UNESCO, in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), has launched a new kit on Desertification in English, French, and Spanish, targeted for use in the classroom by teachers and their pupils between ages 10 and 12.

Children in that age group are potential future front line players in the efforts to combat Desertification, which is a major cause of environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources that lead to poverty hunger and mass migrations.
The kit, funded by the Governments of Italy and Switzerland, has been distributed in an initial pilot phase exclusively by UNESCO through its Associated Schools network to selected primary schools in countries affected by desertification. The feedback has been very encouraging and positive and a second phase is being envisaged.
The illustrative and user-friendly kit is comprised of: a teacher's guide, a series of case studies, three copies each of two cartoons, and  a poster.
All of which can be integrated for use in school curricula. The teacher's guide delineates the causes and consequences on climate and the geographical, biological and socio-economical effects of desertification while also introducing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification with useful ideas and activities to raise awareness on environmental protection and solve the problem of desertification.
The case studies outline specific circumstances and solutions applied in twelve countries with an educational perspective so that pupils can relate the concrete projects to the geographical and socio-economical context they live in. The cartoons are humorous depictions of a small village's fight against land degradation and of young Chileans travelling to Europe and Africa to share their experiences with local communities suffering from the effects of desertification. The 120 cm x 80 cm poster has a world map presenting the various drylands with illustrative photographs.