In a message to mark World Environment Day, the head of the United Nations (U.N.) Monday called on governments to focus attention on those subsisting in desert areas. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan used the 10 year anniversary of the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification to draw attention to the plight of those living in dryland areas. “People whose livelihoods and survival depend on drylands are swelling the ranks of environmental and economic refugees who are testing the already stretched resources of towns and cities across the developing world,” Annan said. “At the same time, there is also an urgent need to safeguard deserts themselves. Deserts are vital ecosystems. They have also been home to some of the world's most ancient and culturally rich civilizations,” Annan's statement said. The theme of this year's World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, celebrated on June 17, is “The beauty of deserts – the challenge of desertification,” Annan noted. The theme, he said, “celebrates this unique yet fragile heritage, and draws attention to the need to protect it.”
