Under the leadership of the Drylandscience for Development Consortium (DSD), a series of scientific analysis papers were prepared for the first scientific conference of the UNCCD Committee on Science and Technology "Bio-physical and socio-economic monitoring and assessment of desertification and land degradation to support decision making in land and water management" held in conjuction with the ninth session of the UNCCD Conference of Parties, Buenos Aires, 22-24 September 2009.

DESIRE partners led, contributed to or commented on the following White Papers.

• Integrated methods for monitoring and assessing desertification/land degradation processes and drivers. Working Group 1
• Monitoring and assessing land rehabilitation and sustainable land management. Working Group 2
• Monitoring and assessment of Desertification and land degradation: knowledge management and economic and social drivers. Working Group 3