Economics of Land Degradation Initiative: Methods and Approach for Global and National Assessments

ZEF - Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 183

48 Pages Posted: 23 Oct 2013

See all articles by Ephraim Nkonya

Ephraim Nkonya

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Joachim von Braun

University of Bonn - Department of Economic and Technological Change

Alisher Mirzabaev

University of Bonn - Center for Development Research (ZEF)

Quang Bao Le

ETH Zürich

Ho Young Kwon

CGIAR - Environment and Production Technology Division

Oliver Kirui

University of Bonn - Center for Development Research (ZEF)

Date Written: October 2013

Abstract

Healthy land ecosystems are essential to sustainable development, including food security and improved livelihoods. Yet, their key services have usually been taken for granted and their true value underrated, leading to land degradation becoming a critical global problem. This pattern of undervaluation of lands is about to change in view of the rapidly rising land prices, which is the result of increasing shortage of land and high output prices. Despite the urgent need for preventing and reversing land degradation, the problem has yet to be appropriately addressed. Policy actions for sustainable land management are lacking, and a policy framework for action is missing. Such a framework for policy action needs to be supported by evidence-based and action-oriented research. The Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) initiative seeks to develop such a science basis for policy actions to address land degradation.

The purpose of this methodological paper is to provide with sound and feasible standards for ELD assessment at global and national levels. Only if some basic standards are identified and adhered to, comparative assessments can be conducted between countries and useful aggregation of findings, based on these case studies, can be achieved. Therefore, using the Total Economic Value (TEV) framework, the paper identifies minimum core standards that need to be adhered to in all country case studies to generate comparable material for international assessment and ELD policy guidance. It also identifies additional and desirable areas of information and analyses that would add value to the country case study material. The proposed framework is also intended as a forward-looking agenda which can guide future research.

Keywords: Economics of Land Degradation, ELD, case studies, Total Economic Value

JEL Classification: B41, Q01, Q15, Q24, Q51

Suggested Citation

Nkonya, Ephraim and von Braun, Joachim and Mirzabaev, Alisher and Le, Quang Bao and Kwon, Ho Young and Kirui, Oliver, Economics of Land Degradation Initiative: Methods and Approach for Global and National Assessments (October 2013). ZEF - Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 183, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2343636 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2343636

Ephraim Nkonya (Contact Author)

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Joachim Von Braun

University of Bonn - Department of Economic and Technological Change ( email )

Walter-Flex-Str. 3
Bonn, 53113
Germany

Alisher Mirzabaev

University of Bonn - Center for Development Research (ZEF) ( email )

Walter-Flex-Str. 3
Bonn, NRW 53113
Germany

Quang Bao Le

ETH Zürich ( email )

Zürichbergstrasse 18
8092 Zurich, CH-1015
Switzerland

Ho Young Kwon

CGIAR - Environment and Production Technology Division ( email )

2033 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.ifpri.org/staffprofile/ho-young-kwon

Oliver Kirui

University of Bonn - Center for Development Research (ZEF) ( email )

Walter-Flex-Str. 3
Bonn, NRW 53113
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.zef.de/staff/1217.html

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