LI Fadong. Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (G-DEP): Africa consultative meeting report. Journal of Arid Land, 2020, 12(3): 538-544.

URL:

http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1007/s40333-020-0056-z     OR     http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2020/V12/I3/538

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