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

Case Study Competition - Investing in Drought Resilience

Join us in showcasing innovative solutions and building a drought-resilient future: This competition calls for practical case studies adressing either economic and business cases or innovative mechanisms to support SLM and drought management.

ELD Newsletter - MAY 2025

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

ELD Teaching in Iceland for the 4th consecutive year

On April 28-29, ELD was leading a two-day training on the economics of land degradation and restoration in Iceland as part of the 6-month Land Restoration Training program (GRÓ-LRT) that is under the auspices of UNESCO.

 

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