By NATION Reporter 

A regional office to coordinate the global fight against desertification is to be established next month in Kenya.

Once in operation, the United Nations Development Programme Drylands Development Centre will concentrate its efforts in Africa – the continent most affected by desertification and drought.

Speaking during a courtesy call on Environment Minister Joseph Kamotho, UNDP's resident representative, Mr Paul Andre, said the organisation also planned to move all its programmes to Kenya this year.

"We are in the process of moving all our offices and major programmes to Africa and Nairobi in particular," Mr Andre said.

Mr Philip Dobie, the director of UNDP Drylands Development Centre, said the new organisation would be launched on February 11. 

Mr Dobie said the UNDP had been spearheading issues on desertification long before the advent of the United Nations Convention to combat Desertification, enforced in 1996.

He said Nairobi was chosen because desertification affected 80 per cent of Kenya's land.

"The affected area supports a population of 10 million people who also suffer from widespread poverty and other adverse effects of drought," said Mr Dobie.

While welcoming the officials, Mr Kamotho said the government was looking for funds to embark on a large scale afforestation programme.

However, the minister refused to comment on the controversial excision of 67,000 hectares of forest land for human settlement.

Mr Kamotho said the new Environment Management and Coordination Act would help seal loopholes experienced in the past in conservation programmes.

He said desert encroachment in Kenya was on the increase due to poor land use, resulting in the reduction of Kenya's forest cover that currently stands at about 2 per cent.