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TOP STORY
WEF, global consulting firm release guidance on biodiversity credit metrics
The World Economic Forum (WEF) and a global consulting firm have released a paper to help the private sector navigate nature metrics in the emerging biodiversity credit market, while investigating how these align with disclosure frameworks.
MARKET
UK nature credit company acquires South African developer
An England-based nature tech company announced on Thursday it has reached an agreement to acquire a South Africa-headquartered project developer, aiming to advance its ongoing work on nature credits.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
AI-powered platform launches to advance corporate action on nature
An AI-powered business intelligence unit launched on Thursday to help private organisations take action on nature, including exploring opportunities in the nascent biodiversity credit market.
Nature risk company raises €3.8 mln in seed funding
Nala Earth has raised €3.8 million in seed funding towards its goal of helping to integrate nature risk into corporate decision-making and spur ecosystem restoration, bringing the total amount raised to €5.5 mln.
TOOLS & GUIDANCE
US nature intelligence firm unveils biodiversity risk assessment tool
A US-based nature intelligence company has launched a platform aimed at enabling companies to assess their nature-related risks and opportunities, in line with major corporate reporting frameworks.
Canadian university launches guide to financial reporting on natural assets
A Canadian university is outlining how local governments of all sizes can write nature into their financial reporting, as environmental assets are increasingly recognized as valuable infrastructure.
POLICY
Conservation group raises alarm over glaring loophole in South Australia Biodiversity Act
A provision in South Australia’s proposed Biodiversity Act could see the legislation disregarded completely at the government’s discretion, according to a land conservation group urging it to be removed.
Canada funds satellite observation for biodiversity
Canada’s federal government is offering up C$5 million ($3.5 mln) to projects aimed at developing space-based solutions for biodiversity protection and restoration across the country.
Norway to launch next phase of forest satellite data programme
Norway’s rainforest protection initiative is preparing to launch a new phase of its satellite data programme later this year to strengthen monitoring of deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity in tropical forests, the government announced this week.
SCIENCE & TECH
Swiss startup raises further $16 mln for scaling PFAS destruction technology
A Zurich-based startup has raised $16 million in seed funding to scale its economically sustainable technology aimed at destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) molecules from wastewater, the company announced Thursday.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKET
Biodiversity leakage – Nature and carbon standard Plan Vivo Foundation announced on Wednesday a partnership with consulting firm Biodiversity Footprint Intelligence Company (BioInt) to develop a tool for measuring unintended consequences of conservation activities in emerging biodiversity markets. Plan Vivo first announced in July it was seeking an expert organisation or individual to develop a leakage tool or module for PV Nature. “Addressing leakage is necessary to ensure high-integrity biodiversity certificates. We are proud to support Plan Vivo in dealing with this complex but critical topic,” said Joshua Berger, CEO of BioInt.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
UK farms – British supermarket chain Waitrose has partnered with software company Land App to map the state of nature across farms in the UK. Under the initiative, over 2,000 farmers will receive access to advanced mapping tools and expert advice to develop management plans aimed at conserving and restoring biodiversity across their land. “This latest technology will provide us and our farmers with data that we can use, evaluate, and act on to support the adoption of nature-friendly farming with real insights on what works and what doesn’t,” said James Bailey, executive director of Waitrose.
POLICY
Maybe tomorrow – Switzerland’s Federal Council has chosen to halt its evaluation of the effects of subsidies on biodiversity. The most significant subsidies for nature are already being considered as part of separate initiatives, such as the national agricultural policy, have just been implemented, or are about to expire. “That is why the Federal Council does not see the need for further investigation at the moment,” it said on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the Federal Council acknowledged the need to better assess the impacts of subsidies on biodiversity in the future.
SCIENCE & TECH
Fleas – Vets in the UK should stop giving pets preventive flea treatments due to their negative impacts on biodiversity, a scientist at the University of Sussex has told The Guardian. These treatments include powerful insecticides like imidacloprid and fipronil, which often leach into waterways, harming wildlife. “Defra and the veterinary profession need to take responsibility for development of a sustainable alternative, but an obvious first step is to stop treating animals for fleas if they don’t have fleas,” said Dave Goulson, professor of biology at the University of Sussex.
Sawing leopards – Studying the “sawing” roaring of leopards through bioacoustics allows monitoring of much larger areas than usual, a study published in the journal of Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation has found. The pairing of a camera trap with recordings in the Nyerere National Park in Tanzania could identify individual leopards with up to 93% accuracy, reported Mongabay. The findings could lead to more complex studies such as population estimates.
Diversity decline – The genetic diversity of over 600 animals and plants has declined globally over the past three decades, an analysis published in Nature has found. Two-thirds of the populations studied saw at least some declines, but urgent conservation efforts could reverse losses, reported The Guardian. Scientists reviewed studies between 1985 and 2019 across 628 species of animals, plants, and fungi, forming what they called “the most comprehensive investigation” of its kind.
Antarctic database – Scientists of the Australian Antarctic Division Programme have released the most far-reaching database of species living in the ice-free areas of Antarctica, they announced on Thursday. During 16 years of research, they recorded 1,890 species, including mosses, lichens, fungi, invertebrates, microbes, birds, and seals. “By better understanding the location and diversity of species across these bioregions, and Antarctica generally, we can design better studies to understand ecological structure and function, and mitigate the impacts of environmental change on biodiversity,” the programme said.
Peatland emergency – Researchers from the University of Exeter have found that the UK’s peatlands are facing an ‘uncertain future’ due to the escalating impacts of the climate crisis. The study, released this week, projected substantial reductions in areas suitable for peat accumulation across the UK over the next 35-60 years, with the Flow Country, Dartmoor, and the Peak District particularly at risk. “The projected losses of suitable climate in England and parts of Scotland mean that our restoration efforts must adapt, and alternative strategies considered, where restoration may not yield the desired effects because of climate change effects,” co-author Angela Gallego-Sala said.
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