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The floristic biodiversity of the oasis ecosystem and its arid domain constitutes a natural heritage of plant species: annuals, biennials or perennials for multiple uses: fodder, condiments, aromatic and medicinal.

Similarly, the land fauna of the oasis is rich and plays a biological and ecological role in the other biological components of the oasis ecosystem (symbiosis and complementarity) and in the production of manure on site, in addition to its economic function.

Oasis systems and landscapes are intimately linked to human action. In oases, water use systems constitute a very elaborate form of collective irrigation, the conception of which is very old, based on the pooling and sharing of resources. 

Oasis ecosystems, defined as ecological entities designed by humans to ensure a certain degree of local socio-economic stability, may be subject to the most threatening impacts in view of their extreme vulnerability to socio-economic and environmental changes (particularly climatic). These impacts clearly translate into high risks of desertification, degradation of water and soil resources, and loss of faunal and floral biodiversity. These risks would negatively affect the productivity of these ecosystems and reduce their social, ecological and economic roles in the arid and Saharan regions of the countries concerned. 

Hence the importance of promoting conservation initiatives for this natural and cultural heritage, with the aim of strengthening the resilience of these ecosystems and their capacity to adapt to climate change.

Objectives of the Desert and Oasis Ecosystems Specialist Group:

• To deepen analyses and exchange thoughts on the state of play of the main challenges and issues characterising oasis ecosystems in the different countries in terms of sustainable management, governance systems, risk assessment, resilience and adaptation to climate change through meetings and exchanges;
• Raising the awareness of decision-makers on the importance of the oasis ecosystem in the natural environment and on the economic and social conditions of the oasis population;  
• Raising the awareness of countries on the safeguarding of oasis biodiversity, conservation of genetic resources and better management of water resources in oases; 
• Strengthening national human capacities in terms of safeguarding, conserving and promoting oasis products through exchanges of experience between the different countries;
• Helping to draw up Local Development Plans (LDPs) for oases, based on the geographical, topographical and biological characteristics of the various oases;
• To promote and encourage scientific research on the oasis world.