Land degradation is occurring rapidly at a time of growing need for fertile soil and healthy ecosystems. Multi-scale solutions that ensure economic and environmental sustainability are needed. Scientific advances have been driven by UNU-INWEH which between 2012 and 2016 has been responsible for the scientific coordination of the global Initiative on the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD). The Initiative aims to create awareness of the economic case for sustainable land management — preventing the loss of this valuable natural capital while addressing water, food and energy security (ELD Initiative, 2015a).
