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TOP STORY

BNG sees less than £250k worth of statutory biodiversity credits sold in first year

Government body Natural England has sold £247,416 worth of statutory biodiversity credits since it introduced its biodiversity net gain (BNG) regulation last year, it said Friday.

MARKET

UK biodiversity net gain demand reaches 7,700 units, report estimates

Demand for off-site biodiversity net gain (BNG) units in England may have reached around 7,700 units last year, a report has suggested.

Nature marketplace pilot launches in the UK’s Cornwall

An online marketplace pilot for nature projects that benefit carbon, wildlife, and water, including biodiversity net gain (BNG) and focused on the Cornwall region of the UK, has been launched in collaboration with the government.

Italian cohort weighs biodiversity credits for wetland restoration plan

A public-private cohort in Italy is leading an initiative to advance the restoration of the country’s largest wetland, with biodiversity credits among the tools being explored to mobilise financing.

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Digital asset fund secures $100 mln to advance Amazon protection

An infrastructure investment fund has pledged $100 million to a digital asset security investment platform to scale financing towards conservation in the Amazon.

BP reports 38% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, new biodiversity projects in 2024

BP last week reported a 38% reduction in its combined Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2024, compared to a 2019 baseline, bringing total emissions down to 54.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

TOOLS & GUIDANCE

SBTN launches first science-based targets for oceans

The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) has launched its first ocean-related targets, focusing on the seafood sector.

POLICY

WWF urges EU to boost LIFE programme in next budget

WWF has called on the EU to boost the LIFE programme to ensure adequate funding flows towards biodiversity conservation and restoration efforts under the bloc’s next long-term budget.

No natural asset companies in Utah, say US congressmembers

A bill introduced in Congress looks to prohibit Natural Asset Companies (NACs) from engaging in business in Utah.

SCIENCE & TECH

Wildfires threaten 495 mln tonnes of carbon in Nepal, study warns

Forest fires in Nepal could potentially release more than 495 million tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere whilst endangering critical biodiversity hotspots as climate change makes the Himalayan nation more susceptible to blazes, according to researchers.

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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

MARKET

Aussie rules – Australian project developer Wilderlands has sold over 100,000 voluntary biodiversity credits in less than four months through its partnership with Tasman Environmental Markets (TEM), it said in a post on LinkedIn. The figure follows Wilderlands saying it had sold 70,000 biodiversity credits in the three months up to Dec. 2024 under the same mechanism. In Sep. 2024 it launched an ‘Extended Impact’ solution, selling Wilderlands’ Biological Diversity Units alongside an equal number of carbon units on the TEM online marketplace.

Update – Verra may revamp methodologies for reforestation and revegetation (ARR) as it seeks to expand the scope of projects eligible for phase one of CORSIA, the UN’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. The standard body said it is working with the Technical Advisory Board (TAB) of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to submit revisions in April that will then be considered by the ICAO Council in June. The existing ARR activities rely on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodologies, it said. (Carbon Pulse)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

French lab – WWF France and the French Office for Biodiversity have launched the Nature Transition Lab, an initiative aimed at supporting French businesses in preserving biodiversity. Developed in partnership with the Science Based Targets Network, the Nature Transition Lab will guide companies in setting and achieving science-based nature-positive targets. The first partners will soon be announced, WWF said in a press release.

Hydropower warning – International environmental organisations have issued a warning about the danger of hydropower to Central Asia’s rivers and lakes. International Rivers, Friends of the Earth US, Urgewald, and CEE Bankwatch Network were among a coalition that called on international development banks to reconsider their hydropower funding due to concerns over the destruction of natural habitats. They sent a letter to institutions including the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the European Investment Bank. (Times of Central Asia)

POLICY

Conservation roadmap – India’s northeastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh last week released a biodiversity action plan to protect its rich ecosystems while ensuring sustainable development. Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the plan outlines localised actions to empower communities, districts, and Indigenous groups in conservation efforts with government support. It also aligns with the state’s climate action plan and contributes to India’s Sustainable Development Goals. Arunachal Pradesh hosts more than 500 orchid species and rare wildlife, including the Mishmi takin, red panda, clouded leopard, and Arunachal macaque. The state is also home to unique birds such as the Blyth’s tragopan, hornbills, and the critically endangered white-bellied heron. Its forests form essential migration corridors, connecting biodiversity hotspots across India, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

Ghana calling – Ghana is calling on the private sector to boost investments in wildlife conservation, Further Africa has reported. Hugh Brown, acting chief executive at the Forestry Commission, urged businesses to step up, as private funding is essential to protect endangered species like leopards, lions, chimpanzees, and African elephants, which inhabit the country’s national parks and reserves. The Forestry Commission oversees 21 protected areas, including seven national parks, six resource reserves, and five coastal wetlands.

Aid cut – The US administration’s decision to cut foreign aid poses a serious threat to the establishment of Ghana’s first marine protected area (MPA), according to Mongabay. The proposed MPA, part of the Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA) programme, was designed to cover 700 sq. km along the southern coast of Ghana. However, the funding contract between USAID and Tetra Tech, a US-based consultancy managing the GFRA, was cancelled in February. Funds were supposed to support the development of the MPA management plan and training programmes for community members and public officials.

Money for the Amazon – Ireland has announced it will allocate €15 mln to Brazil’s Amazon Fund over the next three years, the Brazilian government said in a statement. The Amazon Fund is a global initiative aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and one of the main instruments for implementing Brazilian environmental policies. The number of donor countries contributing to the fund has now risen to eight.

Salmons – The Canadian government has ringfenced C$6.1 mln ($4.2 mln) to support projects aimed at restoring Atlantic salmon populations and their habitats. Projects span multiple regions and focus on improving aquatic ecosystems, tracking species at risk, and enhancing climate change resilience, the government said. The funding will support various organisations, Indigenous groups, and universities working on habitat restoration, monitoring, species protection, and conservation initiatives, with key recipients including the Atlantic Salmon Federation, Dalhousie University, and several First Nations.

Isle of eels – A marine nature reserve could be created off the coast of the Isle of Man to protect blue carbon habitats through safeguarding newly discovered eelgrass beds and saltmarsh habitats, Isle of Man Today reported. A consultation on the issue is running until Apr. 25 with three different options for how the reserve is created. Eelgrass beds and saltmarshes store atmospheric carbon while supporting biodiversity and coastal protection, a spokesperson for the government’s environmental department said.

Ocean protection – The Philippines government has strengthened its collaboration with the UK to protect marine ecosystems through the Blue Planet Fund. Last week, the two nations signed a joint framework agreement to enhance their partnership in economic development and biodiversity conservation. Launched in 2021, the UK’s Blue Planet Fund seeks to support developing countries in protecting marine environments and tackling poverty.

Partnership – The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has announced the launch of a biodiversity conservation research project at Recto Bank and Rizal Reef, developed in partnership with Australia and the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation. The initiative, set to start next month, aims to assess and safeguard the West Philippines Sea, as the area contributes to 27% of the country’s commercial fisheries and 30% of its coral reefs, said DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga. A marine scientific research station will be established on Pag-asa Island, the Daily Tribune reported.

SCIENCE & TECH

Data lockdown – Covid-19 lockdown measures led to a sharp decline in species occurrence records, particularly in developing nations, a report has found. The study, published in the Scientific Reports journal, compared records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility during the first global lockdown in March-May, 2020 with pre-pandemic levels during the same period in 2019. The findings highlighted global monitoring vulnerabilities.

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