The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) have implemented a joint project to measure the economic costs of land degradation, taking into account different climate change scenarios. The project's main objective is to support policymakers in determining the allocation of resources to combat the effects of land degradation, desertification and drought. The project will produce a baseline of the costs of degradation and desertification for all countries studied, including an analysis of the potential long-term effects of climate change on degraded land. Seven countries in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru) have been included in this research work. This paper presents baseline costs and preliminary findings and projections for selected South American countries. Preliminary findings show that the annual cost of desertification varies widely, ranging from 6.6 to 14% of Agricultural Gross Value of Production (AGVP), with significant differences within each country. The dynamics of degradation are also an important issue, especially in regions covered by tropical forests such as Ecuador and Peru.