Living Land

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coordination between public sectors for more integrated,

responsive and sustainable development, and through

participatory technology development and innovation.

Better science-based evidence is needed in targeting

policy and investment. Evidence of rangeland health and

development opportunities for better targeting of policy

and investment can be strengthened through the use of

scalable assessment tools that are adapted to non-equilib-

rium dryland ecology. Evidence-based decision-making

can be boosted with support for knowledge management,

communications, capacity building and advocacy.

Advocacy is a priority to address sustainable develop-

ment concerns in rangelands. Motivation for effective

policy implementation within government agencies, and

prioritization in rangeland investment, can be stimulated

through greater, more informed engagement of local range-

land users in public consultations and involvement in

political processes.

It is important to leverage appropriate investments in SRM.

Greater investments can be generated through awareness-raising

based on economic valuation of ecosystem services and commu-

nication of the multiple values of rangelands. In many countries

enabling investments in appropriate public services and infra-

structure are a priority. Investments in multiple ecosystem

services are needed, as well as mobilizing innovative market-

based options such as value chain development and PES.

Emphasis must be placed on policy implementation.

Policy barriers may impede SRM and LDN in some cases,

but in most countries supportive policies already exist and

priority should be given to raising awareness and capacity

and mobilizing resources to implement these policies.

Considering the importance of rangelands within the

drylands, progress towards a land degradation neutral world

will only be possible if major attention is now given to this

globally important biome, and if investments and policies are

oriented towards supporting locally generated solutions.

Linking local range governance to productive SRM investments and PES

Direct local benefits

Improved rural livelihoods

Jobs and income

Sustained range ecosystems

Jordan society benefits

Higher GDP and biodiversity

Strengthened rural economy

Higher ground water

Recharge and reduced

Reservoir siltation

International environmental funding

GM/UNCCD

GEF – UNDP

Green water credits

Direct local investments in SRM

Hima grazing Mgt.;

S&WC; MARPS

Ecol. Livestock Prod

Local eco tourism

Enabling investments in SRM

Local governance

Value chain development

Institutional and regulatory

frameworks

Financing investments in SRM

Renewable energy

Eco-tourism

(livestock)

Jordan’s contribution to global

society benefits

Climate change adaption

and mitigation

Soil carbon sequestration

Biodiversity

LDN and DRR

Impact

Local PES

Rationale

Local PES

International PES

Local PES

Source: Laban, 2015

In Jordan, the International Union for Conservation of Nature Regional

Office for West Asia and the Ministry of Agriculture have engaged

with key relevant stakeholders in more detailed studies on rangeland

investment options. This has led to proposals for investments in SRM

such as ecological livestock and medicinal plant production, ‘Hima’

grazing management and soil, carbon and water (SCW) conservation as

well as in ecotourism and renewable energies.

In order to create long-term impact and sustainability, this study

emphasizes close participation and management ownership of local

range users. It is argued that this will require important investments

in appropriate local governance structures. Where most of the above

mentioned investments can be economically viable, others such as in

SCW conservation and local governance may be more difficult to finance.

Economic valuation studies have indicated that in Jordan, the value of

rangeland restoration can amount to JD15 million (US$21.5 million) per

year for roughly 30 per cent of the rangelands, if sustainably managed.

This value does not yet consider other resulting ecosystem benefits such

as increased biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

The proposed investment packages have high potential to create local

and societal ecosystem benefits. By implementing them Jordan can

also contribute to ecosystem benefits at the global society level, such

as biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation

and LDN. Such contributions need to be rewarded, and global PES

could provide a platform for this. Engaging in promising investments

such as in ecotourism and renewable energy could provide the vehicle,

through taxation and licensing, for country-level PES modalities. Both

PES modalities could provide the financing flows needed to invest in

SCW conservation and in required local governance structures.

iving

and