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These guidelines support GEF project developers in formulating projects that contribute to the LDN ambitions of countries and in ensuring that other projects not directly targeting LDN are compatible with LDN objectives and approaches. The guidelines complement and expand the Checklist for Land Degradation Neutrality Transformative Projects and Programmes.They are intended to be applied during project development and at the problem definition and intervention design stages; they are also relevant to monitoring the achievement of LDN goals. LDN will only be achieved through concerted and coordinated efforts to integrate LDN objectives with land-use planning and land management, underpinned by sound understanding of the human-environment system and effective governance mechanisms. Therefore, these guidelines focus particularly on laying the foundation to achieve LDN by establishing enabling policies and applying integrated land-use planning, informed by preparatory assessments, as described in the Scientific Conceptual Framework for LDN (LDN-SCF). The document was prepared in close consultation to ensure continuity with the LDN Conceptual Framework as well as guidance developed by the GM. This publication will contribute to our efforts to seed the “innovation ecosystem” building up around the LDN concept. The timing is also important, considering that land use change is the primary indirect driver behind emerging infectious diseases, and the no-net loss approach of LDN is a holistic policy response to optimizing land use decisions that can keep land in balance, in in so doing, food, energy and nature in balance. In 2015 the UNCCD introduced the new concept of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), which was later adopted as a target of Goal 15 of the SDGs, Life on Land: 120 countries have committed to pursue voluntary LDN targets. The objectives of LDN are to: maintain or improve the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services; maintain or improve productivity, in order to enhance food security; increase resilience of the land and populations dependent on the land; seek synergies with other social, economic and environmental objectives; and reinforce responsible and inclusive governance of land. The fundamental aim of LDN is to preserve the land resource base, by ensuring no net loss of healthy and productive land, at national level. This goal is to be achieved through a combination of measures that avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation. Achieving LDN requires estimating the likely cumulative impacts of land use and land management decisions, and counterbalancing anticipated losses through strategically-planned rehabilitation or restoration of degraded land, within the same land type. These guidelines offer practical help to those developing projects which contribute to Land Degradation Neutrality. Each of the five modules presents key concepts, principles, and practical steps for implementation. ABOUT STAP The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) comprises seven expert advisors supported by a Secretariat, who are together responsible for connecting the Global Environment Facility to the most up to date, authoritative and globally representative science. http://www.stapgef.org ABOUT GEF The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, the GEF has provided close to $20 billion in grants and mobilized an additional $107 billion in co-financing for more than 4,700 projects. The GEF has become an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to address global environmental issues. http://www.thegef.org
