While it may be the most important discussion about the occurrence of desertification in the world, COP-3 still falls short of everyone’s expectations when compared to other UN events in the environmental field. In contrast to the conference about climatic change held in Kyoto two years ago, tomorrow’s event will not establish any goals or deadlines to mandate action to combat the problem. This failure compromises the firepower of decisions taken during the conference itself, given that the meeting does not anticipate the adoption of prioritised measures to be fulfilled by those countries affected by desertification. Heitor Matallo Júnior, co-ordinator of the National Plan to Combat Desertification (PNCD) has touched a sore spot: "Defining objectives and deadlines is fundamental in creating a mechanism to make demands on participating countries at the convention". Matallo goes further, suggesting the adoption of at least three aims.

The first one would be the creation of a large international programme to reduce illiteracy in the semiarid regions. "This would help people to access knowledge about the extent to which desertification interferes in people’s lives".

Secondly, a minimal percentage increase in annual productivity for small farmers. "We could establish agreements to modernise agricultural practices among the countries".

The final aim would be to focus on compulsory conservation of 10% of the ecosystems associated with the semiarid regions of the world. "Combining these aims would represent a real effort towards effectively developing the areas affected by the phenomenon".

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