Drought-forecasting Toolbox

Explanation :

• On 12^th September, the ongoing 14^thConference of Parties (COP14) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) witnessed the official release of the Drought Toolbox, which can be used by countries to assess drought risks in their regions much in advance, and prepare to deal with the water scarcity.
• It uses 30 parameters, including soil moisture, rainfall data and temperature data of the present and past.
• It has been developed by UNCCD in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Meteorological Organization(WMO) as well as from the University of Nebraska in the USA.

Significance

• It will help the countries in framing their respective national drought policies in due course based on monitoring, forecast, and early warning.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online