European study addresses the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity…

As a follow up to my Sept. 11 post, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity released its report for policymakers. According to this study, factoring multi-trillion dollar ecosystem services into national and international investment strategies are likely to deliver high rates of return and strong economic growth in the 21st century. Some countries are making the link and seeing benefits in terms of economic returns that outstrip those wedded to economic models of the previous century, notes a press release from the UN Environment Program.

The report, subtitled Responding to the Value of Nature, calls on policymakers to accelerate, scale-up, and embed investments in the management and restoration of ecosystems. “Nature’s multiple and complex values have direct economic impacts on human well-being and public and private spending. Recognizing and rewarding the value delivered to society by the natural environment must become a policy priority,” noted TEEB study leader Pavan Sukhdev at a press conference in Brussels.

The report has a number of recommendations, including investing in ecological infrastructure. This can provide cost-effective opportunities to increase resilience to climate change, reduce risk from natural hazards, improve food and water security, and contribute to poverty alleviation. Investments in maintenance and conservation are almost always cheaper than trying to restore damaged ecosystems and the social benefits that flow from restoration can be several times higher than the costs.

Since protected areas are a cornerstone of conservation policies and provide multiple benefits, an investment of $45 billion US in protected areas could secure vital nature-based services worth $5 trillion US a year, including the sequestration of carbon, the protection and enhancement of water resources, and protection against flooding. The global protected area network covers 13.9 percent of the Earth’s land surface and nearly one-sixth of the world’s population depend on these lands for a significant percentage of their livelihoods.

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity was launched by Germany and the European Commission in 2007 to develop a global study on the economics of biodiversity loss. TEEB is hosted by UNEP with financial support from the European Commission, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and United Kingdom. The latest study is one of a series of five interconnected reports which will be released through 2010, including an analysis of the economic values for the main types of ecosystem services around the world.

Armenia joins 350 international day of climate action…

As part of the global 350 climate change campaign, activists led by Armenia Tree Project and other NGOs worked with schoolchildren to plant 350 pine seedlings in northern Armenia on Oct. 24.

“We were proud to represent Armenia in this international 350 movement. This campaign was initiated by activists and scientists concerned about rising levels of carbon dioxide that is causing climate change globally and even in Armenia, where we are witnessing more weather extremes and drier weather that has implications for forests and agriculture,” explained ATP Yerevan Director Mher Sadoyan.

“Activists all over the world planned actions on this day to let global leaders know that carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere need to be lowered to 350 parts per million, or scientists predict we will face climate changes that could lead to widespread disruptions for people and ecosystems,” added Sadoyan.

“Trees absorb carbon that causes climate change, so we hope our contribution to the global 350 campaign will help reduce the adverse impacts of climate change, especially for rural populations in Armenia and other countries that are most affected,” stated ATP Environmental Education Program Manager Alla Berberyan.

“The climate action was a positive event to raise awareness of the importance of the number 350 to the Armenian and the international community, and we are expecting it to have a practical educational impact,” noted Berberyan.

To read this story in Armenian, click here.

Publications review latest Conservation Finance & Forest Carbon programs…

I have been reading two important resources on Conservation Finance and Forest Carbon and wanted to share the titles since they are highly recommended for conservation professionals.

The first, Guide to Conservation Finance, focuses on new sources of sustainable financing for conservation, including Payments for Ecosystem Services and other market-based economic instruments. This publication outlines mechanisms that have been implemented around the world, and case studies demonstrate both successes and challenges facing project developers.

The Guide to Conservation Finance was released by World Wildlife Fund this month and provides an overview of topics including Carbon Finance, Payments for Watershed Services, Tourism and Recreation Revenue Programs, Mitigation Banking and Biodiversity Offsets, and Environmental Investment Funds.

Deforestation has been a major driver of climate change, so it is widely understood that its reversal must be an integral part of the solution. In Climate Change and Forests: Emerging Policy and Market Opportunities, international experts explain the links between climate change and forests, highlighting the potential role of this sector within emerging climate policy frameworks.

Climate Change and Forests provides an excellent overview of forestry and the Clean Development Mechanism, emerging programs to finance avoided deforestation, and the growing voluntary carbon markets. The authors are prominent innovators in this field, and the book includes chapters on Risks and Criticism of Forestry-Based Climate Change Mitigation and Carbon Trading, Rewarding Developing Countries for Protecting Forest Carbon, and Carving a Niche for Forestry in the Voluntary Carbon Markets.

The first chapter by editors Charlotte Streck, Robert O’Sullivan, Toby Janson-Smith, and Richard Tarasofsky is available from the publisher here.

Ecosystems are climate mitigation and adaptation engines...

A new study by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity project launched by Germany and the European Commission reports that investing in the restoration and maintenance of the Earth’s multi-trillion dollar ecosystems--from forests and mangroves to wetlands and river basins--can have a key role in countering climate change.

A Climate Issues Update was launched this month by study leader Pavan Sukhdev of Deutsche Bank. The update suggests that an agreement on funding for forests is a priority for governments attending the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen in December. Fifteen percent of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions are being sequestered by forests every year, making them the mitigation engine of the natural world, highlights a press release by the German Ministry for the Environment.

Investing in ecosystem-based measures such as Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) has been identified as an effective means to combat climate change and a key anti-poverty and adaptation measure. Forests also provide services such as freshwater, soil stabilization, nutrients for agriculture, eco-tourism opportunities, and food, fuel, and fibre, all of which are key to buffering vulnerable communities against climate change.

The TEEB initiative is urging governments to factor these benefits into a forest carbon finance package in order to maximize the return of an agreement in Copenhagen. “This might pave the way for a new economy in the 21st century where natural or nature-based assets become part of mainstream economic and policy planning,” notes the German Ministry for the Environment.

The TEEB findings indicate that investing in the Earth’s ecological infrastructure offers an excellent rate of return. For example an investment of $45 billion in protected areas alone could secure nature-based services worth some $5 trillion a year.

“Human vulnerability to the harmful impacts of global climate change is significantly increased by the loss of biodiversity. TEEB proves that the protection and restoration of ecological infrastructure is a cost effective means to mitigate global climate change,” notes the German Minister for the Environment.

Film documents Watertown development along Charles River...

Ashley Hunt produced this documentary about our local community in association with the Watertown Community Access Center. The program probes the history of the so-called Pleasant Street Corridor and the contentious issues confronting recent rezoning efforts.

The 30 minute film, 'Pleasant Street Corridor District: Fulfilling the Promise of its Name,' features interviews with Watertown civic leaders, concerned citizens, and business owners about this unique stretch of town that is adjacent to the Charles River.

Earthwatch benefit supports research on the most important environmental challenge of our time...

The third annual Beat the Heat benefit event for Earthwatch Institute climate change research programs in being held on Thursday, August 13 at the Museum of Science in Boston. The event runs from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Washburn Pavilion on the Charles River.

I have been part of the organizing committee since its inception, and this has been a nice event for young professionals in Boston to network and support an important cause.

The venue for this evening provides a stunning view of the Charles River and the summer skylines of Boston and Cambridge, and the host is Improper Bostonian columnist Jonathan Soroff. Advanced tickets are discounted, and the price includes complimentary food and drinks (catered by Wolfgang Puck), parking, and live entertainment.

The event will feature climate change expert and Earthwatch scientist Peter Kershaw, who will report on his work with Earthwatch volunteers in the Arctic Circle.

If Beat the Heat gets 350 followers on Twitter by August 13, First Wind, a renewable energy company based in Newton, will donate to support Earthwatch climate change research expeditions and fund a community tree planting with EarthWorks Projects, a non-profit based in Roxbury.

ATP celebrates 15 years of greening Armenia...

In celebration of the 15th anniversary of its founding, Armenia Tree Project NGO has released a new documentary about its tree planting and environmental education programs. The 15-minute film, "Every Tree...," was directed by Kennedy Wheatley and photographed and edited by Amaya Cervino.

"ATP began in 1994 with the modest goal of re-greening the public spaces in Yerevan where trees had been sacrificed during the ‘dark years’ after Armenia’s independence when people were forced to burn whatever they could find to stay warm," recounted founder Carolyn Mugar.

"By 2004 it became clear that rejuvenating public areas alone was not going to significantly impact the larger issue of deforestation. It was then, only five years ago, that I issued a challenge to our staff to undertake a program to plant 15 million trees by 2015," Ms. Mugar wrote in a message to supporters.

"I personally accompanied the filmmakers on a tour of ATP’s three nurseries, two education centers, and dozens of planting sites, and I think this film captures the emotion and impact of our tree planting, poverty reduction, and education programs," noted ATP director Jeff Masarjian.

"This has been a difficult year because of the global economic recession," added Mr. Masarjian. "Nevertheless, we are making every effort to follow through on our commitment to purchase and plant the tree seedlings grown by partner families who are working with ATP."