Dr Christian Mersmann, Managing Director, in BBC World Debate

14 October, 2006

A BBC World TV debate, “Advancing Sands: Deserts and Migration”, was filmed at IUCN headquarters on 5 October 2006.

Six internationally renowned panellists discussed desertification, the impact of populations and livestock on fragile dryland ecosystems, and the extent to which desertification contributes to ethnic conflict and migration.

On the panel were:

Ibrahim Thiaw, Acting Director General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN),
Sunita Narain, Director of the Centre for Science and the Environment ( India ), and
Martin Sommer, Director Natural Resources and Environment Division, Swiss Development Corporation
Fatima Jibrell, Executive Director of Horn Relief ( Somalia )
Rosamund McDougall, member of the Advisory Council of the Optimum Population Trust, and
Christian Mersmann, Managing Director, Global Mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification

The debate will be broadcast on BBC World on 14 October at 12.10 GMT and 19.10 GMT and on 15 October on 01.10 GMT, 07.10 GMT and 17.10 GMT. After the BBC broadcast, the debate will be distributed worldwide for further dissemination at continental and national TV stations. The debate will be distributed to all TV channels that are members of the following broadcasting unions: EBU (Europe), ABU (Asia + Pacific), ASBU (Middle East), URTNA (Africa), NABA (North America), OTI (Latin America), CBU (Caribbean).

This debate launches a BBC Desertification series entitled "Villages in the Front Line", produced too mark the UN Year of Desertification in 2006.

The series documents the struggle against land degradation and water shortages and will be conducted by local presenters.

The eight episodes will cover villages in China , Jordan , Tanzania, the Caribbean , Morocco, Niger, India and Spain.

Related Links

Read more about the debate from IUCN's website

Read more about the BBC World show "The World Challenge"