§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps have been taken to implement commitments under the UN Desertification Convention. [149857]
§ Clare ShortMy Department is implementing the UKs commitments under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification through its bilateral and multilateral assistance programmes. Given that there are close links between poverty and the problems of desertification and land degradation, much of DFIDs work to combat poverty in rural areas helps to meet the objective of the Convention. Over £200 million is currently committed to DFID activities which help poor people protect their livelihoods against problems such as desertification and drought.