ELD - 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. The ELD Initiative was established in 2011 by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the European Commission. The Initiative is coordinated and supported by the ELD Secretariat, which is hosted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). During its first decade, the initiative developed its internationally recognized "6+1 step approach" to assess the economics of land and ecosystem services. ELD supported governments around the world in taking better land decisions with 40 case studies in 30 countries. It raised global awareness with 15 global and continental studies and trained more than 2,000 professionals - NGO representatives, academics, and local and national government officials. This work was achieved through the engagement of a network of committed professionals from a range of institutions including universities, research, NGOs, international organizations, development agencies, and consultants. The ELD Initiative has recently entered its second decade of activities, which more than ever needs to bring about "Transformative Action for Land". Read our ELD borchure to learn more: https://www.eld-initiative.org/fileadmin/ELD_Filter_Tool/Publication_ELD_Initiative_-_Brochure/ELD_brochure_2023_Transformative_action_for_land.pdf