Shared experiences can help combat land degradation: Javadekar

Greater Noida, Sep 2 (IANS) Land degradation is a local problem, hence the solutions have to be found locally but the best practices can be shared globally, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said on Monday.

"There is science, technology and international experience that can be shared between the countries that can benefit all the nations, the minister said in his inaugural address at the 14th conference of parties (COP14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

"We need not re-invent. But we can share our good or bad experiences, our successes or failures and therefore we can leapfrog to a good start in each country. And therefore this COP14 is extremely important," he added.

Be it climate change, desertification or bio-diversity destruction, human action has played a leading role in disturbing the balance of nature.

"If human actions have caused some damage, positive human actions will undo that and we will make world a better place for the future generations. This is the theme around which the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification works," Javadekar explained.

Nearly 100 ministers from across the globe are participating in the convention. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the convention on September 9. "There will be a thorough discussion to understand the problem and to learn from each other," Javadekar said.

"We expect some good outcomes that will be notified in the Delhi Declaration that will form the future course of action for the countries. We expect that there is more pro-active co-operation," he said.

He added that for 200 years, humans have indulged in damaging the environment and we have to now be pro-active in the restoration process, which is the mission of this COP 14.