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 needed). However, we require that all Biodiversity Pulse readers have a Carbon Pulse login to access our nature and biodiversity content in full. To get a login, sign up for a free trial of our news. If you’ve already had a trial, then you already have a login.

TOP STORY

INTERVIEW: Public development banks key to steering biodiversity credit markets

Public development banks (PDBs) should contribute to steering the emerging biodiversity credit markets, as giving free rein to the private sector could lead to unwanted consequences, according to an official at the French Development Agency (AFD).

MARKET

UK road authority pitches £240-mln budget for biodiversity net gain, carbon credits

The UK’s road agency has proposed a budget of up to £240 million for public sector spending on biodiversity net gain (BNG) and carbon credits.

BUSINESS & FINANCE

FEATURE: EU regulations driving US business action on nature

EU regulations are gradually encouraging US companies to act on nature despite impacts of the Trump administration, although progress lags behind Europe, according to experts.

Mining council publishes net gain biodiversity guidance

The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) published guidance on Thursday that aims to help mining companies ultimately achieve net gain or no net loss of biodiversity.

Accounting for Nature unveils plans to launch commercial entity

Environmental accounting non-profit Accounting for Nature (AFN) has unveiled plans to launch a separate commercial entity which will draw from its environmental measurement standards to develop natural assets.

TOOLS & GUIDANCE

UK urged to mandate nature-related disclosures, overhaul GDP accounting

A London-based think tank has urged the UK government to reform how nature is integrated into corporate strategies and public finances, warning that biodiversity loss will disrupt the national economy in the long term if not urgently addressed.

Coalition releases recommendations to reverse forest loss ahead of COP30 climate summit

A group of civil society and research organisations has issued recommendations for governments to reverse forest loss ahead of the COP30 UN climate summit in November.

POLICY

Put biodiversity on EU security agenda, MEP says

Biodiversity financing should be part of the EU security agenda due to the risks that nature loss poses to member states, experts said on Wednesday as the bloc launched plans to ramp up defence spending.

SCIENCE & TECH

Species conservation actions highly effective in curbing extinction risk, study says

Species conservation actions over the past few decades have proven effective in preventing wildlife extinctions, though greater efforts are required to achieve full recovery, according to a paper released this week.

—————————————————

BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Ocean council – The World Economic Forum has launched the Global Future Council on the Regenerative Blue Economy, seeking to help governments and the private sector implement solutions that protect marine ecosystems. Chaired by Helle Herk-Hansen from Sweden-headquartered energy company Vattenfall, and Ussif Rashid Sumaila, a professor at the University of British Columbia, the council brings together experts across finance, business, government, academia, and civil society.

Nature fund – A fund has secured $175 mln for investing in natural climate solutions after receiving backing from California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) and Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund. The Natural Climate Solutions strategy is to target entrepreneurs that can deliver attractive returns in projects that change land use to achieve global net-zero, such as biological fertilisers, restoration projects, and technologies to verify biodiversity outcomes. (Carbon Pulse)

POLICY

Doge leashed – A judge has blocked the Trump administration from taking more steps to shut down USAID. On Tuesday, Judge Theodore Chuang said the efforts led by Elon Musk’s Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) to close the agency have likely violated the US constitution “in multiple ways”, reported BBC. Chuang ordered Doge to restore USAID system access for all employees, including those on leave, and halt terminations, but not to reinstate previously suspended staff.

Mangrove protection – Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has partnered with ExxonMobil Research Qatar to boost mangrove conservation and restoration across the country. The collaboration aims to advance research on mangroves as a nature-based solution for safeguarding coastal ecosystems, according to the Gulf Times. As part of the initiative, a detailed map for mangrove rehabilitation in Qatar will be developed. Additionally, scientific modelling of coral reefs and seagrasses will be conducted to support aquaculture projects in selecting suitable sites.

New landing zones – Canada’s largest land conservancy, Ducks Unlimited Canada, has announced protection for Melbourne Lake and McLean’s Lake Salt Marshes on Nova Scotia’s south shore. The group said protecting these habitats helps grow a network of protected coastal areas and fortifies the province’s coastline against the effects of sea-level rise. Nova Scotia has lost 60 per cent of its salt marshes to development. 

Back to school – The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, a charity dedicated to protecting public land, has released a report card on Canada’s efforts to protect its lands and oceans. Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador all received failing grades for “limited ambition in nature conservation”, lack of conservation policies, and action. Quebec was the only province to receive an “A”, though it was an “A-”. The report said the province has protected nearly 17% of its lands, 10% of its marine territory, and committed significant funding to conservation.

SCIENCE & TECH

Explorer – The UN Environment Programme has launched a data platform showing the health of global freshwater bodies. The Freshwater Ecosystems Explorer uses satellite data to track pollution, water body size changes, and other critical indicators in lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Data is available on permanent and seasonal surface waters, reservoirs, wetlands, and mangroves.

AI lakes – A team of scientists from the University of Birmingham has pioneered an AI approach to studying biodiversity in lakes that aims to highlight previously unseen threats. The group developed a system that can integrate different data types across biological and chemical parameters, said Hello Future. The study identified 43 environmental factors associated with declining biodiversity in lakes. The research aims to create digital twins of lake ecosystems to model pollutants and land use changes, predicting their impact on biodiversity.

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