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International Arid Lands Consortium
Member Institutions
The University of Arizona
Desert Research Institute – Nevada
Higher Council for Science & Technology – Jordan
The University of Illinois
Jewish National Fund
New Mexico State University
South Dakota State University
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Affiliate Member
Ministry of Agriculture & Land Reclamation – Egypt
INTRODUCTION
The World Bank estimates that the earth's population will increase in the next 30 years
to around 8.5 billion people. With approximately 40 percent of the world's land in arid
and semiarid zones, there is a heightened need to transform this terrain for agriculture
and habitation, and at the same time, reduce the negative impact of increased human
activity and desertification.
Most of the nations located in arid and semiarid zones are already suffering from as
desertification, loss of agricultural productivity, over-harvesting of trees for fuel, and
human and animal pressures. This worsening condition creates a growing need to
respond to these global concerns.
The International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC), formed in 1989 as an independent,
nonprofit organization, seeks to address these problems.
The promotion of
cooperative arid and semiarid lands research and the dissemination of the knowledge
necessary to apply that research in the United States and abroad is the IALC's ultimate
goal.
In recognition of the importance of the IALC’s activities, the organization was
authorized by Congress and that authorization is contained in 7 USC § 3291 (a)(8).
VISION
The International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) strives to be the acknowledged
leading international organization supporting ecological sustainability of arid and
semiarid lands.
MISSION
The International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC) works to achieve research and
development, educational and training initiatives, demonstration projects, workshops,
and other technology-transfer activities applied to the development, management,
restoration, and reclamation of arid and semiarid lands in the U.S., the Middle East,
and elsewhere in the world. All activities are supported by the IALC's member
institutions and affiliate member through their ongoing applied research aimed at
sustaining arid and semiarid land ecological systems, implicitly including humankind.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
In pursuit of its vision, the IALC adheres to these guiding principles:
• Use an ecological approach to multiple-use management and sustainable use of
arid and semiarid lands;
• Use the best scientific knowledge in developing and recommending appropriate
technologies for the management of arid and semiarid lands;
• Strive for quality and excellence in everything done and be sensitive to the effects
of our recommendations on resources, people, and nations;
• Form collaborative partnerships to achieve shared goals of the IALC member
institutions;
• Recognize that some conflict exists in humankind and strive to deal with it in a
professional manner; and
• Maintain the highest professional and ethical standards.
APPROACH
Cooperation between the United States and the Middle East is well established. The
IALC now links United States and Middle East institutions to collectively address
problems affecting the development of world-wide marginal land bases. The practical
experience of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and Jordan”s Higher Council for Science
& Technology (HCST), coupled with the research experience of the United States
universities, offers a unique opportunity to share practical technologies with developing
countries. This linkage combines the talents of the two leading countries in the world
conducting research on arid and semiarid lands development.
The IALC offers a unique approach to arid and semiarid lands development that: 1)
combines the applied research capabilities of the JNF and the HCST with scholarly and
scientific expertise to assure that new technologies and concepts are implemented
through effective field management; 2) devises new management procedures for areas
which may be affected by global warming in the future; 3) addresses subjects not
previously addressed, such as the creation of human-made savannahs for landscaping,
grazing, or recreation in arid areas where human-made forests are not possible due to a
lack of water and harsh climatic conditions; and 4) utilizes peer review for proposal
evaluation and implementation, and for completed IALC projects.
INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITIES
The IALC institutional capabilities fall into five major categories available at IALC
institutions.
• Water Resource Development, Conservation, and Management
• Land Use
• Soil Resource Conservation and Management
• Ecosystem Processes
• Inventory Technology
The
IALC
focuses
on
research
and
development,
educational
and
training,
demonstration projects, workshops, and other technology transfer areas applied to the
development, management, restoration, and reclamation of arid and semiarid lands
worldwide.
Promoting cooperative arid lands research and providing the means to apply that
research in the United States, the Middle East, and elsewhere in the world is the
Consortium’s ultimate goal.
FUNDED PROJECTS
Since FY2001 the IALC has funded 60 research and development projects, 16
demonstration projects, and 10 special initiatives totaling 5.7 million in allocated
funds. Initiatives include workshops, symposiums, conferences, forums, and technical
training.
To quote former Prime Minister Shimon Peres from a speech conveyed at the IALC
International Workshop, Arid Lands Management - Toward Ecological Sustainability,
held in Israel, in 1994: “We have to get ourselves organized with the passport that we
are carrying as nations and with the challenges that we are facing as people.” Prime
Minister Peres went on to say that, “with the fall of Communism, the world has lost an
enemy and discovered a problem. Actually, we are going from a world of enemies, to a
world of problems and all of our mobilizing sense and force has lost its strength and
value. For example, the American president, can mobilize the Congress, the people,
the army, the budget, if he has an enemy, but if he has a problem, he has a problem. If
I see any national problem that I shall tackle, it doesn’t have a national answer but a
regional answer - water, markets, economy, deserts. We have to deal with nature, not
with politics.”
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
The organizational structure of IALC consists of a Board of Directors, a Committee on
Program Priorities (COPP), and a Research and Demonstration Advisory Committee
(RADAC).
Board of Directors
The Board membership consists of two representatives from each of the 8 member
institutions. University representatives are appointed by the president of the university,
non-university representatives are appointed by their organizations. Industry sponsors
may be represented on the Board, not to exceed one-quarter (25%) of the total
membership.
The Board is the governing body of the IALC.
Authorized through its articles of
incorporation and bylaws, the Board: 1) Establishes research and training priorities; 2)
Establishes overall operational policies and decision-making processes; 3) Allocates
funds for research within IALC priorities; and 4) Hires, reviews, and dismisses staff.
Day-to-day activities are overseen by a managing director.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Kennith Foster meeting their Majesties King
Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein and Queen Rania AlAbdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,
on the occasion of their Inaugural visit to the
United States.
Members of the IALC Board of Directors discuss
various Items during their meeting held at the
University of Arizona in Tucson AZ.
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
Committee On Program Priorities
The Committee on Program Priorities (COPP) was established in 1993 by the IALC
Board of Directors
The COPP: 1) Consists of members drawn from the Board; 2) Distills ideas and
information on arid and semiarid lands issues; 3) Utilizes resource persons on a global
basis; 4) Develops and recommends an action plan to the Board that addresses IALC's
vision and global mission through a periodic review of progress toward established
goals; 5) Prioritizes technologies and work within arid and semiarid lands technologies
that must be based on long-term goals and global issues; 6) Establishes goals of
funding sources in line with the priorities established for the full Board's consideration;
and 7) Identifies, establishes, and recommends multi-disciplinary teams.
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
Research and Demonstration Advisory Committee
The Board established a Research And Demonstration Advisory Committee (RADAC)
comprised of a leading scientist from each member institution, and other individuals as
the Board determines. At the Board's direction, the RADAC: 1) Advises and counsels
the IALC on the scientific and conceptual aspects of its ongoing and proposed
research and demonstration projects; 2) Evaluates and reviews the IALC's research
and demonstration activities; and 3) Advises the Board regarding proposed
participants, sponsors, or affiliates. The RADAC also furnishes the Board with annual
progress reports of all the IALC's research and demonstration activities.
RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
RADAC Members visit a Bada research station
near the Safawi Research Centre In eastern
Jordan.
Dr. Mamdouh Riad, Undersecretary of State for
Afforestation, Ministry of Agriculture and Land
Reclamation, (Egypt), left, Dr. Peter Ffolliott,
Professor (The University of Arizona), center, and
Dr. Menachem Sachs, (Keren Kayemeth LaIsrael,
retired), Israel, examine some of the flora at the
Patagonia-Sonoita Nature Preserve.
PEACE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The International Arid Lands Consortium Peace Fellowship Program was created to
benefit U.S. and Middle East environment and society, in keeping with the IALC's goal
of supporting and researching methods of ecologically sound desert management.
The program promotes opportunities for outstanding undergraduate and graduate
students to conduct arid lands research and contribute to the Middle East Peace
Process.
All full-time undergraduate and graduate students from IALC member institutions are
eligible to apply to the program and related grants including work-study.
Selected students from IALC member institutions spend one month or more working
in the field with eminent scientists on projects sponsored by the Consortium. This
exchange between American universities and researchers in the Middle East fosters
an environment in which young people can grow intellectually and contribute to
understanding among Israeli, Arab, and U.S. participants. Students are expected to
conduct their research in a country other than their home country. Graduate students
will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The IALC Peace Fellowship Program is made possible in part through grants from the
Archer Daniels Midland Foundation and the USDA Forest Service.