Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on the efforts made to undertake the preliminary arrangements for implementing the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification and of the leading role played by the United Nations Environment Programme, in consultation and close co-operation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities and other agencies concerned, in the preliminary arrangements undertaken within a short time for the implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations Conference on Desertification and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;