ELD – THE ECONOMICS OF LAND DEGRADATION INITIATIVE

ELD is a global initiative that makes the values of land and its ecosystem services count in decisions: We provide robust economic evidence and support its use in land decisions with the aim to inform, promote, and scale land solutions for transformative change. These solutions include sustainable land management and restoration practices, policy instruments and institutional design, and financing for land. In working at the science-policy-practice interface, ELD brings scientific knowledge and evidence into political and business discourses and decision making.

Established in 2011 between the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the European Commission and hosted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the ELD Initiative recently entered its second decade of activities. More than ever, this needs to bring "Transformative action for land".

News

ELD IMPACT REPORT 2025 – FIRST LOOK AT A DECADE AND A HALF OF GLOBAL IMPACT

The ELD Impact Report 2025 showcases how economic evidence from land assessments informs policies, investments, and restoration efforts worldwide. It highlights both the year’s achievements and ELD’s decade-long global impact.

ELD Newsletter - FEBRUARY 2026

Latest updates from the ELD Initiative, covering events and workshops, case study updates, publications as well as community news.

RIO SYNERGIES WORKSHOP 2026: STRENGTHENING COOPERATION ACROSS THE RIO CONVENTIONS

The ELD Initiative recently convened experts in Bonn to develop a unified framework for enhancing synergies across the Rio Conventions. The approach will be piloted in Mongolia and aims to support countries in implementing coordinated, land-based…

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