This study evaluates ecosystem services resulting from developing 60,000 ha in three provinces between 1988 and 2004 via the PATECORE project, assessing their impact on food security. It highlights priority services, estimates their non-market value through a producer survey, and conducts a cost-benefit analysis considering cereal gains and investments. The total economic value is calculated by aggregating these values and comparing to a situation without development. The average annual gain per hectare indicates the minimum annual benefit, representing the (minimum) avoided degradation cost.

The study presents a comparative economic analysis of agroecological and conventional farming systems in the Northern Plateau of Haiti and highlights how government and non-governmental organisations can support farmers in transitioning to sustainable food production. These are relevant and timely findings in the light of one of the worst hunger crises that the country has known. The study was conducted in cooperation with PDL, Groundswell International and Altus Impact.

The second edition of the State of Finance #ForNature  report reveals that nature-based solutions are still significantly under-financed. If the world wants to halt biodiversity loss, limit climate change to below 1.5C and achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030, current finance flows to NbS must urgently double by 2025 and triple by 2030. Delayed action is not an option in the face of the devastating effects of climate change, the extinction crisis, and severe land degradation globally.

The report in Oaxaca, Mexico performs an economic valuation of the ecosystem services related to agave production for mezcal, evaluating the economic potential of applying a sustainability strategy to agave-mezcal production. The objective is to enable decision-makers to create the conditions for translating this economic potential into real wealth, so as to benefit the producers and actors in the value chain, achieve food security and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The State of Finance #ForNature in the G20 report presents the results of a global analysis which tracks investment flows into nature-based solutions and identifies future investments needed to meet the biodiversity, climate, and land restoration targets. The report urges governments, financial institutions, and businesses to overcome this investment gap by placing nature at the heart of economic decision-making in the future. 

The new ECON-WOCAT dataset on the costs and benefits of sustainable land management (SLM) technologies is being launched at a time of heightened interest in public and private investments into land restoration, for example, by the United Nations (UN) Decade for Ecosystem Restoration. The ECON-WOCAT dataset consists of detailed information on the costs and benefits of more than 500 SLM technologies from the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) database. The dataset helps fill a critical gap of scarce and often scattered information on the costs of SLM technologies across ecosystems and regions. It highlights the positive economic, social, and environmental impacts of these technologies, including their significant potential for creating new jobs, and also provides numerous options for its use in the planning and implementation of SLM and land restoration projects from national to global levels. For example, the information can be used to identify the funding needs for the implementation of the cur­rent land restoration commitments by countries as part of their land degradation neutrality (LDN) action plans. Access the ECON-WOCAT dataset and accompanying products.

This policy brief uses two case studies from India conducted by Development Alternatives (DA) and Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) to demonstrate how sustainable land management practices are linked to the holistic approach of agroecology and how economic arguments can support decision-making.

This information brief summarises the results of a project designed to help decision-makers assess the condition of pastures and the benefits of restoration initiatives in Kyrgyzstan, with the goal of eventually integrating the true value of land assets into the national accounting system.

The State of Finance #ForNature report presents the results of a global analysis which tracks investment flows into nature-based solutions and identifies future investments needed to meet the biodiversity, climate, and land restoration targets. The report urges governments, financial institutions, and businesses to overcome this investment gap by placing nature at the heart of economic decision-making in the future.

Longer heat waves, stronger winds, and increasing demand for pasture land have had negative impacts on winter pastures, resulting in reduced biological productivity in the Kakheti region of Georgia. This compromised food and water security, and pastoral livelihoods. Three sustainable pastureland strategies are analyzed in this case study focusing on economic consequences on pastoral households, and the impact on land productivity. Potential scenarios covered resident pasture users (on village pasture), and small, medium and large migratory herders.

This report conducts an assessment of the economic impact of land degradation in the case study areas of Baligubadle and Bookh rangelands.

This scientific interim report uses the ELD methodology to assess the effects of land degradation on the livelihoods of pastoral communities in the Puntland region of Somalia. The study aims to strengthen the capacities of research and government institutions through training and mentoring on environmental valuation methods, so local decision-makers can draw upon recommendations based on sound economic evidence.

Given the critical role that natural capital and ecosystem services play in maintaining biodiversity, enabling green growth, and achieving the SDGs, the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) and the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) Initiative joined forces. GGKP and ELD's first case study on natural capital restoration was conducted in Rwanda by a team of experts led by Montclair State University. This study aims to highlight the critical role of natural capital in macro-economic outputs, facilitate improved decision-making in green growth policies, and achieve national SDG targets. Through integrated and innovative methods, the study explores five policy scenarios on the sustainable use of land and green growth. The results help to understand how land degradation due to erosion can affect not only economic indicators such as GDP, poverty reduction, genuine savings, and unemployment, but also land assets, land use changes, ecosystem service supply, and terrestrial natural capital.

This study conducted jointly with the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) seeks to assess the economic and environmental benefits of reducing land degradation through sustainable land management practices such as watershed development in eastern Madhya Pradesh and in the context of climate change.

This report details the findings and lessons learned from the ELD country studies conducted under component 1 of the Regreening Africa Project.

This report summarises the trends in deforestation in the target countries, compiles an overview from the literature of sustainable land management (SLM) practices suitable for agricultural and drylands across the target countries, and presents an economic meta-analysis of FMNR based on three (ELD) case studies.

This study conducted jointly with Development Alternative (DA) seeks to assess the economic and environmental benefits of land remediation in Bundelkhand situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

This study compares the economics of conventional and organic cotton production in the Koutiala and Bougouni counties in Mali.

This study aims to assess the economic benefits and costs of sustainable land management (SLM) towards achieving agricultural land degradation neutrality in Ethiopia and assess how SLM is cost-effective and helpful in achieving a number of other Sustainable Development Goals as co-benefits.

ELD supported three economic valuation studies in different agroecological regions of Kenya. The findings demonstrate that the benefits of SLM exceed the costs, providing evidence to policymakers that the costs of inaction – in the form of reduced food productivity and the loss of ecosystem services – are by far greater than the required current investments to address land degradation.

This study presents the key findings of an economic evaluation of six different sustainable land management measures being implemented in four areas in Niger.

This study looks at the cost of land degradation in Senegal and how SLM practices like organic fertilizer use, agroforestry, and ANR can reduce them.

The main learning objectives of the Self- Study Module are to selectively apply and critically evaluate the use of key concepts and methods in the cost-benefit analysis including discounted cash flow analysis, measures of project worth, and valuation estimates for environmental goods and ecosystem services; identify and compare land management costs and benefits over time for ‘with’ and ‘without’ project scenarios; calculate and interpret investment criteria including net present value and internal rate of return. For the fictional case study of Eldamia two scenarios have to be analysed.

The main learning objectives of Module 8 are to be able to describe the basic elements of a cost-benefit analysis; know the difference between a financial and a total economic value CBA; understand the importance of a sound context analysis; understand the principle of deriving incremental net benefits from the comparison of different scenarios; have an understanding on the quantification of different costs and benefits (units); understand what a discount factor and rate is and be able to discuss the consequences of applying different discount rates; understand the terms shadow prices and opportunity costs; understand how important indicators to conclude on a project worth are computed and have basic ideas on how to interpret them; have a basic understanding on how economic costs are derived from financial values and how to undertake a sensitivity analysis.

The main learning objectives of Module 7 are to obtain a basic understanding of the assumptions behind established valuation methods, why different methods lead to different estimates, how each of these methods works, what kind of results they lead to, and some of their limitations; be able to describe the total economic value (TEV) framework; know different valuation methods and obtain a basic understanding of how to apply these methods; be able to apply a checklist to choose the most appropriate method for valuation; have a basic understanding on how to design a sampling plan and a survey; be aware of different application examples.

The main learning objectives of Module 6 are to know different concepts of ecosystem services classification; be able to categorise ecosystem services; understand the underlying ecological cycles behind regulating and supporting services; know special characteristics of ecosystem services to be taken into account for their identification and assessment; obtain an overview on available data sources and assessment tools; understand how to delineate agro-ecological landscape units and to select ecosystem services for assessment.

The main learning objectives of Module 5 are to understand the rationale behind stakeholder engagement and the importance of goal setting and stakeholder identification for an ELD study; have learned about different practical tools for stakeholder identification; gain the principle know-how to be able to design a stakeholder engagement process and monitor the process; be capable of writing a policy brief in order to address key recommendations to policy-makers.

The main learning objectives of Module 4 are to understand the theoretical framework behind ELD studies- comparing scenarios of inaction with scenarios of action in economic terms; be able to explain the difference between a financial and an economic (total value) cost-benefit analysis; have a basic understanding of the different steps of an ELD study. 

The main learning objectives of Module 3 are to understand GDP as the prime development indicator and its limitations; be able to distinguish between natural capital stocks and flows and ecosystem services; understand the role of natural capital for production and well-being; be able to understand and discuss trade-offs between the use of different ecosystem services; understand the terms market failures and externalities; be aware of studies on the economic losses due to land degradation; know economic assessment methods related to natural capital; understand the viewpoints of different stakeholder groups on natural capital and have some basic knowledge on options for integrating ecosystem services into policies and planning.

The main learning objectives of Module 2 are to understand causes, consequences and effects of land degradation; be able to categorise land degradation phenomena; understand the important role that soils play as carbon sink; be able to categorise SLM measures and understand the positive long-term effects of these measures; understand socio-economic barriers for the adoption of SLM measures and know about different political instruments to incentivise SLM; be aware of the international policy framework of action against land degradation.

The main learning objectives of Module 1 are to understand the dimension of land degradation and the response by the global community, reflected through the sustainable development goal (SDG) 15, as well as the relevance of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the role, structure, and objectives of the ELD Initiative.

This study compared crop yields for FMNR and non-FMNR farmers in order to prove the effectiveness of the method in increasing income in the upper west region of Ghana.

The report highlights the cost of land degradation and what economic benefits are generated through investments in sustainable land management. It aims at assessing the policy implications of achieving SDG 15.3 on achieving other SGDs, in particular economic growth, rural employment, poverty reduction, and food security.

L'étude présente une évaluation de base des réels avantages et des coûts de la production de coton pour les ménages de Banikoara.

The case study from Georgia provides an overview of research conducted on implementing and enforcing a law to ban crop residue burning in the Dedoplistskaro district, using a cost-benefit analysis. When accounting for the contribution of straw to soil nutrients and the market value of straw bales, it is worthwhile for farmers to forgo burning.

The case study from the municipality of Banikoara presents an analysis of the economics of pesticide use and resulting occupational health issues in cotton production.

The ELD case study of Namibian highlights the economic and environmental benefits of bush control on the national and local levels. 

This is an overview of the research on implementing no-till technology and intensifying gardening productivity for greater economic benefits and reduced land degradation in Tajikistan. It is part of the ELD Central Asia Report.

This regional report presents the findings of the research reports from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, following the outline of the ELD approach and provides policy recommendations for sustainable land management for decision-makers on the national and regional levels.

This Policy Brief provides a summary of the research conducted in Kazakhstan about the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable land management in desert forests. It is part of the ELD Central Asia Report.

This paper is a summary of the studies conducted in Kyrgyzstan on how summer pastures can provide greater economic and environmental benefits through improving pasture yields sustainably. It is part of the ELD Central Asia Report.

The Policy Brief for Turkmenistan summarizes the results of the research conducted on rehabilitating pasturelands and sustainable land management in deserts for economic and environmental benefits. It is part of the ELD Central Asia Report.

This paper provides an overview of diversifying agricultural production, retaining biomass in the field, and planting strips of forests in Uzbekistan for positive economic and environmental impacts. It is part of the ELD Central Asia Report.

In this report, the ELD Initiative outlines the benefits for the private sector to invest in sustainable land management and provides pathways for larger, medium, and small enterprises to profit from the potential benefits.

ELD supported three economic valuation studies in different agroecological regions of Kenya. The findings demonstrate that the benefits of SLM exceed the costs, providing evidence to policymakers that the costs of inaction – in the form of reduced food productivity and the loss of ecosystem services – are by far greater than the required current investments to address land degradation.

This report views regional data on the economic costs of soil erosion related to land degradation in Africa and it analyses the costs and benefits of taking action against soil-erosion-induced nutrient losses on arable lands.

The Practitioner's Guide 2015 has been developed to facilitate engagement between stakeholders in identifying pathways to action that can help tackling and adapting to the challenges of land degradation on the ground. It is based on materials of the ELD Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC).

This ELD report presents tools for policy and decision-makers to promote and secure future wealth and human-wellbeing through practices of sustainable land management and demonstrates how those can contribute to society's well-being at all scales within a short period of time.

The Value of Land introduces the ELD Initiative and its 6+1 approach, highlighting the importance of valuing ecosystem services, the potential of sustainable land management to mitigate land degradation as well as pathways for stakeholders' engagement and perspectives.

Maps: Australia; Benin; Brazil; Burkina Faso; China; Ethiopia; Germany; India; Kenia; Myanmar; Philippines; SE Asia; South Africa; United States

This document serves as an instructional and guiding text for stakeholders interested in performing cost-benefit analyses for sustainable land management options using the ELD Initiative 6+1 approach, including examples from the initiative and its partners to demonstrate each part of the process.

The study conducted in Eastern Sudan investigated the impact of adopting an integrated sustainable land use and forest restoration on land degradation and livelihoods of the farmers in the research area, Gedaref State.

The Mali case study uses an ex-ante cost-benefit analysis of large-scale agroforestry and reforestation in the Kelka forest to provide decision-makers with information about the value and importance of changing current land use practices towards more sustainable approaches.

This ELD paper presents an ex-ante cost-benefit analysis of large-scale rangeland restoration through the 'Al-Hima' land management system within the Zarqa River Basin in Jordan, building on the experience of a pilot initiative by IUCN and the Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ethiopian case study provides an assessment of the extent of land degradation, particularly land erosion by water, and the costs and benefits of sustainable land management measures with a focus on areas under rainfed cultivation.

This guide reaches out to provide decision-makers, among others managers, NGOs, and farmers, with the required skills, to make an economic case for preventing or reversing land degradation and adopting more sustainable land management practices.

This study addresses the determination of the spatial distribution of the global rural population on less favored agricultural land and areas as well as on degrading and improving the land. Additionally, it looks at how these distributions affect poverty in developing countries.

This report identifies key rangeland ecosystem services in Botswana's Kgalagadi District and assesses the costs and trade-offs associated with them. A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis is used to rank alternative land use options.

The ELD Business Brief evaluates the risk of land degradation for various industry sectors and discusses the impacts of land degradation on businesses. Additionally, the document highlights a number of successful business cases turning land degradation into business opportunities.

This interim report is a reflection of scientific work that has been synthesized and analyzed building on earlier studies and ELD contributions in the context of the work of UNCCD.