Tools and methods

The ELD Initiative develops and provides tools, methods, and approaches for the values of land to inform decision making.

The ELD Initaitive has developed its internationally recognized "6+1 Step Approach" to assess the values of land and applied it in the last 10 years in more than 30 ELD country study processes. In addition, ELD develops relevant tools, methods, and approaches. 

 


 

Methodological Guideline for Integrative Land-Biodiversity-Climate Action Analysis through Ecosystem Restoration

What the guidenline does:

The Methodological Guideline for Integrative Action provides a structured framework to evaluate synergies and trade-offs of land management interventions with regards to the three Rio Conventions (UNCCD, UNFCCC, CBD). It offers a comprehensive methodology to assess and integrate land degradation, climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation into sustainable land management (SLM) planning.

The guideline serves as a practical tool for policymakers, land use planners, project implementers, and researchers to systematically identify, evaluate, and align potential SLM interventions with Rio Convention targets. It further assists stakeholders in optimizing land use strategies by identifying economic, environmental, and social co-benefits and mitigating potential conflicts.

The guideline integrates spatial data, economic assessments, and scenario planning to provide a holistic view of land use impacts and synergies. It supports the identification of priority areas for targeted action and facilitates evidence-based decision-making to maximize positive outcomes across multiple sectors.

Project partners:

The Methodological Guideline for Integrative Action was developed through collaboration between the ELD Initiative, GIZ, GIZ ILUCA, IRRI, ICARDA & Green Central Asia

LUP4LDN tool: The Land Use Planning for Land Degradation Neutrality tool

What the tool does:

LUP4LDN (Land Use Planning for Land Degradation Neutrality) is a digital interface which integrates LDN into a participatory land use planning approach, allowing for a transparent and well-informed evaluation of land use and land management transition scenarios. As a software analytics tool, it supports policy-makers, land use planners, land users, national and sub-national organisations and research agencies in understanding optimal and feasible SLM interventions for LDN, alongside crucial areas to focus land restoration efforts. 

The platform comprehensively interlinks existing tools such as the Global Geo-Informatics Options by Context (GeOC), the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) SLM database, Trends.Earth and the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) knowledge hub, including geo-spatial data on land cover, soil organic carbon, socio-ecological indices, and ecosystem services. It further allows users to see both visual and quantitative representations of LD gains and losses. 

Project partners:

LUP4LDN won an international technology innovation competition of the Group on Earth Observation Land Degradation Neutrality (GEO-LDN) Initiative and was awarded with respective funding. The tool was developed by a consortium of ELD Initiative, SCiO, the University of SassariICARDA, and WOCAT.


 

Scenarios for Integrated Land Use Planning (S4ILUP) process

What the workshop series is about:

The workshop series on Scenarios for Integrated Land Use Planning (S4ILUP) originates from the aspiration to combine widely fragmented databases and utilize tools to facilitate evidence-based decision making in support of SDG 15 “Life on Land”. By inviting interested stakeholders, S4ILUP lays the groundwork for a participative, multidisciplinary approach to land use planning.

The focus of the workshop series is put on harnessing the potential of vast quantities of data to target the global challenge of implementing sustainable land management (SLM) by taking the variety of political settings and individual landscapes into account. Finally, land use planners and decision makers can equip themselves with a simplified and integrated access to the data needed for evidence-based, nature-positive, and future-proof land use planning.

Project partners:

The ELD Initiative is organizing partner for the S4ILUP process with WOCAT, the GEO-LDN InitiativeFAO, and UNCCD.