P148 CEEFAX 2 148 Thu 26 Dec 23:49/27
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                        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.  
                                        
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