1. Gap Analysis >> Next Steps
15 October 2012
Simone Quatrini
Coordinator, Policy and Investment Analysis
Global Mechanism of the UNCCD

2. ELD aims: identifying or developing tools that
in a nutshell
ELD Objectives
Compare the costs of land degradation to the costs of adopting sustainable land management (SLM) practices
Build capacity and improve data access to developing countries
ELD aims: identifying or developing tools that
Policy-makers can bolt onto what they are already doing
Can afford to pay for now
Empower and substantiate land-use decision-making
ELD approach
Estimation of the Total Economic Value of the cost of land degradation, to add value to what countries are already doing
Use of integrated modelling approaches to estimate social losses from land degradation rather than benefit transfer
Use of scenarios to account for trade-offs between populations

3. 1st scientific meeting (LSE, March 2012)
Go beyond production losses
Aim for total economic values
Value ecosystem services provided
Agreed objectives, scope, and governance structure of the ELD Initiative
4 working groups established:
Data analyses & methodology - assess available data sources and build integrated model framework
Options for policy outreach - identify pathways/scenarios for policy-makers at all levels
Economic valuation of options – quantify the costs and benefits of alternative land management options using existing evidence
Case studies - group overlapping all others

4. working groups
WG Data analyses & methodology
WG Options/pathways for policy outreach
WG Economic valuation of options
Case studies
Integration of research steams, WGs, meta-analysis & synthesis
Network
OSLO
ESP
Network ZEF/IFPRI
WOCAT etc.

5. joint ELD-SLM meeting (EC, Oct 2012)
ELD methodological approach: proximate/underlying causes, use/non use values, costs of inaction/benefits of action, include external drivers, social values of land, etc.
Gap analysis: identify and prioritize the identified gaps to be filled in by the ELD initiative
Working groups: participants, roles, objectives, working modalities, deliverables, links to the reports, case studies, funding
ELD outputs: 3 reports (draft outline, structure, target audience, etc.):
For the scientific community
For policy-makers
For the private sector

6. gap analysis Gaps in technological/technical knowledge
System tipping points for LD (e.g. top soil loss, water quality control, including those that might be mediated via climate change)
Clear relationship between population density and LD
Impact of LD on livestock, rangeland and forests
Lack of understanding of the factors driving changes to land use and causing LD
Temporal factors: speed of change, whether drivers of change are themselves changing over time, links with local development patterns and the global economy
Overall costs and benefits of different land management interventions

7. gap analysis Gaps in environmental valuation
Lack of harmonized methodology (scales, discount rate, etc.)
Lack of information on trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services (ES)
Lack of information on links and trade-offs at different spatial scales
Lack of information on social costs of LD
Limited understanding of value of ES to local livelihoods
Lack of info on non-market values of ES
Lack of robust low cost methods applicable by affected countries in the short term
Lack of data and systems for mapping ES

8. gap analysis Policy gaps
Lack of M&E systems for total ecosystem assessments
Lack of identified plausible future scenarios on which to base LD assessments
Lack of information on policy trade-offs; and who should do what (subsidiarity)
Lack of tools for decision makers to determine the best land use between different alternatives
Institutional and private sector
Science-policy-practice divide
Need for greater interdisciplinary approaches
Lack of mechanisms to bridge the disconnect between providers of ES (e.g. rural areas) and users of the services (e.g. urban areas)
Lack of financial products, services and institutions that are immediately available to start securing the land resource base
Lack of an effective and comprehensive incentive framework for SLM
Limited risk management/mitigation instruments and mechanisms
Lack of awareness, knowledge management, capacity building

9. Timeline ELD 2013 next steps (2013) Events Actions
2nd Scientific Conference Feb Fortaleza, Brazil
Events
CRIC 11
COP 11
Feb Apr June Aug Oct Dec
Jan Mar May July Sept Nov
ELD Side event
Revised ELD project list
Launch of paper
Scientific Paper Draft presented
Actions
ELD side event
ELD partner and review meeting

10. THANK YOU