The socio-economics of desertification, land degradation and drought

A Special Event during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2011

Background:
A recent study found that land degradation has reduced the productivity of the world's terrestrial surface area by about 25% over the period 1981-2003. Such a setting challenges the global environmental and developmental objectives. According to FAO, to provide food to an increasing world population, agricultural production must increase by 50% by 2030. At the same time, increasing demand for agro fuels is intensifying competition for the scarce resources of soil and water, and climate change is threatening productive systems. OECD has calculated that an annual investment of US$80 billion would be needed to replace the loss in developing countries` agricultural production. However, many decision-makers in both developing and developed countries continue to discount these economic impacts on productive ecosystems.

There is an evident need to draw attention to the global economic benefits of healthy and productive land and soil. “The Economics of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought” (E-DLDD) will respond to this need, by calculating and communicating the cost of desertification, land degradation and drought, assessing the cost – and benefit – of action vs. the cost of inaction, and providing practical guidance for effective decision-making.

Panellists include (in alphabetical order):

• Walter Ammann, President, Global Risk Forum GRF Davos, Davos, Switzerland
• Carola Donner-Reichle, Senior Advisor, Asian Development Bank ADB, Manila, Philippines
• Peter Engler, Councillor, City of Davos, Switzerland
• Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Bonn, Germany
• Michael J. Manfredo, Professor and Dept. Head, Colorado State University, USA
• Marcel Normann, Principal, McKinsey and Company Inc., Hamburg, Germany (tbc)
• Andreas Rechkemmer, Chief Science and Policy Advisor, GRF Davos, Davos, Switzerland
• Stefan Schmitz, Head of Division, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Bonn, Germany
• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Representative

Programme outline:

• Keynote Lecture: The Socio-Economics of DLDD - Towards a Global Assessment
• DLDD: The social dimensions – The Importance for Asia (Video Statement)
• SE-DLDD – The Importance for the German Government
• Socio-economic impacts of DLDD and Leadership for A Complex World: A Case Study in Southern Mexico
• SE-DLDD – The Importance for the Private Sector
• Panel,  Discussion Moderator: Andreas Rechkemmer, Chief Science and Policy Advisor, GRF Davos, Davos, Switzerland
• Signing Ceremony: Memorandum of Understanding UNCCD – GRF Davos Future Activities – A risk perspective