20 December 2012: The Global Mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in collaboration with the OSLO (Offering Sustainable Land­-use Options) Consortium, the Government of Rwanda and the Land Policy Initiative, recently organized a sub-regional Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building Workshop for Eastern Africa on the Economic Valuation of Land and Ecosystem Services.

The workshop took place from 10-13 December 2012, in Kigali, Rwanda. It was the first in a series of workshops on Economic Valuation of Land and Ecosystem Services being produced by the Global Mechanism in collaboration with the OSLO Consortium.

Participants at the Rwanada workshop discussed, inter alia, ecosystem services, valuation of the total economic value of land, natural capital accounting, methodological approaches, decision support tools, and case studies. During a panel discussion on the final afternoon of the workshop, participants underlined the importance of, inter alia: balancing investment needs with the needs of the community; ensuring that land transactions happen at fair, equitable prices; and mainstreaming the issue of ecosystem services and land valuation. Participants also noted a need for innovative ways to encourage shifts in the ways that the private and public sectors look at ecosystem services, including through capacity building.

Meeting organizers have indicated that a formal outcome document will be prepared in conjunction with the Land Policy Initiative, which will include official plans for long-term collaboration with the Government of Rwanda to take steps towards integrating ecosystem service valuation into national valuation strategies. [OSLO Consortium] [Workshop Information][IISD RS Sources]