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 appropriatetechnologies 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.

Dr. Kennith Foster meeting their Majesties King Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah 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.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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.

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.

RADAC Members visit a Bada research station near the Safawi Research Centre In eastern Jordan.

RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

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.