title: From framework to action: the DESIRE approach to combat desertification.
abstract: It has become increasingly clear that desertification can only be tackled through a multi-disciplinary approach that not only involves scientists but also stakeholders. In the DESIRE project such an approach was taken. As a first step, a conceptual framework was developed in which the factors and processes that may lead to land degradation and desertification were described. Many of these factors do not work independently, but can reinforce or weaken one another, and to illustrate these relationships sustainable management and policy feedback loops were included. This conceptual framework can be applied globally, but can also be made site-specific to take into account that each study site has a unique combination of bio-physical, socio-economic and political conditions. Once the conceptual framework was defined, a methodological framework was developed in which the methodological steps taken in the DESIRE approach were listed and their logic and sequence were explained. The last step was to develop a concrete working plan to put the project into action, involving stakeholders throughout the process. This series of steps, in full or in part, offers explicit guidance for other organizations or projects that aim to reduce land degradation and desertification.
authors.affiliation: Soil Physics and Land Use team, Alterra, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands, rudi.hessel@wur.nl.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hessel
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Geeson
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ritsema
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Lynden
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Karavitis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schwilch
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jetten
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van der Werff Ten Bosch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verzandvoort
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Elsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Witsenburg
mesh_terms: D003889:Desert Climate; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016730:Program Development; D011640:Public Policy