The United Nations is launching the Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification (2010-2020) today, 16 August 2010 , a 10-year long effort to raise awareness and action to improve the protection and management of the world's drylands, home to a third of the world's population and which face serious economic and environmental threats.

Efforts have been made to address land degradation and while there have been positive outcomes, more action is needed to arrest and reverse land degradation and creeping desertification worldwide.

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