P148 CEEFAX 2 148 Thu 26 Dec 23:49/27 O ANTE-DESERTJFICATJON PACT IN FORCE A UN pact designed to prevent the creation of new desert arias has come into force. Convention to Combat Desertification was the third ttiaty agreed at the Rio de Janjiro Earth Summit in 1992. The encroaching desert is said to cost $43bn annually in lost arable and grazing land and living space, UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- Ghali described the convention as a turning point in environmental terms. Headlines 101 Index 102 Sport 300 Front page 100 TV 600 Weathjt 400 Religion CBBC Text TV/Radio Main Menu