Ecosystems and Biodiversity

I have been talking about the IEEM Platform for quite a while now. However, there have been significant developments from the previous post. The IEEM Platform is transforming the use of natural capital accounts within countries and international institutions across the globe. To date, IEEM Platforms have been developed in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Rwanda and Zambia, … [Read more...] about 3 Tips in evidence-based public policy making: demonstrate, integrate and institutionalize

The IEEM Platform project collaborates with governments and other institutions to demonstrate its advantages for public policy and investment analysis. Today, I am going to tell you about our experience with The Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) and how IEEM was the right tool for the BCCR for two main reasons. As the Central Bank’s principal objective is to manage … [Read more...] about Costa Rica: a leader in environmental-economic accounting

Did you know that pollution causes 15 times more deaths in the world than all wars and acts of violence? And three times more deaths than malaria, AIDS, and tuberculosis combined. The numbers are alarming. Last November, The Lancet published a study that indicates that pollution is the primary environmental cause of deaths and illnesses, causing an estimated 9 million … [Read more...] about Pollution, a form of tacit violence

Nestled among towering volcanoes, Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan is often described as one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. Four of the Central American region’s seven biomes meet in the Atitlan region, making it a biodiversity hotspot and a natural “gas station” for migrating birds. But here, as elsewhere in the developing world, a lack of economic opportunities often drives … [Read more...] about Bird watching tourism takes flight

To commemorate International Mangrove Day (July 26th) let’s take a moment to think about why these wonderful tropical ecosystems are unique and worthy of our protection. Mangroves are formed by trees that are highly tolerant to salt and that grow in an amphibian environment, with aquatic and terrestrial characteristics. Here are five of their superpowers. 1. Reducing … [Read more...] about 5 Superpowers Mangroves Have