Presenting Biodiversity Pulse, Carbon Pulse’s free newsletter on the biodiversity market. It’s a twice-weekly summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world. Subscribe here
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TOP STORY
INTERVIEW: French environmental company pilots biodiversity credits in Mexico
A French-based environmental company has started piloting a biodiversity credit methodology for nature conservation and restoration projects in Mexico, with the first results expected by the end of October, Carbon Pulse has learned.
MARKET
SBTi offset issue has negative legacy for biodiversity credits, lawyer says
The carbon offset controversy at Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has detrimental consequences for the nascent voluntary biodiversity credit markets, which are paralysed by confusion, a legal expert has said.
INTERVIEW: Yale researchers to develop biodiversity credit methodologies for agroforestry
Researchers at Yale University have launched an initiative to design three biodiversity credit methodologies for agroforestry projects at smallholder farms in Latin America, Carbon Pulse has learned.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
FEATURE: Corporates seek customised projects to tackle their waste footprints
Corporates are keen to support customised waste collection and recycling programmes that equate to their waste production footprint and potentially tie back to their own supply chain, with the plastic credit model not suited to all circumstances, say market stakeholders.
US startup launches to scale fundings towards coastal NbS, biodiversity conservation
A US-headquartered consultancy launched this week to bolster and expedite funding towards nature-based solutions (NbS) and blue carbon, planning to engage in the nascent biodiversity credit market.
TOOLS & GUIDANCE
Ecosystem Condition Protocol to launch draft at COP16
An Ecosystem Condition (EC) Protocol for standardising the measurement of ecosystem conditions across corporate reporting and biodiversity markets, with a similar format to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, aims to launch a draft version this year.
POLICY
G20 countries urged to align their bioeconomy efforts
G20 countries are advancing their efforts to scale ‘bioeconomy’ as a means to promote sustainable models that foster biodiversity conservation, though actions must be taken to enhance convergence and comparability between different national approaches, a study has said.
Efforts to integrate biodiversity targets across sectors largely ineffective, study says
Insufficient funding as well as vaguely formulated and conflicting targets have largely hampered the integration of biodiversity into decision-making across different sectors, a paper has said, calling for more consistent and coherent policies to be established.
PROJECTS
EU-funded project to hasten corporate, policy efforts on biodiversity
A newly-launched project aims at accelerating and scaling nature-positive efforts by businesses, financial institutions, and European governments.
SCIENCE & TECH
High monitoring costs seen hindering nature restoration efforts in Latin America
Nature restoration practices across Latin America lack effective tools to quantify their outcomes due to prohibitive monitoring costs, which hamper the long-term success of the projects, a study has revealed.
Soil assessments critical for tracking progress of nature restoration projects, expert says
Underestimating soil health when tracking the progress of nature restoration projects could lead to unreliable or incomplete assessments, a biodiversity expert with infrastructure consultants AECOM has said.
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CONFERENCE
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKET
More than carbon sinks – Scientists from the non-profit International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) have warned policymakers against reducing forests to mere carbon sinks and ignoring their social value. The rise of policies aimed at harnessing forests to absorb carbon is driving the commodification of forests, hindering the slow-down of deforestation, and ignoring their social benefits, they said in a report published on Monday. (Carbon Pulse)
Moratorium – Indigenous Peoples’ specialist Emil Siren Gualinga urged governments to halt biodiversity offsetting and the scaling of biodiversity credits through regulation. In a document released Tuesday on LinkedIn, he called on countries to adopt a moratorium on the development of biodiversity credits in the context of the Global Biodiversity Framework – including in forums such as UNEA, G7, G20, CBD COP16, as well as National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Once more, unto the breach – In New South Wales, conservation groups say they have counted 188 occasions of Forestry Corp NSW breaching regulatory conditions put in place to save the endangered greater glider, a marsupial. Owned by the NSW state government, Forestry Corp is obliged to search for and identify greater glider den trees and protect each one with a 50-metre protection zone where logging is banned. Last year it emerged that the company did the searches during the daytime, even though the glider is nocturnal. New regulations came in place in February, stating the searches must commence no more than an hour after sunset. However, according to the conservation groups, 188 of 243 searches done since then have commenced later, after the animals had left their trees for the night. As a result, barely any den trees were identified.
POLICY
A good chunk – The Australian state of Victoria has allocated A$691 mln in the 2024 budget to protect its waterways, as well as A$116 mln to support the restoration of native forests and promote biodiversity. An additional A$85 mln will go towards addressing biosecurity risks, including A$73 mln to help the fight against red imported fire ants, one of the world’s most invasive pests threatening wildlife.
Getting a grip – Canada and the Philippines, through its Forest Foundation Philippines, have partnered to find nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation in the Southeast Asian nation. Capacity-building and knowledge sharing will be part of the partnership, as well as actions aimed at protecting and rehabilitating biodiversity, critical habitats, and ecosystems. (PNA)
Chipping in – The Swiss government has agreed to contributing just over €7 mln towards a new biodiversity programme in Estonia, ERR News reports. State agencies the Environmental Board and the Environment Agency are developing methods aimed at wildlife monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of protected areas. The two agencies are also preparing new management plans and species protection action plans, the ministry says. The Environment Board aims to initiate a systematic assessment of the effectiveness of protected natural objects’ conservation, which according to the environment ministry is currently lacking in Estonia.
Taiwan-US – A research partnership on heat-resilient coral has been announced between three Taiwanese organisations – technology firm Delta’s Environmental & Educational Foundation, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, and the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology – and US-based Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. The partnership aims to help Taiwan better prepare for coral bleaching.
Japan-Brazil – Japan and Brazil have pledged to work together to fight climate change, with plans covering the protection of the Amazon rainforest and the development of sustainable fuel. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva launched the Japan-Brazil Green Partnership Initiative (GPI), an initiative aimed at pursuing further cooperation on the environment and climate change issues. In addition, the nations will work on the recovery of degraded areas, and the promotion of sustainable agricultural and forestry production systems. (Carbon Pulse)
Prize peat – An EU-funded pilot to help farmers manage agricultural peat soils for biodiversity in the Republic of Ireland has been extended until the end of the year, according to a public service website Raidio Teilifis Eireann. Launched in 2021, the Farm Payments for Ecological and Agricultural Transitions scheme has paid 49 farmers for improved environmental outcomes in their bogs through practices such as drain management.
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