干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The interagency project on Sustainable Management of Marginal Drylands (SUMAMAD) is an international, coordinated research initiative involving farmers, pastoralists and scientists undertaking participatory research. With support from the Flemish Government, this project includes a network of research teams at eight Study sites in marginal dryland areas in North Africa and Western Asia (UNESCO, 2004). The project approach, developed through a collaborative effort between UNESCO, UNU-INWEH and ICARDA, focuses on supporting local populations in their efforts to use their natural resources in a sustainable manner (Adeel et al, 2002).

Over the past year, a compilation of sustainable management approaches and technologies - indigenous, adaptive and innovative - has been made at each of the participating locations. These have included practices for water management., rangeland rehabilitation, and sustainable Cultivation of crops, trees and livestock (King, 2006a). Sustainable management approaches are supported by complementary alternative income-generating activities in order to reduce the pressures caused by overdependence on natural resources. Exploration and testing of these management approaches is being undertaken by the Study teams and local communities with a view to combating environmental degradation, increasing dryland agricultural productivity, enhancing resource conservation and contributing to local livelihoods. Success stories reported so far have been shared across the project network, leading to an exchange of knowledge and expertise, cross-fertilization of ideas and further adoption Of such innovative approaches in workplans produced by the research team leaders for the coming year.