Over the course of the past two decades in the Caribbean, there have been various project attempts to develop environmental or natural capital accounting by promoting the application of economic valuation methods to land or marine based ecosystems. These efforts have often been mostly research-oriented, ad hoc, and locally targeted. None, if any, of them has materialized … [Read more...] about Bringing ecosystem valuation/environmental accounting on the public balance sheet: the case for the Yallahs & Hope River watersheds in Jamaica
Why the Guarani Aquifer Agreement is the Sustainable Groundwater Policy Innovation We Need
Groundwater accounts for one third of the world’s unfrozen, fresh water resources, providing 50% of drinking water and the main source of water for major industries, particularly irrigation (UN-IGRAC 2019). For each of the past 50 years, the global demand for groundwater has doubled, leading to one third of international basins currently experiencing groundwater storage … [Read more...] about Why the Guarani Aquifer Agreement is the Sustainable Groundwater Policy Innovation We Need
Five steps to include disaster risk management in infrastructure projects
The Word disaster originates from the Greek dis (a negative prefix) and astrum (star), indicating a bad omen, whereas resilience comes from re (repeat) and silire (get ahead) – the ability to get back on track and overcome. At the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), we are committed to make all projects RESILIENT whether or not they are exposed to natural disasters. Latin … [Read more...] about Five steps to include disaster risk management in infrastructure projects
World Water Day 2019: let’s not leave anyone behind
This Friday, March 22nd is World Water Day 2019. This year's theme is "Do not Leave Anyone Behind", in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which promises the benefit of sustainable development progress for all. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, aim to guarantee the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for … [Read more...] about World Water Day 2019: let’s not leave anyone behind
How a bug small as a water drop can destroy 100 million trees in three years?
This is what happened in Honduras between 2013 and 2016, the pine weevil, a beetle the size of a drop of water attacked an area equivalent to 1 million soccer fields in forests (500,000 hectares). This represents 25% of the countries' pine forest. Sadly, 100 million trees were destroyed. The affected area represents the loss of coverage that would have occurred in Honduras' … [Read more...] about How a bug small as a water drop can destroy 100 million trees in three years?