Photo: Land Life
FEATURED NEWS
World far off track on pledges to end deforestation by 2030
Reuters, Steven Grattan, 24 October
Reuters covers the annual Forest Declaration Assessment report that finds deforestation increased by 4% worldwide in 2022 compared with 2021. Nearly 66,000 square kilometers of forest were lost in 2022, putting the world 21 percent off track to meet the goal of ending deforestation by 2030 set by more than 140 countries at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. The report also notes efforts to preserve old-growth tropical forests — prized for their dense carbon content and rich biodiversity — are 33 percent off track of this 2030 goal, with 4.1 million hectares lost in 2022. The Independent shares a commentary from musician and WWF Ambassador Ellie Goulding sharing her experience visiting the Amazon and calling for the UK to do more to tackle deforestation. Financial Times covers research from Greenpeace’s Unearthed that finds funds raised by Brazilian debt securities were financing controversial companies including deforesters, land grabbers and ranchers accused of slave labour in Brazil.
Who’s delaying climate action? The climate advocacy groups creating barriers to carbon markets. [Commentary]
MarketWatch, Jennifer Jenkins, 24 October
MarketWatch publishes a commentary from Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, chief science officer at Rubicon Carbon, arguing some climate change solution advocates are actually stalling corporate climate action with their opposition to carbon markets in her opinion. Climate Home News carries a commentary claiming the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework will allow forest-based carbon credits, which the authors call a false climate solution. Financial Times shares a commentary that calls for regulation of carbon markets to create integrity in the market.
Successful Farmer covers a U.S. Department of Agriculture report that finds more than nine out of 10 farmers are aware of carbon markets but only a fraction of them are participants. The report is the first step in establishing programmatic support for farmers to participate in carbon markets. Financial Times reports a UK pension scheme has dropped its net zero claims and will end its purchase of carbon credits, as they have become a ‘distraction’ due to arguments over integrity.
Reforming the International Financial Systems to Value High-Integrity Forests [Commentary]
Ecosystem Marketplace, Charlotte Streck, 19 October
Ecosystem Marketplace shares an article from Charlotte Streck, co-founder of and lead consultant at Climate Focus, on the needed changes in the international financial system to support forests ahead of the Three Basins Summit in Brazzaville, Congo. Financial Times carries a commentary from author and special adviser to CDP Paula DiPerna highlighting new financing mechanisms that justify paying back nature for all it has given us.
Deforestation in Bolivia has jumped by 32% in a year. What is going on?
The Guardian, Thomas Graham, 12 October
The Guardian covers the growth in deforestation in Bolivia of 32 percent in 2022 compared to 2021. Most of this is happening in Santa Cruz, Bolivia’s most economically dynamic region, where most of its soya and beef, as well as its sugar cane, corn and sorghum, is produced.
‘Forest loss from South-East Asia rubber up threefold’
Reuters, 18 October
Reuters covers new research that finds deforestation driven by rubber production in Southeast Asia could be two to three times higher than previously estimated. Increasing global rubber demand is adding to pressure on natural forests and driving biodiversity loss, with Southeast Asia, responsible for 90% of global production.
One Earth posts an article from Divya Narain calling on the financial sector to codify robust safeguards to avert the risks of investing in the livestock industry driving deforestation.
Study: Despite armed conflicts, Indigenous lands have better environment quality
Mongabay, Spoorthy Raman, 19 October
Mongabay reports on a study that finds four-fifths of armed conflicts between 1950 and 2000 within in biodiversity hotspots occur on Indigenous peoples’ lands — yet these areas remain in better shape ecologically than conflict-affected non-Indigenous lands. The study underlines the role Indigenous peoples play in environmental conservation, and highlights Indigenous self-determination as key to conservation and prevention of armed conflicts.
SPOTLIGHT
Nature4Climate releases its new report developed with Serena and MRV Collective highlighting the growth of the nature tech market as a vital tool in supporting nature-based solutions.
A few highlights of the current nature tech landscape:
- Venture capital (VC) investments in nature tech startups have grown rapidly in the last three years:
- Early-stage deals rose by 130%;
- Average deal sizes for seed to series B funding increased by 70%.
- In the last five years, the accumulated amount of VC investments in nature tech startups amounted to $7.5 billion.
Download the report to learn about the nature tech landscape, understand the challenges bringing promising solutions to scale, and learn about successful nature tech innovations ready to address the challenges of nature loss and climate change.
Prepare for naturebase
Nature4Climate is preparing the launch naturebase, our new digital Natural Climate Solutions opportunity mapping platform, in November. For policymakers, scientists, practitioners, resource managers, and investors who want to see real nature solutions in action and to find new opportunities this platform is made for you.
Subscribe to the naturebase email list to receive insider only news on the development and launch of the platform ahead of COP28
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 practice.
Livelihoods-NEWS mangrove restoration project
WHERE: SUNDARBANS IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA
TYPE OF NCS SOLUTION: ADAPT
This project has planted more than 16 million mangroves to strengthen the existing man-made embankments that protect the communities’ homes and farmlands from flooding. These mangroves helped restore local biodiversity, and ensure the safety of the local population against cyclones and hurricanes. The mangroves further produce timber and increase food supply.
GOOD NEWS
Indigenous seed collectors grow a network of restoration across Brazil
Nearly 150 Indigenous seed collectors from the Amazonian Bioeconomic Seed Network, the first of its kind in the state of Rondônia, traveled to neighboring Mato Grosso state to meet with Brazil’s oldest network of seed collectors, the Xingu Seed Network. In the absence of a government-led program, exchanges like these between existing grassroots groups have been the best way to help newer networks gain expertise and consolidate themselves as organizations, with technical training and management strategies.