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EXPERT REPORT

Drylands are richer than you think
Drylands cover more than 40% of the earth’s land surface and are home to more than a third of the world’s population, many of whom are the poorest of the poor. Found on every continent, drylands are the arid or semi-arid regions where rainfall is scarce and soils are less fertile. Despite their size, population and their importance for global sustainability, drylands receive scant attention on the international stage and awareness about their great value is low.
> Read more
> Listen to interview

Gonzalo Oviedo
IUCN’ Senior Social Policy Advisor

DID YOU KNOW?
. Two and a half billion people (including 40% of Africans, 39% of Asians and 30% of South Americans) live in drylands.
. In Sudan, dryland forests contribute 70% of the national energy balance.
. In India, 45% of agricultural production takes place in the country’s dryland areas.
> Test your knowledge

THE WORD
"Drylands "
Areas with low annual precipitation, prolonged periods of heat, low relative humidity and high rates of evaporation; they include zones classified as hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid. Drylands occur on every continent, and include such diverse ecosystems as true deserts, savannahs and tropical dry forest.

SPOTLIGHT ON

A new vision for drylands

biofuels

We have an opportunity to reduce widespread poverty and achieve sustainable ecosystems in our drylands, by better supporting dryland peoples to manage them sustainably.
> Read full story

How much are Botswana’s drylands worth?

palestine

More than 80 percent of Botswana is drylands and three-quarters of the total land area is covered by the Kalahari sands.
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> Download report PDF

ON THE GROUND

Help for Pakistan’s poorest

SAVA

Balochistan is the largest of Pakistan’s four provinces. With its harsh climate and landscape, it is the poorest and least populated.
> Full story
> Download report PDF

Swaziland’s natural future

	The natural products industry is growing exponentially in Southern Africa. A major factor in the increase in revenue is organic and fair trade certification. > Read full story > IUCN Natural Futures programme
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WHAT'S ON?

UN Convention to Combat Desertification
21 Sep- 2 Oct, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Agroforestry The Convention emphasizes action to promote sustainable development at the community level.
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RESOURCES

Publications
The nature of drylands: diverse ecosystems, diverse solutions.
facts_trends This magazine features over 30 articles on drylands from IUCN Members and Commission experts around the world.
> Read more

Dryland Opportunities: A new paradigm for people, ecosystems and development
New IUCN drylands publication to be launched on 22 September.
> More information

PHOTO GALLERY

Drylands
> View images
photo gallery

OTHER NEWS

Deadly frog fungus targeted by amphibian experts
The world’s leading amphibian experts have come together and for the first time identified two major conservation initiatives to stop amphibians going extinct.
> Read full story

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IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) © 2009 IUCN helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.
Photo credits@ IUCN: Header : Matthieu Bernardon. A new vision for drylands: Joelle Dufour. Botswana: Brigitte Schuster. UN convention: David Hubermann.Pakistan: IUCN. Photo gallery: E.Barrow.