The overall aim of this CSFD thematic report is to communicate, share and discuss key elements of restoring natural capital in arid and semiarid regions. Its main goal is to promote the implementation of this approach within societies and communities that are the most threatened by desertification.

The regions threatened by desertification cover about 40% of the emerged land masses. Most people living in these regions are exposed to poverty or extreme poverty. An approach to simultaneously restore degraded ecosystems and improve human wellbeing is urgently needed.

Biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation and economic development are traditionally perceived as having separate or even conflictual interests. This report shows the contrary. Indeed, restoring natural capital combines ecological restoration and sustainable development objectives in order to create a synergy between them both and also the maintaining of native biodiversity.

Several sites throughout the world in arid or semiarid areas are discussed to illustrate elementary concepts of natural capital restoration in the field. This report is the result of the literature review of the available scientific material relevant to natural capital restoration in arid and semiarid areas. Most of the definitions and field illustrations are adapted from Aronson, Milton and Blignaut (2007), a book written by 71 international scientists, managers and journalists in the fields of ecology, economics and ecological economics.  

Originally considered as a local development problem, combating desertification is viewed more and more as a global environmental issue at the international level. May combating desertification be considered a global public good? The document shortly describes the desertification problem, its extent and examples of available solutions for stopping it. However, the analysis of the links between desertification and social changes - particularly the ones that relate to migration, poverty and land tenure -, demonstrates the interest of broadening the traditional approach of combating desertification. Such a focus highlights the need for implementing a consistent set of interdependent actions to solve desertification problems. These actions should be designed in each situation at various levels, from local to global, and supported by as many specific institutional arrangements. The discussion brings into debate elements for deciding whether combating desertification should or should not be recognized as being a global public good and for identifying which new fighting mechanisms should be implemented at international levels.