Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06PARIS4206, UNESCO: OVERVIEW OF UNESCO'S WORK ON DESERTIFICATION AND

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06PARIS4206.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06PARIS4206 2006-06-19 15:56 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Paris
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS PARIS 004206 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM USMISSION TO UNESCO PARIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/UNESCO KEVIN PILZ, OES BARRIE RIPIN, OES/STATS ANDREW 
W. REYNOLDS, OES/ETC ELEANORE FOX 
STATE FOR NSC GENE WHITNEY 
STATE FOR NSF INTERNATIONAL OFFICE ROSE GOMBAY AND DAVID SCHINDEL 
STATE FOR NASA ELIZABETH WILLIAMS 
STATE FOR USAID FRANKLIN MOORE, MARY ROWEN, CHIP BARBER, AND MIKE 
MCGAHUEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KS AORC TSPL EAID SENV SOCI UNESCO KSCI
SUBJECT: UNESCO: OVERVIEW OF UNESCO'S WORK ON DESERTIFICATION AND 
ARID ZONES 
 
REFTEL: 05 PARIS 05855 
 
1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY.  At a June 13 information session, 
UNESCO secretariat experts discussed the continuing progress the 
organization has made with regard to desertification and arid zones. 
 After outlining UNESCO's history of action in this area, panelists 
presented some of UNESCO's current programs to combat 
desertification, including the International Hydrological Program's 
(IHP's) Water and Development Information for Arid Lands (G-WADI) 
program, a new Teaching Resource Kit for teachers in arid regions, 
and plans for ecotourism.  The presentation, part of the "60 Minutes 
to Convince" series celebrating UNESCO's 60th year, was timed to 
precede the June 19-21 conference "The Future of Drylands," that 
will take place in Tunis, Tunisia, to mark the International Year of 
Deserts and Desertification.  END INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY. 
 
COMBATING DESERTIFICATION AND CONSERVING WATER 
 
2.  Thomas Schaaf, of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, 
highlighted UNESCO's progress in combatting desertification over the 
past 50 years.  He discussed how UNESCO's focus has shifted from 
just protecting the natural environment to evaluating human needs as 
well.  UNESCO in recent years has also focused on information 
exchange, trying to replicate successes in one dryland area in 
others.  To that end, Schaaf discussed the successes of the 
Sustainable Management of Marginal Drylands (SUMAMAD) project, a 
program that strives for sustainable conservation in the Arab States 
and Asia.  Another successful sustainable development project lauded 
by the panelists (all from the UNESCO Secretariat) was the IHP's 
G-WADI program, whose goal is to create a global community to 
strengthen global capacity to manage water resources in arid and 
semi-arid areas. Annukka Lipponen, of the Division of Water 
Sciences, presented this program. 
 
NEW INITIATIVES: TEACHER RESOURCE KITS AND ECOTOURISM 
 
3.  Panelist Helene Gille, of the Division of Ecological and Earth 
Sciences, described an interesting new project at MAB: Teacher 
Resource Kits, designed to help educate young people about arid and 
semi-arid environments. The lessons are for schoolchildren ages 6-15 
and are meant to be incorporated into a normal curriculum.  The kits 
are specifically targeted for teachers in arid and semi-arid areas, 
so children will not only understand the environment in which they 
live, but also in the long run will be able to combat 
desertification and land degradation.  There are two different kits: 
one for dryland areas and the other for mountainous ones.  So far, 
kits in nine languages have been distributed in over 40 countries. 
 
 
4.  Panelist Herve Barre, of the Division of Cultural Policies and 
Intercultural Dialogue, discussed the potential for ecotourism in 
desert and arid regions.  He spoke of the rich natural and cultural 
heritage in the desert, and called ecotourism tourism's "new 
frontier."  He also spoke of ecotourism's potential to promote local 
economies and sustainable development.  One concern raised about 
ecotourism in the desert was that water should not be diverted from 
the local population to satisfy the needs of tourists. 
OLIVER