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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
TOP STORIES
Momentum carries summit to edge of High Seas Treaty success
The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice brought the High Seas Treaty within reach of becoming operational, with stakeholders saying the event fell short of what was needed while bringing significant momentum.
FEATURE: UNOC sparks motion against bottom trawling despite French inaction
Action against bottom trawling made some gains at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) last week, with the issue attracting attention despite a lack of leadership on the issue from host France.
MARKET
INTERVIEW: Filipino developer sells 1 mln plastic credits, says more needed to fund waste management
More plastic credits sales are needed to fund waste management facilities in the Philippines, although those sold so far have helped polluting industries fulfil their extended producer responsibility obligations, a project developer told Carbon Pulse in an interview.
EU regions committee debates additionality requirement in nature credit market
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is divided over whether the emerging EU nature credit market should require additionality, with conflicting amendments put forward ahead of a meeting on the issue next week.
FEATURE: Trio to develop framework for scaling plastic credit market in East Africa
Two French organisations and a Nairobi-based company have teamed up to scale the plastic credit market in East Africa, aiming to build a framework to help companies meet emerging regulations and bridge the financial gap left by the rollback of foreign aid assistance.
UK financial services firm to distribute first Mediterranean blue carbon credits
A London-based financial services provider will distribute 32,000 blue carbon credits backed by the French state for the protection of Mediterranean seagrass, it was announced at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC).
Carbon developer launches nature credit scheme in Western Australia
A Perth-headquartered carbon project developer on Monday announced the launch of a nature credit scheme tailored to the protection of endangered species in the Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia.
Researchers caution against voluntary biodiversity credit market in New Zealand
A research institute in New Zealand has released a policy brief highlighting major challenges in developing a high-integrity voluntary biodiversity credit market in the country, with demand uncertainty seen as one of the most significant.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
INTERVIEW: AXA developing global insurance and investment product for MPAs
France-headquartered financier AXA is developing a global insurance and investment product to support marine protected areas (MPAs) with a collective size of Mexico, Carbon Pulse has learned.
Alliance launches to scale corporate action on nature
A group of companies has launched an alliance to expand nature-positive efforts within the private sector, including through promoting the development of nature credit markets.
TOOLS & GUIDANCE
Report outlines path for govts to align climate, biodiversity plans
Governments should ramp up efforts to strengthen coordination between climate and biodiversity plans, as failing to do so risks undermining the achievement of national environmental targets, a report has said.
POLICY
UK govt seeks business input to boost private investment in nature
The UK government has launched a public call for evidence seeking feedback from businesses on how to unlock private investment in biodiversity conservation and restoration, including within emerging nature markets.
Pacific Islands announce world’s largest Indigenous-led ocean reserve
The governments of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands have announced plans to set up the world’s largest Indigenous-led ocean reserve, with Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia ready to join the initiative.
SCIENCE & TECH
IUCN publishes guidelines to foster finance in protected and conserved areas
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released a new set of guidelines on financing protected and conserved areas (PCAs), spotlighting their significant yet underutilised economic value.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKET
Shell yeah – Revata Carbon announced on Tuesday it has teamed up with Singapore-based agri-commodity trader Valency International to launch a biochar project in West Africa that aims to convert 35,000 tonnes of cashew shell waste annually, and offset 500,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2026. The project will process cashew shell waste from Valency’s operations in the Ivory Coast and Nigeria, repurposing it into biochar for soil enhancement, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy. (Carbon Pulse)
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Data pilot – The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) is set to unveil recommendations at COP30 to improve market access to nature data following pilot testing and consultations. The initiative, developed with over 60 global partners, aims to refine data standards and inform the design of a proposed Nature Data Public Facility. In parallel, TNFD, in partnership with UNDP and Germany’s International Climate Initiative, has launched a Grand Challenge to spur AI-powered tools enabling SMEs to assess their nature-related risks and dependencies.
Tuna emergency – A new report from Planet Tracker has found that the tuna industry’s opacity is threatening ocean health and investor portfolios. According to the financial think tank, 30 companies catch 46% of the world’s tuna, with only four of them reporting catch volumes, exposing investors to supply chain risk. “Tuna’s biomass has declined by 40-80%, posing serious threats to ocean health and seafood investors,” the report said. To date, only the Bolton Group provides adequate disclosure, reporting across species, location, gear, and certification.
POLICY
Animal fatalities – The charity International Animal Rescue (IAR) has urged the government of Costa Rica to take “immediate and effective measures” to address the soaring number of wild animal electrocutions, caused by unregulated development and non-insulated power lines. Fatalities among howler monkeys, sloths, and anteaters are “not isolated incidents – they represent a national emergency for biodiversity”, said IAR’s country director in a press statement. Owing to fragmented habitats, these species use power lines as bridges, further exacerbating their already threatened status.
Case closed – A 28-year dispute over a Bulgarian motorway ended with a deal to protect the biodiversity-rich site of Kresna Gorge. The government agreed to build the final motorway section outside the Natura 2000 protected area. Environmental groups dropped their legal appeals, leading to the closing of ongoing court cases. “Now it is up to the EU Commission to support this solution,” said Andrey Ralev, biodiversity campaigner at CEE Bankwatch Network.
Funding floods – The UK government will spend nearly £8 bln on flooding defences, including nature-based solutions, over the next decade it announced this week. The programme will invest in wetland restoration, as well as man-made infrastructure like flood barriers. The government said it will spend £4.2 bln of its new flooding budget over the next three years to protect homes and infrastructure.
Canyon Creek – Canada is investing just under C$1 mln ($740,000) in natural infrastructure improvements to Canyon Creek in Vancouver. The project, funded by the Nature Infrastructure Fund, is expected to restore greenspace and support local biodiversity by planting native species and creating habitats for birds, aquatic life, and pollinators. It includes constructing wetlands to help improve the water quality in English Bay.
SCIENCE & TECH
Empty fields – Japan’s declining population in agricultural regions is negatively impacting biodiversity across the country, according to a new paper. Led by researchers from the Sheffield, Tokyo, and Kindai universities and published in Nature Sustainability, the study called on the government to put measures in place to balance rewilding and economic growth. “Biodiversity losses continue among most species studied mainly because of change in agricultural land use,” it said. “Only where human numbers are currently stable, biodiversity is also more stable, although we anticipate that this may also change as ageing deepens into depopulation in these areas.”
Five more – The biodiversity monitoring programme of US-headquartered satellite company Planet Labs has expanded to include five additional sites, bringing the total to 15, the company has said. The new locations are the Sacred Headwaters of the Amazon, Upemba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sky Aelans in the Solomon Islands, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, and the Maya Forest Mosaic in Belize. The ultimate goal of the project is to support scientists, conservationists, and local stewards in monitoring and protecting 50 of the world’s most vulnerable biodiversity sites by providing high-quality data and analytics.
Dead fingers – A nature challenge has identified over 1,800 species of plants and animals around the city of Coimbatore in south India, reported the New Indian Express. Over 150 observers from more than 15 organisations identified 81 species of spiders, 90 species of birds, and 62 species of butterflies. A significant find was the ‘Dead Man’s Finger’, a forest fungus characterised by its upright form that looks similar to fingers.
Algal doom – The spread of toxic algae off the coast of South Australia since March has killed large numbers of sharks, reported the BBC. The “unprecedented” 4,500-sq. km algal bloom has suffocated a wide range of marine life spanning more than 200 species, including a three-metre great white shark. Species like crabs have been among the worst hit, as they are less mobile. Algae spreads during warm conditions, with the area experiencing a marine heatwave.
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