Bonn, 17 September 2012 - IUCN, UNEP-WCMC and UNCCD have published Conserving Dryland Biodiversity, the first comprehensive analysis of the plant and animal species as well as human populations of the drylands of the world.

Crucially, it shows how to conserve biodiversity, while protecting the land from degradation and improving the livelihoods of the rural communities that live and directly depend on it.

The invitation to participate provided an opportunity for the CMS Secretariat to further enhance its collaboration with partners. CMS contributed to the publication in its capacity as the recognized lead expert of CBD on migratory species to highlight the mutually beneficial relationship between them and their arid habitats. Arid lands provide an important refuge for many threatened migratory species, which play an important role in keeping the soil fertile. The publication features arid land mammals such as the Bactrian camel and the Saiga antelope, which cover large distances during their migrations and depend directly on interconnected and intact steppe ecosystems for their survival.

The value of the book cannot be overstated given the potential ecosystem impacts that would arise from a wanton loss of dryland biodiversity and the social, human and economic costs that follow community-biodiversity conflicts.

Conserving Dryland Biodiversity presents practical choices on how to accommodate both conservation and development goals. It shows the huge potential in traditional land-use and pastoral practices to balance these demands.

The significance of the drylands for the global community is either highly undervalued or perceived from a very particular viewpoint. The value of drylands goes beyond sustainable use of the natural resources and bio-prospecting. And the myth of drylands as the stocking zones for meat and game production is deconstructed in the book.

The book highlights how a majority of the rural communities and small-scale producers that depend directly on the land have a more holistic view because of their multiple uses of the land; from water, to fuel wood, medicines, pasture and food.

With its focus on bridging the divide between meeting development and conservation needs through the use of effective local practices, Conserving Dryland Biodiversity is a useful tool for awareness raising among wildlife enthusiasts and development workers alike.

The publication was launched on 9th September at the World Conservation Congress taking place in Jeju, South Korea.