| Businesses that have large land footprints, like those in the mining sector, need to participate in efforts to achieve the international Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) target. Evidence shows that LDN also makes good business sense in terms of profitability, sustainability, and social responsibility. The current policy and economic contexts are nevertheless lacking in terms of both incentives and finance options. Solutions are needed to target these gaps. A certification system for LDN and/or sustainable land management (SLM) could stimulate interest in economic sectors that have otherwise not yet centrally engaged with SLM issues at a policy level, while also helping businesses to comply with new legislation on LDN. Similarly, the lack of financing options for SLM and land rehabilitation could be addressed by an LDN fund. This could be constructed in an innovative public-private way that provides commercial loans and equity in investments, allowing new flows of finance into SLM and land rehabilitation. |
