ADB and Partners Unveil FIELD Initiative to Combat Land Degradation in Asia and the Pacific

Ulaanbaatar: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today, in collaboration with its partners, unveiled the Financing Investments and Eradicating Land Degradation and Desertification (FIELD) Initiative. This regional partnership aims to mobilize at least $2 billion by 2035 to invest in programs aimed at restoring lands and enhancing drought resilience across Asia and the Pacific. According to Asian Development Bank, land degradation and desertification pose significant threats to ecosystems that support millions of rural communities and drive economic growth in the region. ADB's Vice-President for East and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, Scott Morris, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing these challenges. By partnering to scale innovative investments in healthy and productive landscapes, the ADB seeks to lead efforts in conserving biodiversity, improving livelihoods, and ensuring food and water security. The FIELD Initiative was announced during a ministerial dialogue at the 17th Sess ion of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This initiative will aid countries in designing, securing financing, and implementing land restoration projects. It will incorporate innovative financial approaches such as derisking structures, blended finance, and capital market instruments to attract private capital. An initial pipeline of projects focusing on land and forest restoration, along with river-basin and water management, has already been identified. The increasing severity of droughts, soil erosion, and unsustainable land use endangers dryland ecosystems that support over 40% of the region's population. These challenges threaten agricultural production, biodiversity, and resilience. The financial gap for sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems is expanding, particularly for rangelands, which cover 54% of the world's land surface and store up to 30% of global soil carbon. The initiative aims to sustainably manage about 1 million hectares of land by 2035 to reduce degradation and bolster food and water security. It will offer grants and technical assistance to help ADB's developing member countries develop sustainable capacity policies and establish a knowledge platform. FIELD is a specialized land restoration and drought resilience initiative under the Nature Solutions Finance Hub, an ADB-led platform to expand nature-positive investments in Asia and the Pacific, supported by financial and technical partners. It aligns with ADB's Environment Action Plan and its $40 billion commitment by 2030 to transform food systems across the region. FIELD also contributes to the Riyadh Action Agenda, spearheaded by Saudi Arabia as the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, to mobilize state and non-state actors for land restoration and drought resilience. Its launch coincides with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists and the Global Rangelands Flagship Initiative, led by Mongolia and the UNCCD. UNCCD Executiv e Secretary Yasmine Fouad highlighted that the Global Rangelands Flagship Initiative aims to move from recognition to large-scale implementation. ADB's leadership through FIELD is pivotal in building the investment pathway needed to connect restoration priorities with finance, projects, and on-the-ground delivery. This approach is essential for transforming ambition into actionable investments for landscapes vital to livelihoods, food systems, and resilient economies. Partners expressing initial interest in the FIELD Initiative include the UNCCD, the Qatar Fund for Development, and the Middle East Green Initiative. Existing partners of the Nature Solutions Finance Hub, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the European Union, the OPEC Fund for International Development, and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), are also part of this collaboration. ADB is a prominent multilateral development bank dedicated to supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. By collaborating with its members and partners to tackle complex challenges, ADB utilizes innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and protect our planet. Established in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members, with 50 from the region.