Policy makers as well as scientists have started to acquire an honest appreciation of the possibilities of reducing the wastage of materials which could be profitably utilized for improving or maintaining soil productivity. In addition, the great opportunities offered by making more efficient use of the potentials of biological nitrogen fixation in farming systems are now fully recognized. A number of recommendations and suggested guidelines were made by the various Working Groups during the two-week Workshop.

Au cours des deux dernières décennies, la situation alimentaire et

agricole en Afrique s'est radicalement détériorée. En moyenne, pour chaque personne habitant dans la région, l’accès aux produits alimentaires est actuellement beaucoup plus difficile qu'il y a dix ans, et les normes alimentaires moyennes sont tombées en-deçà, des besoins nutritionnels.

FAO organized an Expert Consultation in April 1977 with participants from countries consuming both a high and low quantity of fertilizer, to identify possibilities for a more intensive and rational utilization of the valuable plant nutrients in mineral and organic fertilizers, with emphasis on conditions in developing countries. The conclusions reached should serve interested countries as a guide for follow-up activities in the more rational use of plant nutrients at the research and practical level.

The objective of the OCAM, established en the basis of the solidarity existing between its member States is, in keeping with the spirit of the OAU, to strengthen co-operation and solidarity between African States and Mauritius, in order to accelerate their economic, social, technological and cultural development.

This document focuses on the regional and sub regional intergovernmental organizations in Africa for the development of food and agriculture. There are about 50 sub regional and regional African intergovernmental organizations engaged wholly or partially in the development of food and agriculture. Some of these organizations have in turn sponsored interstate enterprises or organizations, which are run either under their own jurisdiction or independently.

This manual is a translation and adaptation 11Le sol - comment conserver le sol? ", published by the ri-Service- Afrique of the lnstitut africain pour le developpement economique et social (INADES).

This publication has been prepared as a background paper in view of the UN conference on the human environment that was held in Stockholm in 1972. This background document had contribution from UNESCO, IAEA and WHO. While the demand for land for land increases at a very rapid rate through population growth, technological progress and industrial development, soil resources remain fixed. The maintenance of their productivity is therefore of paramount importance.

Production of guidelines for best sustainable land management (SLM) technologies and approaches in Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA) has been part of TerrAfrica’s programme during 2009-2010. These guidelines and case studies are intended to help create a framework for investment related to SLM in SSA. The particular aim of these guidelines is to identify, analyse, discuss and disseminate promising SLM practices - including both technologies and approaches - in the light of the latest trends and new opportunities.

The WOCAT-LADA-DESIRE mapping tool is based on the original WOCAT mapping questionnaire (WOCAT, 2007). It has been expanded to pay more attention to issues such as biological and water degradation, it also places more emphasis on direct and socio-economic causes of these phenomena, including their impacts on ecosystem services. It evaluates what type of land degradation is actually happening where and why and what is being done about it in terms of sustainable land management (SLM) in the form of a questionnaire.

This document is the first part of a two part manual on local level assessment of land degradation and sustainable land management:
? Part 1 ? Planning and Methodological Approach, Analysis and Reporting
? Part 2 ? Field Methodology and Tools

This document is the second part of a two part manual on local level assessment of land degradation and sustainable land management:

? Part 1 ? Planning and Methodological Approach, Analysis and Reporting

? Part 2 ? Field Methodology and Tools

The two parts should be used together as Part 1 provides the background information for the conduct of the methods and tools that are provided in Part 2.

With the continual rise of global commodity prices and increasing population pressures worldwide, the future of agriculture is looking increasingly unstable. As a result of this escalating demand and intensification of unsustainable agricultural techniques, natural resources are facing an increasing threat of depletion.