„Desertification has far reaching costs to humanity and poses an ever increasing global threat.“
_{^{Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations}}

Drylands comprise 40 per cent of the Earth’s land surface. The degradation of soils and vegetation affects 12 million km² of drylands. This is a result of human overexploitation of nature and excessively intensive farming. More than one billion people in over 100 countries around the globe are suffering the consequences. The loss of fertile soils endangers these people’s livelihoods and food security – and indeed their very survival.

GTZ supports more than 180 projects worldwide that aim to make sustainable use of natural resources in drylands. GTZ’s Convention Project to Combat Desertification (CCD Project) is a major player in this endeavour.

• Acting on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), we have supported the drafting of National Action Programmes to combat desertification, and maintain close links with other projects concerned with practical implementation worldwide. We have gained a reputation in international forums engaged in implementing the Desertification Convention as a competent and “down-to-earth” advisor.
• Together with other donors, we have launched an initiative for sustainable land management in Central Asia.
• We contribute our wealth of experience to international working groups. As part of this work, we have developed tools with which to review the effectiveness of National Action Programmes.