The United Nations General Assembly and the UNEP Governing Council have been concerned since 1977 with means for mobilizing resources for the implementation of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification (PACD). The United Nations General Assembly requested a series of expert studies on financing the PACD and on modalities for ensuring the flow of resources on a sustained basis. Three of these studies were carried out in 1978, 1980, and 1981. Achievements remained modest and by Resolution 44/172 of 19 December, 1989 the United Nations General Assembly expressed its deep concern about the inadequacy of financial resources available for the implementation of the PACD.