The UNCCD was drawn up in 1994 following a resolution at the 1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development in Paris and has been in force since 1996.

The aim is to curb the spread of deserts and drylands, which have now conquered 30 percent of the world's land area, and thus to combat soil degradation with its socio-political and biological consequences. The causes include erosion, overgrazing and the destruction of forests.

Among other things, the treaty works to promote sustainable development in arid ecosystems and to mitigate the effects of drought disasters through partnership agreements between industrialized and developing countries.