In Depth

"Desertification is potentially the most threatening climate change impacting livelihoods of the poor.... [C]ombating desertification can therefore contribute significantly to a reduction in global poverty." Those are the words of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

Niger is one of the poorest countries on earth, with more than 90 percent of the country in a deserted zone. According to its Ministry of the Environment, the desert is advancing by six kilometers every year. There's plenty of reason for alarm: 85 percent of Niger's 12.5 million people depend on the land for their livelihoods.