15 April 2013: The Global Mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has highlighted its contributions to the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference and the eleventh session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 11), which are taking place back-to-back in Bonn, Germany.

The UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference convened alongside the third special session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST S-3) from 9-12 April 2013. A workshop organized around the theme ‘Scaling-up SLM: What is the Missing Link? Bridging the Science-Policy-Practice Divide, Making the Case Through Valuation of Ecosystem Services’ presented case studies and examples related to the approach and experience of the Offering Sustainable Land-use Options (OSLO) consortium, which is a partnership of scientific research institutions, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and private sector actors that are applying the Economic Valuation of Land (EVL) approach and methodology in site-specific and nationwide contexts.

Speakers included Lindsay Stringer, University of Leeds, UK, who noted that partnerships need a purpose, such as to address regulatory, participatory, resource and learning gaps. Joanna Schild, Free University Amsterdam, the Netherlands, presented evidence on the economic value of drylands based on a meta-analysis of dryland ecosystem services, noting that that the high value of drylands in low income countries underpins their importance. Sakhile Koketso, Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat, discussed a technical report on assessing the value of biodiversity in dry and sub-humid lands. According to the presentation, the report presents a step-wise approach based on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) total economic value approach. Siv Øystese, Global Mechanism, identified tools to involve the private sector in sustainable land management (SLM). During the discussion that followed, participants highlighted the private sector’s focus on risk, impact and return, and the need for public-private partnerships, among other topics.

At the opening of CRIC 11, on 15 April, the Global Mechanism presented its analysis of the country reports submitted to the UNCCD’s Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System (PRAIS), and noted that financial resources devoted to the UNCCD’s objectives have increased since the first reporting cycle (2008-2009). The increase in Africa reached six times the previous level, with the global increase tripling. The Global Mechanism recommended that, inter alia: all Parties should target more resources for regions that are lagging behind; developed country Parties should prioritize investments that target desertification as a principal objective; and affected country Parties should explore opportunities to increase financial flows for UNCCD-related activities through South-South cooperation. [Summary of the session on Economic Valuation] [Summary of presentation of Analysis of Financial Flows] [IISD RS coverage of CST S-3, UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference, and CRIC 11]