INVESTIGADORES
ABRAHAM Elena Maria
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Drylands: Time for Solutions
Autor/es:
ABRAHAM, E.
Lugar:
Marsella
Reunión:
Otro; 6th World Water Forum, Special Focus Session: High Level Paning Water Scarcity in Arid Areas; 2012
Institución organizadora:
IRD (Institute of Research for Development), Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall (APGMV) and the Center for Strategic Studies and Management Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil (CGEE)
Resumen:
By this ?time for solutions? for treating the challenges and opportunities afforded by drylands, we mean solutions that arise from knowledge, international cooperation and empowerment of local communities and governments. The first emerging issue is the constraints in drylands. Drylands are generally considered fragile ecosystems. I want to point out that they are, instead, strong systems sensitive to the slightest impulse. If the impact is negative we reach desertification, but if it is positive, like a minimum water supply, there emerges an oasis with high capacity to produce food. So, let?s not confuse sensitivity and resistance with fragility. Drylands are sensitive and there lies their strength and the opportunity to intervene successfully in their capability for regeneration and sustenance. The video shows that with simple interventions (but resulting from high investment in research and technology) and with the support of local actors, many positive changes can be accomplished, with great impact on people?s lives, in a very short time. These examples are not only valid for Africa but also for drylands worldwide. We must be very careful not to categorize dryland inhabitants as desertification ?agents? or ?victims?. Among the causes of the processes that now affect them are the requirements from other societies and territories, where the resources that drylands lost are now producing richness. Then, it is good to work in cooperation toward recovering those degraded lands and helping their societies, for that, the first thing we need is mutual trust. Once trust is achieved, we have to MAINTAIN it through permanency and constancy. Life is austere in drylands. The people do not ask for great investments? they expect that someone will listen to their own solutions, simple, easy and at a low cost. This is enough to develop a territory while respecting traditional values. That is why I strongly believe in cooperation as a means to encourage national and local governments to include drylands in the Agenda as state policies. This has been being done for years in Latin America by the ICID process, with active participation of international cooperation, especially French cooperation. And, this is my last question: what kind of science do we need for this purpose? ? the science of papers or a different kind of science: interdisciplinary, participatory, focused on research-action processes, and able to listen to people?s problems and to cooperate in changing reality