19 September 2013: The Global Mechanism (GM) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has announced the release of recommendations from a workshop and a report titled, ‘New Opportunities for Natural Wealth Management,’ which is based on the findings of a public and private sector dialogue held in Bangkok, Thailand in June 2013.

The report documents enabling conditions to promote responsible investment in Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as methods for valuing natural capital and stimulating investment. Enabling conditions highlighted in the report include: finding the total economic value of resources under consideration; devising the right policy and economic incentives for investment in sustainable land management; and combining financial and technical resources. The report outlines examples of sustainable responsible investment, and platforms for building public/private dialogues. Participants shared experience on “triple bottom line” investments, on scaling up green technologies, and on natural valuation across the region.

The four-day workshop brought together 140 participants and was co-organized by the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The meeting was initiated by the OSLO Consortium (Offering Sustainable Land-use Options) and the results will be shared at a side event during the eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the UNCCD on 20 September 2013. [GM Press Release] [Publication: Natural Wealth Mekong: New Opportunities for Natural Wealth Management] [Event Website]