CRIC 13 and Sustainable Land Management

 

UNCCD CRIC 13 Addresses Sustainable Land Management Linkages in Post-2015, Climate Agendas

Delegates to the 13th session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 13) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) made a critical assessment of the status of the Convention and exchanged views on how to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness. Pointing to the continuing “implementation gap” despite the high number of submitted country reports, several delegates questioned whether “we are collecting the right information to spur further action,” and suggested that a focus on synergies with the other Rio Conventions and adopting a global target on land degradation neutrality (LDN) could enhance the Convention’s impact.

Sharing her assessment of the reporting and review exercise, UNCCD Executive Secretary Monique Barbut highlighted shortcomings that require attention, with particular regard to measuring progress toward achieving sustainable land management (SLM) goals at national and global levels. She suggested that national reporting should focus on information that leads to a better understanding of land degradation and should “convince donors to increase financing by demonstrating the importance of land management, in particular for climate change mitigation and adaptation.” Highlighting ongoing efforts to develop common indicators among the three Rio Conventions, Barbut noted that LDN could become “a tangible national objective,” if adopted as part of a global post-2015 agreement.

Among ‘process’ actions to enhance the Convention’s relevance, Executive Secretary Barbut proposed: a longer reporting cycle of four years in order to focus on measuring impacts and results and enhance alignment with the GEF; holding back-to-back sessions of the CST and CRIC alongside major international events such as the Global Soil Week; strengthening regional implementation and governance, including by holding annual regional conferences; and strengthening the CRIC Bureau.

Read the full article: IISD

 

 

UNCCD and IIFs

 

UNCCD Secretariat Publishes Independent Evaluation of Integrated Investment Frameworks

The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has published an ‘Independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the Integrated Investment Frameworks,’ which aims to assess the effectiveness of IIFs in supporting resource mobilization for sustainable land management (SLM). Cambodia, Ethiopia, Honduras and Senegal were chosen as case studies for the evaluation.

IIFs are, in general, part of broader processes that are supported by the Global Mechanism (GM) and aim to “leverage resources, with a view to increasing the effectiveness and impact of SLM interventions.” The report notes that, “Unlike the NAPs, IIFs are not requested in the UNCCD provisions.” IIFs aim to: identify SLM funding gaps; coordinate resource allocation; inform funding decisions and project development; be participatory in nature and “generate buy-in” of stakeholders during elaboration; and generate new funding interest and/or opportunities. They are an important element in the Ten-Year Strategy and in the GM’s support to countries. According to the report, they “promote a programme-based approach to SLM that supports alignment to country priorities, integration into the country budgeting processes, and donor coordination.” IIFs are dependent on a country’s willingness to prioritize SLM and focus on public spending.

Read the full article: IISD

 

 

Feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) goal

Photo credit: Pixabay

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UNCCD Launches Land Degradation Neutrality Project

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The inception meeting of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Project, attended by 15 country delegates, took place from 14-16 January 2014 in Bonn, Germany. The project’s objective is to contribute towards implementing the outcomes of the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20), by providing the UNCCD with empirical evidence on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the LDN goal.

According to recent studies by the UNCCD on the economics of land desertification, land degradation and drought, the cost of land degradation is currently estimated at about US$490 billion per year, much higher than the cost of action to prevent it.

Roughly 40% of the world’s degraded land is found in areas with the highest incidence of poverty and directly impacts the health and livelihoods of an estimated 1.5 billion people. It is estimated that pursuing LDN actions aimed at preventing and/or reversing land degradation, for example through the adoption of sustainable land management (SLM) practices, could deliver up to US$1.4 trillion in increased crop production. Such actions also play a key role in climate change mitigation, through the quantities of CO2 emissions captured by healthy soils and supported ecosystems.

Read more: land-l.iisd

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The ‘Community-based Natural Resource Management Project’ (IFAD)

Photo credit: Pixabay

Ethiopian farmer

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IFAD Project Combats Land Degradation in Ethiopia

 

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An International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-supported project in Ethiopia is making progress in addressing land degradation. The ‘Community-based Natural Resource Management Project,’ located in the watershed of Lake Tana in the northwest of the country focuses on combating land degradation and promoting sustainable land management (SLM) to increase agricultural productivity, household food security, incomes and climate change resilience.

More specifically, it: assists farmers and communities in preserving natural resources and regenerating degraded lands; and aims to manage livestock grazing pastures by establishing ‘no-go areas’ in the most degraded lands, whereby smallholders cut plant material and carry it to the livestock. Through this ‘cut-and-carry’ system, soil erosion caused by over-grazing is reduced and land is able to naturally regenerate. The project includes collaboration with local communities in order to determine which lands are most affected by degradation, which are then fenced off and legally protected against trespassing.

Read more: land-l.iisd

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