A farmer holds Brazilian nuts on his property in São Félix do Xingu, Brazilian Amazon. © João Ramid
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FEATURED NEWS
Can Forests Be More Profitable Than Beef?
The New York Times, Manuela Andreoni, 2 May
The New York Times reports on the growing number of efforts to use carbon credits to shift economic incentives on the ground to help protect and restore vital ecosystems like the Amazon. QC Intel reports on an investigation that aired last week by the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme Panorama on nature-based carbon credit projects, which “treads familiar ground.” Many commentators compared these two pieces of reporting for the differing ways they addressed challenges in the market, including Conservation International, Campbell Moore (TNC), Nathan Truitt (AFF), and Lucy Almond (N4C). In a separate piece, the New York Times reports on efforts being made to build trust in the voluntary carbon market, and the work that needs to be done to build demand. Mark Kenber of VCMI writes for Business Green how quality carbon credits can drive corporate climate action. Separately, Reuters reports the Verra and the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) earned program-level CCP approval from ICVCM, meaning that five of the world’s largest carbon credit programmes, covering 98% of the market, have now been given initial approval by a body tasked with raising standards in the market for carbon offsets.
How rioting farmers unraveled Europe’s ambitious climate plan [Commentary]
Vox, Jan Dutkiewicz, 2 May
Vox shares a commentary from Professor Jan Dutkiewicz of the Pratt Institute detailing how farmer protests across Europe have developed a narrative that sustainable, nature-positive farming practices are anti-farmer. The article challenges the EU to stick to its climate commitments out of its responsibility to act for the public good, in the same spirit many current agricultural policies to support farmers were developed in the past. Reuters shares a commentary calling upon the private sector to take on more responsibility in aiding farmers and other stakeholders to transition towards more sustainable food systems.
New Liberia forest boss plans to increase exports, denies working with war criminal Charles Taylor
Associated Press, Ed Davey, 6 May
Associated Press shares an interview with the new head of Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority whose companies were twice found to have engaged in illegal logging and promises to increase timber exports and cut regulations. Mongabay covers accusations that Chinese timber company Congo King Baisheng Forestry Development (CKBFD) exported more than $5 million worth of illegal timber from the Democratic Republic of Congo to China at the end of 2022. Mongabay also investigates the complex network of actors involved with government management of extractive industries like forestry across the Pan Amazon.
Indonesian palm oil, Brazilian beef top contributors to U.S. deforestation exposure
Mongabay, Liz Kimbrough, 7 May
Mongabay covers a new report from Trase that finds the United States imported palm oil, cattle products, soybeans, cocoa, rubber, coffee and corn linked to an area of tropical deforestation the size of Los Angeles between October 2021 and November 2023. Palm oil from Indonesia was the largest contributor to deforestation, followed by Brazil due to cattle grazing.
China’s draft mining law mandates ecological restoration for first time, but gaps remain
Eco-Business,
Eco-Business reports the new draft of China’s mineral resources law would require mining companies to take effective measures to avoid or reduce damage to ecosystems. Furthermore, ecological restoration should be undertaken when mining activities result in ecological damage. The current version of the law serves as the legal cornerstone of the sustainable development of its mining sectors. Since it came into effect in 1986, the law has been revised twice, in 1996 and 2009.
SPOTLIGHT – The Business Case for High Integrity Forests
High integrity forests — those that are least degraded by human impacts — have long served as a buffer against the worst effects of the climate and biodiversity crises. The Wildlife Conservation Society High Integrity Forest (HIFOR) Investment Initiative aims to create a new climate and biodiversity asset class to help finance the protection of high integrity tropical forests on the basis of their role in climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
This 1 hour webinar, hosted by Conservation Strategy Fund and Conservation Finance Alliance, dives into the opportunities and challenges of HIFOR, and how this innovative new finance tool can help protect the critical natural infrastructure we depend on for a thriving planet.
Join us to learn how HIFOR can be a powerful force for safeguarding our planet’s biodiversity.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Tetra Tech solicits grant applications for the USAID ILRG II Environmental Defenders Grant Program, which is designed to support environmental defender organizations.
Salesforce reiterates its support for the establishment of the Mangrove Breakthrough Secretariat and the development of the recently launched Financial Roadmap.
Birdlife International joins the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT), a coalition of civil society organizations co-chaired by Oceana and the Environmental Justice Foundation seeking to advance transparency in the fishing sector through advocacy and strengthened collaboration.
Clean Cooking Alliance shares a fact sheet providing an overview of how cleaner, more modern stoves and fuels can protect nature, the climate, and sustainable livelihoods.
Environmental Defense Fund shares a video on its efforts to restore mangroves in Ecuador.
IUCN releases a new report assessing the future environmental, economic and social impact of the production, trade and the consumption of vegetable oils, finding that better production practices are key to minimizing impact.
UNDP publishes guidance on developing Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS), which are crucial frameworks that guide countries in aligning their developmental goals with the Paris Agreement’s objective to limit global warming to well below 2°C
IUCN shares insights from a roundtable on the potential of nature-based solutions that brought together key stakeholders in European decision-making to delve into holistic conversations concerning climate change and biodiversity challenges.
UNEP shares positive results from its community-led forest restoration efforts in Cameroon. The projects aim to develop alternatives for sustainable landscape use that will reduce pressure on natural resources across the wider region—covering a target area of 53,000 hectares.
WCS covers a new study finding key differences in carbon stocks among naturally occurring monodominant forests in Congo.
WBCSD and the ERM Sustainability Institute share a joint report providing experience-based guidance for executives tasked with steering their companies through the sustainability transformation.
IUCN highlights the establishment of the first community-based fish conservation zone designated in the Sittaung River, Myanmar.
Taking Root shares a new video about their flagship forest restoration project – the CommuniTree Carbon Program in Nicaragua.
CASE STUDY
N4C is compiling an index of NBS case studies, together with an interactive map, to highlight action on the ground. Each week, we will be choosing a case study to present, to help give concrete examples of work being done to bring NBS theory into practic
Kitalu: tree planting project
WHERE: KENYA
TYPE OF NCS SOLUTION: RESTORE
The Kitalu project (nursery in French) is a combined program of tree planting, rural development and the fight against the release of carbon emissions in Kenya. The project works with small groups of local farmers to combat deforestation by planting trees on their land. Through this project, farmers receive an annual subsidy for each tree planted and access to long-term benefits from carbon credits generated.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK – 1.5 MtCO2e/yr
The annual carbon dioxide emissions that could be avoided by Liberia if it meets its potential for climate-smart forestry by 2050. See more details on the potential for natural climate solutions in N4C’s naturebase.
GOOD NEWS
New study says conservation works, providing hope for biodiversity efforts
A new study published in Science reveals that conservation works, with conservation actions improving or slowing the decline of biodiversity in two-thirds of the cases analyzed. The study highlights the effectiveness of various conservation strategies, such as controlling invasive species, restoring habitats and establishing protected areas, across different geographic locations, ecosystems and political systems. While conservation efforts are crucial, the study’s lead author emphasizes that addressing drivers of biodiversity loss, such as unsustainable consumption and production, is also necessary to halt and reverse the decline of biodiversity.