@article{fdi:010055675,
  title = {{F}ertile ground ? {O}ptions for a science-policy platform for land},
  author = {{T}homas, {R}. {J}. and {A}khtar-{S}chuster, {M}. and {S}tringer, {L}. {C}. and {M}arques, {M}. {J}. and {E}scadafal, {R}ichard and {A}braham, {E}. and {E}nne, {G}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {U}nited {N}ations {C}onvention to {C}ombat {D}esertification ({UNCCD}) remains the only '{R}io {C}onvention' that is not well served by the scientific community and lacks the equivalent of an {IPCC} ({I}ntergovernmental {P}anel on {C}limate {C}hange) or the proposed {IPBES} ({I}ntergovernmental {S}cience-{P}olicy {P}latform on {B}iodiversity and {E}cosystem {S}ervices). {T}he mounting pressures on land (and water) that can drive its degradation include population growth and associated food security concerns, over use, creeping degradation, competition between agriculture and renewable energy production, carbon sequestration and land acquisition by foreign entities. {T}hese environmental and human pressures clearly require urgent policy attention. {W}e report the results of a survey of the scientific community on the need and possible options for a science-policy platform that focuses on land. {T}he paper then describes the remit and role of an independent platform, the benefits and possible modalities that are inclusive and build on existing institutional structures. {B}oth short-term and longer term options are presented that can respond to immediate needs while establishing a mechanism that can handle the interacting and sometimes overlapping aspects of land covered by other {M}ultilateral {E}nvironment {A}greements ({MEA}s). {S}hort-term options include establishing a platform via an ad hoc working group within the proposed {IPBES} that would feed its outputs into the {UNCCD} and other relevant {MEA}s. {L}ong-term options include a more polycentric approach, establishing a network of networks that could evolve into a fully-fledged {I}ndependent {P}latform on {L}and {D}egradation given sufficient support, interest and leadership from the international and donor communities.},
  keywords = {{L}and degradation ; {D}esertification ; {S}cience-policy interface ; {G}lobal environmental change},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}nvironmental {S}cience and {P}olicy},
  volume = {16},
  numero = {},
  pages = {122--135},
  ISSN = {1462-9011},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.envsci.2011.11.002},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010055675},
}