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

All articles in this edition are free to read (no subscription required).

TOP STORY

Nature markets alliance targets Mexican states

A programme that aims to halt the net loss of biodiversity by 2030 in Mexico, while developing nature markets including biodiversity credits with regional governments, has been announced in an alliance between French and Mexican companies.

MARKET

Conservation finance group eyes collaboration with Verra on stewardship certificates

A conservation finance organisation has started developing a framework for stewardship certificates, with plans to submit it for consideration to crediting standard Verra, Carbon Pulse has learned.

Biodiversity net gain lacks market transparency, expert says

A lack of transparency in England’s biodiversity net gain (BNG) programme is frustrating conservation scheme managers, with some deliberate withholding of information, an industry insider has said.

TOOLS & GUIDANCE

NatureMetrics launches tool to track soil restoration progress

Biodiversity monitoring company NatureMetrics has launched a tool to measure and track soil restoration progress, claiming it could help private organisations better demonstrate their commitment to nature positive outcomes.

POLICY

UK government prepares environmental plan as “nature is dying”

The new UK government is preparing a statutory plan for the natural environment focused on cleaning up waterways, planting trees, and halting species decline.

SCIENCE & TECH

Land conversion threatens over 460 mln ha of intact ecosystems, study says

Over 460 million hectares of the world’s intact natural land is at risk of being converted into other uses, such as agriculture, a paper has said.

Land-based activities harming Great Barrier Reef water quality, major study finds

The pollution load in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has increased following the impacts of land-based developments and climate change, a scientific study involving over 200 experts found on Thursday.

—————————————————

BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

MARKET

Reforestation efforts – The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will invest $50 mln in an effort to mobilise $1 bln for a reforestation strategy in Latin America, it announced Tuesday. IFC will support BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group (TIG), a global timberland manager overseeing $7.1 bln in assets and over 1 mln ha in the US and Latin America. Conservation International will serve as impact adviser for the initiative. This transaction represents IFC’s first collaboration with an institutional timberland investment manager. It aims to generate carbon credits through nature-based solutions and boost economic opportunities in rural areas. (Carbon Pulse)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Do the math – The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has announced it will fund the research programme Farming for the Future (FFTF), which aims to enable farmers to quantify the value of natural capital to livestock operations. CBA said it will provide practical support to Australian farmers as they consider investment opportunities in natural capital.

Rewilding near London – Conservation company Nattergal has acquired a 206-ha farm near London, Harold’s Park in Essex, for generating BNG units through rewilding. Plans are in place to allow more nature to return in degraded arable fields, intensive grassland, and Christmas tree plantations. The site managers will encourage pockets of existing biodiversity in ancient woodland, several ponds, and a scattering of smaller fields, but “for the most part, we will stand back”.

Windup – Global offshore wind player RWE and Spanish engineering firm Saitec Offshore Technologies have launched the DemoSATH Lab initiative for monitoring the biodiversity impacts of a floating wind turbine located in the sea off the Spanish coast. The project will study the single turbine’s impacts on birds, marine life, and noise, lasting until the end of 2025, to inform research on the nature impacts of offshore wind turbines.

POLICY

Lifeline – The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) have signed an agreement to support the protection and restoration of the miombo forests shared by Mozambique and Zimbabwe, Nova news agency reported. “These forests are not just a source of biodiversity, they are a lifeline for millions of people who depend on them for firewood, food, shelter, medicines, and water,” said the FAO representative in Mozambique, Jose Fernandes.

SCIENCE & TECH 

Naturebase – The Nature4Climate Coalition has launched the full version of its Naturebase platform, a collaboration of 50 scientists that aims to unlock efforts to restore nature. The free data platform, the largest of its kind, is designed to inform decision-making on nature everywhere globally. Users can use it to find out which natural climate solutions could be the most impactful in their area for ecosystem services and CO2 emissions.

Got a tip? How about some feedback? Email us at news@carbon-pulse.com