Finding out about financial incentives for sustainable land management (SLM) just became easier with a new publication by the Global Mechanism (GM) and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE). “Incentive and Market-Based Mechanisms to Promote Sustainable Land Management” delves into an array of economic instruments aimed at motivating land users to carry out practices that halt or reverse land degradation.
Because land-use regulations have proved difficult to enforce and subsidies to encourage soil conservation and restoration have not always met with success, the need for new approaches has arisen. There is an increasing understanding that ecosystem services and the sustainable use of them have local and global benefits that should be valued and paid for – for example, securing carbon storage, water and soil quality. Direct and indirect payments to the land stewards investing in such practices are enabling and encouraging more sustainable practices that can help stop land degradation from compromising agricultural productivity and food security.
In addition to describing 14 incentive mechanisms for SLM , the publication shows how they may be applied. The book explains how incentive and market- based mechanisms (IMBMs) can encourage investments in SLM and the adoption of sustainable land management practices (SLMPs) as well as how to promote IMBMs. Further, the publication includes a methodology and scorecard system to guide decision makers in selecting mechanisms most suitable to their country, environment and site. The final chapter highlights lessons learned in four pilot countries where the framework and tool were tested.
“Incentive and Market-Based Mechanisms to Promote Sustainable Land Management” can benefit government officials, development agency programme officers, civil society organization and private sector leaders in their search for sustainable solutions.
In accordance with its mandate from the UNCCD, the GM seeks to identify and explore ‘’innovative sources of finance and financing mechanisms” to combat desertification and land degradation.
For more information
Ms Siv Øystese, Coordinator, Economic Instruments and Innovative Finance
Tel. +39 06 5459 2782
s.oystese (at) global-mechanism.org
Incentive and Market-Based Mechanisms to Promote Sustainable Land management (1.81 MB)
