About NRD

The Desertification Research Centre (Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione - NRD) is an Interdepartmental Centre of the University of Sassari officially established in 2000 by Rector's Decree n. 60 (9 June 2000) that promotes multidisciplinary research and studies on desertification and environmental degradation in the Mediterranean region.

NRD started activities in the early '90s as a multidisciplinary research group on the impact of agropastoral activities on land degradation in Mediterranean areas, under the coordination of Prof. Giuseppe Enne, founder and Director of NRD up to February 2008.

It involved researchers and scientists from Departments and Institutes from the Faculty of Agriculture specialised in earth sciences (geology, geomorphology, pedology), hydraulics, hydrology, agronomy, forestry, economy and animal science. 
In the coming years the focus of NRD activities has broadened to sustainable land use issues related to desertification and land degradation.

NRD currently involves 35 researchers from the University of Sassari whose studies and researches focus on physical, biological and socio-economic aspects of desertification, with particular reference to the impact of agricultural policies and agropastoral activities. Its investigations are mainly carried out in the framework of national and international research projects, mostly funded by EU, national government, Autonomous Region of Sardinia and international agencies.

NRD is also committed to cooperation with developing countries and coordinates and participates in networking projects and training activites.

NRD Mission

Nucleo Ricerca Desertificazione (Desertification Research Centre, NRD) is a public, academic interdepartmental Centre that contributes to the mission of the University of Sassari (UNISS) by promoting interdisciplinary research, networking, dissemination, awareness raising, stakeholder engagement, training and capacity building programs and development cooperation on desertification and sustainable land and water resources management.

NRD activities are inspired by the United Nation Conventions to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), for the Biological Diversity (UNCBD), the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

NRD Vision

NRD aims to generate new learning spaces for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and development cooperation for researchers, engineers and administrative staff, acting as an academic scientific organization linked to international scientific networks and communities of practice targeted to sustainable land and water resources management

The NRD statute specifies its aims, its organizational structure, the role and competencies of its main bodies (General Assembly, Director, Scientific Committee and Executive Committee).

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