§ 3741. — Sense of the Congress regarding efforts to combat desertification in Africa and other countries.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 19USC3741]
TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
CHAPTER 23--EXTENSION OF CERTAIN TRADE BENEFITS TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
SUBCHAPTER III--ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RELATED ISSUES
Sec. 3741. Sense of the Congress regarding efforts to combat
desertification in Africa and other countries
(a) Findings
The Congress finds that--
(1) desertification affects approximately one-sixth of the
world's population and one-quarter of the total land area;
(2) over 1,000,000 hectares of Africa are affected by
desertification;
(3) dryland degradation is an underlying cause of recurrent
famine in Africa;
(4) the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that
desertification costs the world $42,000,000,000 a year, not
including incalculable costs in human suffering; and
(5) the United States can strengthen its partnerships throughout
Africa and other countries affected by desertification, help
alleviate social and economic crises caused by misuse of natural
resources, and reduce dependence on foreign aid, by taking a leading
role to combat desertification.
(b) Sense of the Congress
It is the sense of the Congress that the United States should
expeditiously work with the international community, particularly Africa
and other countries affected by desertification, to--
(1) strengthen international cooperation to combat
desertification;
(2) promote the development of national and regional strategies
to address desertification and increase public awareness of this
serious problem and its effects;
(3) develop and implement national action programs that identify
the causes of desertification and measures to address it; and
(4) recognize the essential role of local governments and
nongovernmental organizations in developing and implementing
measures to address desertification.
(Pub. L. 106-200, title I, Sec. 131, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 274.)
