This report summarizes the findings of an email conference that took place from 9 October to 4 November 2002 and which was organized by the Land Degradation Assessmant in Drylands project LADA. It contains exchanges of views on data sets and methods that may be used to assess land degradation and a discussion on the biophysical, socioeconomic and institutional indicators that explain the root causes, driving forces, status, impact and responses to land degradation at various scales. It is anticipated that the LADA Email conference web site at http www.fao.orglandandwateragllladaemailconf.stm will become a continuing forum to continue this exchange on land degradation.