The intersectoral project The Sahara of Cultures and People Towards a Strategy for the Sus- tainable Development of Tourism in the Sahara, in the Context of Combating Poverty is part of a UNESCO Action Plan composed of several projects developed in the context of the cross cutting theme'Eradication of Poverty authorised by the General Conference of the UNESCO at its 31 session in November 2001. This Action Plan h been set up following the appeal launched by the United Nations miennium Deca tion(UN 2000) inviting all specialised agencies to contribute, on a priority basis. to the eradication of pover The development of this Action Plan and the choice of the participating projects were based on concerns related to the effects of accelerated glo- balisation and resulting structural changes at national and sub-regional levels.
In the particular context of the Sahaa, these concerns are related to the scarcity and over-exploitation of natural resources(most notably water see UN 1994). resulting in threats to the fragile oasis ecosystems and the semi-nomadic life of the desert popula- tions. To respond to these concerns. ths project aims at helping Member States that