The earth’s natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystems collectively make up our planet’s Natural Capital, which is the foundation of socioeconomic development of current and future generations. Natural capital generates ecosystem services which make a direct contribution to human well-being. Ecosystem services are classified in four groups: Provisioning services are … [Read more...] about Understanding Natural Capital Accounting
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Five innovations based on biodiversity
Each year, the UN chooses a theme for the International Day for Biological Diversity. Every theme is geared to increase the understanding and awareness of the biodiversity issues it relates to. Climate change was the focus of 2007, just before the first Kyoto protocol commitment period. Biodiversity and climate change are fundamentally linked. Worldwide, about 72000 plant … [Read more...] about Five innovations based on biodiversity
Shoreline Protection Gives Four More Reasons to Smile
Barbados is said to be a smile wide. This smile has gotten broader for locals, business owners, tourists and other visitors to the West Coast of the island following the completion of the second phase of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)/ Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) funded coastal resilience project. The project is designed to: Make the shoreline more … [Read more...] about Shoreline Protection Gives Four More Reasons to Smile
Is Investment in Palm Oil Certification Worth It?
Palm oil has a terrible reputation. Especially among environmental and social advocates, palm oil is viewed as the crop responsible for a large-scale deforestation, particularly in Southeast Asia. Deforestation of carbon-rich forests leads to greenhouse gas emissions; between 2001 and 2010, palm oil-driven land-use change resulted in an average of 216-268 million tons of CO2 … [Read more...] about Is Investment in Palm Oil Certification Worth It?
What is the Value of Nature?
An apple at a supermarket: $0.50. 1,000 gallons of tap water in New York City: $4.95. Annual value of pollination to agriculture: $200 billion. Cost savings from good land management in New York City’s watershed: $8 billion. Total value of benefits from nature: priceless? Robert Costanza, a leading environmental economist, just published the article: “Changes in the Global … [Read more...] about What is the Value of Nature?