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TOP STORY
Projects with up to 3.5 mln hectares preparing to generate biodiversity credits -research
Sixty projects up to 3.5 million hectares of land in size at their largest are in development with the aim of generating biodiversity credits, an international survey has shown.
MARKET
German fund pilots biodiversity credit methodology to scale African market
A Germany-based investment vehicle is piloting its biodiversity credit methodology for endangered species within a reserve in South Africa, in a bid to increase investors’ appetite towards habitat conservation in the area.
International panel releases biodiversity credit supply survey results
A UK-France led international panel said a survey on the supply of biodiversity credit projects found a need for access for finance at all stages, technical capacity, and tenure rights to help scale the market, in results published on Friday.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Securities firm leads call for China OECMs
A Shanghai- and Hong Kong-listed securities firm has issued a call for expressions of interest in Mainland China projects seeking status as Other Effective land-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) as part of the country’s efforts to meet its commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
POLICY
Sri Lanka launches 30×30 biodiversity programme, seeks to raise $1.5 bln in funding
The Sri Lankan government has launched a programme to conserve 30% of the country’s land and ocean by 2030 while aiming to attract $1.5 billion in green investments between 2025 and 2030, the president’s office announced Monday.
Climate watchdog calls for Malaysian project to be rejected
Environmental watchdog RimbaWatch has called for the halt of a 2,228-hectare palm oil project proposed on a virgin peat swamp forest in the Terengganu state in Malaysia, which it says will lead to the loss of carbon stocks and endangered species.
SCIENCE & TECH
Large sea animal credits could unlock fairer GBF funding -study
Credits generated from reducing impacts on large migratory marine creatures could help unlock funds for implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) across the Global South and North, an academic paper has said.
‘Integrated’ forest restoration projects could highly benefit biodiversity, climate, and people -study
Forest restoration plans should adopt ‘integrated’ approaches, encompassing biodiversity, climate, and human livelihood simultaneously, as this could deliver significant benefits across all three areas, a study carried out in India has found.
More indicators needed for measuring progress on GBF species target -paper
More appropriate indicators are needed to measure progress towards the species target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) beyond the Red List, an academic paper said on Thursday.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKET
Robotic tree planting – Two Canadian companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Thursday to test and validate an autonomous tree planting technology for the generation of voluntary carbon offsets. Saskatchewan-based Carbon RX’s non-binding MoU with Toronto-based Adroid outlined testing and validation of autonomous tree planting, coupled with AI to increase the efficiency of reforestation across Canadian forest lands under contract, according to a press release. (Carbon Pulse)
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Accuracy – Data intelligence firm NatureMetrics partnered with Accounting for Nature in an effort to improve the accuracy of corporate nature reporting, the company announced Tuesday. According to the data firm, the collaboration seeks to encourage the growth of global investments in nature recovery and conservation while guaranteeing fairness and accountability in nature markets through independent certification of nature-related metrics.
Hubbub – UK charity Hubbub has launched the Community Nature Network with free access to funding opportunities, resources, guidance, and peer support to community groups looking to create or improve green spaces in the country. Any publicly accessible, community-led green space can join. Hubbub has supported over 125 community nature projects with £630,000 of funding this year.
POLICY
Milestone – Kenya’s ministry of environment has announced the launch of the National Biodiversity Coordination Mechanism (NBCM), aimed at supporting the conservation and sustainable use of the nation’s biological resources. Under the initiative, defined as a milestone for the country, the government established a framework for the collaboration between different stakeholders involved in biodiversity preservation across the country, both state and non-state actors, in a bid to ensure a “unified approach to protecting Kenya’s natural resources”.
House in order – The Estonian Ministry of Climate has drafted a package of amendments to the Nature Conservation Act and the Forest Act, which, together with the Climate Resilient Economy Act, would form a single framework for sustainable and future-proof nature conservation and land use, the Baltic Times reports. For the sake of greater clarity, the “floor and ceiling” of protection will be set at 30% of the total land area, nature will be better protected, forest management options will be diversified through the introduction of regulation for continuous cover forestry and plantations, and other necessary changes will be made to maintain a good living environment and provide investment certainty in the economy.
Mountain project – The chief minister of the state of Uttarakhand in India has asked officials to select two rivers in the state and work towards their revival and build small ponds in areas sensitive to forest fires. He directed the authorities to prepare short- and long-term treatment plans for the revival of natural water sources and rain-fed rivers. The minister also said that the ‘Uttarakhand Climate Friendly Rain fed Agriculture Project’, funded by the World Bank, was approved by the Watershed Department to benefit mountain agriculture in selected micro watershed areas in Uttarakhand and to reduce GHG emissions. The project will operate from 2024-30, ANI reported.
Nature benefits – Nature-friendly farming schemes in England are helping to stop nature’s decline or even reverse it, according to a report by Natural England, which shows that the environmental land management scheme (ELMs) set up after Brexit has had beneficial effects. Measures that qualify for the new form of support include hedgerow and peat conservation, the creation of landscape for skylarks, and organic fruit growing. However, the report also highlighted the trade-offs between food production and nature protection, concluding that none could deliver “strong reductions in GHG emissions (or large increases in potential bird populations) without also seeing a large reduction in food supply”. Evidence shows that measures such as curbing food waste and using arable land to grow crops for people to eat rather than livestock could help the UK achieve its climate goals, but politicians will have to lead on encouraging a reduction in dairy and meat consumption for these targets to be met. (The Guardian)
SCIENCE & TECH
Seine’s biodiversity – Paris’ renowned river has garnered attention over the past two weeks due to concerns about bacterial levels during the Olympic Games swimming events. However, fishermen interviewed by Actual News Magazine noted that decontamination efforts in the Seine for the Olympics have improved its biodiversity. A member of the Paris Fishermen’s Union stated that fish and bird populations have increased thanks to years of preparation for the Games, which included €1.4 bln in infrastructure improvements. “We have a small pike around 30 centimetres long, very sensitive to pollution. This is the prime indicator of relatively healthy water,” he said.
Vampire eels – Michigan State University experts are developing a method to combat invasive sea lampreys in Lake Michigan. These eel-like animals use their toothy mouths to drain blood from fish, with one lamprey destroying about 40 pounds of native fish. The researchers aim to filter lampreys from leaving the lake through a unique system.
No mow – Campaign group Nature 2030 has unveiled a report emphasising the critical need to protect the UK’s biodiversity. The document provides a roadmap for local councils to enhance biodiversity within their regions, suggesting strategies such as reducing mowing frequency, backed by charity Plantlife.
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