Globally, semi-arid lands (SALs) are home to almost one billion people¹ and make major contributions to national economies, with the private sector playing a key role in their economic development. Yet they have long been marginalised. In this ‘Challenging the myths around semi-arid lands’ mythbuster, the Pathways to Resilience in Semi-Arid Economies (PRISE) research project challenges some of the myths around semi-arid lands and highlights the exciting potential these regions, and the communities and economies in them, have to be drivers of climate-resilient economic development.

 

 

 

 

 

Image: African market scene © peeterv

 

 

1. Koohafkan, P. and Stewart, B.A., (2008). Drylands, people and land use. In: Water and Cereals in Drylands. Roma: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Earthscan’.