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Economics of land degradation: The costs of action versus inaction

Author

Listed:
  • Nkonya, Ephraim
  • Gerber, Nicolas
  • von Braun, Joachim
  • De Pinto, Alessandro

Abstract

In recent years, prices of agricultural land have increased quickly, actually doubling and tripling in many parts of the world. This land value reassessment has been prompted by rising crop prices and perceived land scarcity. But even as the value of land rises, land degradation continues and investments to prevent it are lagging. Awareness of environmental risks has moved to the forefront of global consciousness during the past 25 years. However, this awareness has not translated into comprehensive action to address the problem of land degradation, which poses a serious threat to long-term food security. This inaction is primarily the result of limited knowledge of the costs related to land degradation and of insufficient institutional support. Policy action and research are needed to resolve this paradox of high-value land and low levels of investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Nkonya, Ephraim & Gerber, Nicolas & von Braun, Joachim & De Pinto, Alessandro, 2011. "Economics of land degradation: The costs of action versus inaction," Issue briefs 68, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:issbrf:68
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    3. von Grebmer, Klaus & Ringler, Claudia & Rosegrant, Mark W. & Olofinbiyi, Tolulope & Wiesmann, Doris & Fritschel, Heidi & Badiane, Ousmane & Torero, Maximo & Yohannes, Yisehac & Thompson, Jennifer & vo, 2012. "2012 Indice de la faim dans le monde:: Relever le defi de la faim: Assurer une sécurité alimentaire durable dan un monde sous contraintes en eau, en énergie et en terres," IFPRI books, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), number 2012 GHI French.
    4. Bamidele, Seun & Erameh, Nicholas Idris, 2023. "Environmental degradation and sustainable peace dialogue in the Niger delta region of Nigeria," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    5. Zvirgzdiņš Jānis & Plotka Kaspars & Geipele Sanda, 2018. "Eco-Economics in Cities and Rural Areas," Baltic Journal of Real Estate Economics and Construction Management, Sciendo, vol. 6(1), pages 88-99, July.
    6. Maria Jose Marques & Gudrun Schwilch & Nina Lauterburg & Stephen Crittenden & Mehreteab Tesfai & Jannes Stolte & Pandi Zdruli & Claudio Zucca & Thorunn Petursdottir & Niki Evelpidou & Anna Karkani & Y, 2016. "Multifaceted Impacts of Sustainable Land Management in Drylands: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-34, February.
    7. repec:fpr:resrep:2012ghifrench is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Gebreegziabher, Zenebe & van Kooten, G. Cornelis & van Soest, Daan P., 2017. "Technological innovation and dispersion: Environmental benefits and the adoption of improved biomass cookstoves in Tigrai, northern Ethiopia," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 337-345.
    9. Mani, Muthukumara & Markandya, Anil & Sagar, Aarsi & Strukova, Elena, 2012. "An analysis of physical and monetary losses of environmental health and natural resources in India," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6219, The World Bank.
    10. Rokhsareh Khashtabeh & Morteza Akbari & Mahdi Kolahi & Ali Talebanfard, 2021. "Assessing the effects of desertification control projects using socio-economic indicators in the arid regions of eastern Iran," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 10455-10469, July.
    11. von Grebmer, Klaus & Ringler, Claudia & Rosegrant, Mark W. & Olofinbiyi, Tolulope & Wiesmann, Doris & Fritschel, Heidi & Badiane, Ousmane & Torero, Maximo & Yohannes, Yisehac & Thompson, Jennifer & vo, 2012. "2012 Global hunger index: the challenge of hunger: Ensuring sustainable food security under land, water, and energy stresses," IFPRI books, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), number 2012 GHI English.
    12. repec:fpr:ifprib:2012ghifrench is not listed on IDEAS
    13. He Zhang & Ashish Asutosh & Wei Hu, 2018. "Implementing Vertical Farming at University Scale to Promote Sustainable Communities: A Feasibility Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-18, November.
    14. repec:fpr:resrep:2012ghienglish is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Manab Das & Debashish Goswami & Anshuman & Alok Adholeya, 2014. "Land degradation, water scarcity and sustainability," Chapters, in: Raghbendra Jha & Raghav Gaiha & Anil B. Deolalikar (ed.), Handbook on Food, chapter 17, pages 443-461, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    16. Richard J. Thomas & Emmanuelle Quillérou & Naomi Stewart, 2013. "The rewards of investing in sustainable land management," Working Papers hal-01954823, HAL.

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