by Ephraim Nkonya, Alisher Mirzabaev and Joachim von Braun
This book on Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement
provides withvaluable knowledge and information both at the global, regional, and national levels on the costs of land degradation and benefits of taking action against land degradation. A key advantage of this book is that it goes beyond the conventional market values of only crop and livestock products lost due to land degradation, but seeks to capture all major terrestrial losses of ecosystem services. Twelve carefully selected national case studies provide rich information about various local contexts of cost
of land degradation as evaluated by local communities, drivers of land degradation,and amenable strategies for sustainable land management.
The research presented in the book shows that investments to address landdegradation have significant economic payoffs. Next to investments, we have to address the question of adoption of sustainable land management practices and policies. To implement land restoration, we need to understand obstacles within the
social, economic, and the political context. The results of this study show that particular attention needs to be paid to tangible local incentives for taking action against land degradation. This requires secure land rights, enhancing extensionservices, and empowering local communities to manage their natural resources. The
identification of implementation pathways through multitakeholder processesassumes a particular importance in this regard. This book can serve as a highlyvaluable resource and reference for policymakers, civil society, researchers, and practitioners.
Single sections of the publication or the whole book can be downloaded here.