By Nick Hamer
The recent UNCCD election process of the UNCCD Science Policy Interface (SPI) was concluded with Mr. Noel Oettle from the Environment Monitoring Group (EMG) of South Africa being elected as the next alternate member of the CSO to the UNCCD SPI. Noel will be alternate to the current member, Ms. Marioldy Sanchez from AIDER, Peru. After her term finishes, Noel will become a fully – fledged member.
During the election process Noel committed to ensure that the perspectives of civil society are included in the SPI processes to ensure that the scientific work of the Convention is rooted in the realities of the people of the global drylands. He will consult the broader CSO community on contentious issues so as to ensure that the CSO perspective is put forward in ways that will be heard, understood and taken seriously by the UNCCD SPI.
We look forward to Noel vigorously championing the cause of civil society to ensure that sustainable land use practices are at the forefront of UNCCD efforts.