The Convention to Combat Desertification: Lessons learned for sustainable development Autor Chasek P.S. Título de serie The Journal of Environment & Development | Vol. 6(2); 147 - 169; 24 p. Fecha 1997 Fuente IUCN (ID: ANA-060804) Editor | Lugar de publicación University of California | San Diego, CA, USA Idioma Inglés Campo de aplicación Internacional Materia Tierra y suelos Palabra clave Conservación de suelos/mejoramiento de suelos Desertificación Área geográphica Africa Resumen The 1994 UN Convention to Combat Desrtification is considered to be the first ' sustainable development ' treaty because it considers economic and social developmentt needs while also addressing a serious environmental problem. The challenge during the negotiations was to ensure that the convention addresses socioeconomic concernss without losing sight of its mandate to combat desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa. This article examines how delegates grappled with the multifaceted causes of desertification within the context of sustainable development, which is viewed quite differently by developed and developing countries, and identifies some lessons that can be applied to future negotiations. These lessons address the difficulty of incorporating the cross-sectoral nature of environmental issues in a legally binding instrument, implementing the goals of sustainable development within the context of current North-South relations, and working under the principle of ' common but differentiated responsibilities '' for global environmental degradation