The protection of ecosystem services cannot be achieved without sustainable development. At their core, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) continue to build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), seeking to end poverty and hunger. However, they also incorporate a broader agenda to realize sustainable development that enables economic growth, a higher representation of social diversity within governance, and that protects natural resources. This includes recognition that finance is required to achieve SDG targets.

The Incentives for Ecosystem Services (IES) approach supports farmers transition to sustainable agriculture and offers an action-oriented means to enable cross-sectoral coordination and work to achieve multiple SDG targets, mutual benefits and individual objectives. Improving the coordination of co-financing from multiple stakeholders from governments, the private sector, civil society, development partners, etc., through IES packages, also provides an enabling environment to facilitate their integration and partnership to work together to achieve the SDGs.