Desertification means land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid and it is a global crisis that affects more than 100 countries in the world, not only in the poorest countries but also in developing countries and rich ones. Desertification is produced by a combination of climate, our own mistakes, ignorance, and actions and it is triggered mainly by the overuse of land and unsustainable agricultural practices (overcropping, overgrazing, poor irrigation, and deforestation) which lead to a loss of natural vegetation and healthy soil leading to silted bodies of water. The United Nations show that every year about 6 million hectares of land become unproductive. However, we can mitigate this process with practical solutions to desertification and political will. This presentation is about a multidisciplinary team who has worked with family farmers with agroecological actions to prevent erosion in order to recover Caatinga biome and its rational uses, to conserve natural resources and Caatinga preservation. Also, this collaborative work has led to a proposal of policies for governments to help family farmers to keep these activities in order, and ultimately, to mitigate climate change.

Magda Maria Guilhermino

Associate Professor at The Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, BRAZIL