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TOP STORY
INTERVIEW: Brazilian Amazon states mull regional biodiversity market
The governments of the nine Brazilian Amazon states have started talks to develop a unified policy for valuing natural capital, with the establishment of a regional biodiversity market among the options being explored, an expert involved in the initiative told Carbon Pulse.
POLICY
Guyana announces global biodiversity alliance, index
Guyana on Wednesday spearheaded the creation of a non-binding platform to support biodiversity conservation and finance ahead of COP30 and beyond, during the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit in Georgetown.
Guyana signs MoU with Yale to develop national biodiversity information system
The government of Guyana on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Yale Centre for Biodiversity and Global Change (BGC) for a partnership to establish its first national integrated platform for biodiversity intelligence.
Australian experts propose policy options to deal with increasing, more intense algal bloom events
A biodiversity expert group have put forward policy recommendations to Australian governments to urgently respond to a devastating algal bloom on the South Australian coastline, and to prepare for similar future events.
Canada announces C$125 mln in funds for Alberta forest projects
Canada has committed C$125 million ($91 mln) to plant 12 mln trees and restore habitat for species at risk in Alberta.
NATURE & BIODIVERSITY MARKET
Nature markets need backing by policy interventions, safeguards, report finds
Strong integrity safeguards and policy interventions are needed if market-based instruments are to meaningfully contribute to global conservation goals, according to researchers.
Study calls for robust biodiversity credit schemes in Southeast Asia to unlock market’s “immense potential”
Robust biodiversity credit frameworks should be put in place in Southeast Asia as the market holds “immense potential” to mobilise investment towards nature, a study has said.
Biodiversity fund aims to participate in Australian state offset scheme
An investment firm is looking to raise A$50-70 million ($32-46 mln) to invest in biodiversity offset credits, focussing on Australia’s New South Wales state-based scheme, according to its CEO.
NATURE-BASED CARBON
Price of nature-based carbon removals doubled in first half of 2025
Nature-based carbon removal (CDR) credits doubled in price between the January and July, according to new analysis.
Developer forecasts premium UK carbon removal credits to reach £500/t by 2050
Premium UK carbon credits that provide genuine carbon removal alongside biodiversity and community impact are forecast to reach £500 per tonne by 2050, according to market analysis by a project developer, which outlined the price divergence between different credit quality levels.
Carbon project financier settles disputes in Indonesia and Mexico
A Canadian carbon project financier on Thursday said it finalised settlement agreements over two troubled carbon offset projects in Indonesia and Mexico, but is continuing to pursue a lawsuit against former executives and consultants over alleged misconduct and mismanagement.
US forest carbon project developer closes $210 mln financing deal
A New York-based forest carbon project developer has closed a project finance facility worth up to $210 million to support an afforestation project in the voluntary carbon market (VCM), in what the company said is the first financing of its kind in the sector.
DRC environment ministry seeks carbon tax inclusion in 2026 budget
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) environment ministry has requested the inclusion of a carbon tax on industrial GHG emissions in the country’s 2026 finance law, according to an official letter sent to the budget ministry earlier this month.
Brazilian finance coalition commits $2.6 bln to forest restoration, bioeconomy
A Brazilian finance coalition dedicated to forest restoration and bioeconomy announced Wednesday that it has committed $2.6 billion to these causes – more than one-quarter of its overall goal by 2030.
ART Secretariat opens TREES 3.0 for public comment, elaborates on HFLD
The secretariat of the ART programme has opened version 3.0 of its TREES jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD) standard for public consultation, filled with clarifying notes and new information – including on the ‘high forest, low deforestation’ (HFLD) methodology.
Commodity trader launches J-REDD+ programme with Peru-based Indigenous coalition
A global commodity trader launched a jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD+) programme on Indigenous lands in Peru Tuesday, an effort that the investor called a world-first.
Indigenous ACCU method “unimpeded” by lack of govt guidelines
The proponent of an Indigenous Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) method expects to present a draft to the government by the end of the year, despite still waiting for formal guidelines.
NGO backs Zambia’s draft carbon market regulations, flags key gaps
Zambia’s upcoming carbon market regulations have drawn support for its provisions on governance roles and legal clarity on both voluntary and Article 6 carbon markets, however, the government needs to strengthen the regulations around transparency, an NGO said this week.
Brazil’s Rio Vermelho sub-basin lost 3.6 mln tonnes of carbon amid agricultural expansion -study
Newly published research of Brazil’s Rio Vermelho Sub-basin (SBHRV) found that two decades of agricultural expansion led to widespread land use change, deforestation, and a decline in carbon stock of roughly 3.6 million tonnes.
CORPORATE
ICE adds biodiversity metrics to climate analytics platform
Energy and commodities marketplace the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has teamed up with a UK-based nature tech firm to integrate biodiversity metrics into its platform for assessing climate-related risks.
Oil giant invests in sustainable forestry in southern US
A global energy and petroleum company is partnering with a forest carbon project developer to conserve forests from land conversion and harvesting.
SCIENCE & TECH
Turning forests into pasture harms biodiversity more than expected, study finds
Clearing forests to create pastureland has far greater impacts on biodiversity than previously estimated, according to a paper released this week.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKETS
BNG crusade – A group of business executives and NGOs has penned a letter to the UK government calling for getting BNG back on track. Signatories said they fear that recently proposed changes to the scheme could undermine the market. Weakening requirements for minor and medium-sized developments would be a step backwards, particularly as the government seeks to expand private investment in nature recovery, they wrote.
CORPORATE
Forest restoration – Queenstown Airport and the Remarkables Station National Trust have teamed up to restore biodiversity across a 1,222-ha property near Lake Whakatipu, in New Zealand. Currently leased as a farm, the site is owned by Remarkables Station National Trust, a subsidiary of the QEII National Trust. The initiative will involve clearing invasive weeds, removing livestock, and supporting sustainable native forest regeneration. Queenstown Airport will contribute NZ$25,000 ($15,000) annually to the project.
Land clearing – About 200 ha of land have reportedly been cleared since May at the proposed Gemini coal mine site in Dingo, central Queensland, Australia, ABC wrote. The federal government said it is investigating the allegations. The mine, which will be operated by Magnetic South, is planned to have a 25-year lifespan. The area is home to endangered species like greater gliders and koalas, according to the Queensland Conservation Council. A spokesperson for Magnetic South said that the company followed the law in all its work.
Teaming up – Italian financial institution UniCredit has partnered with non-profit the National Trust for Italy to advance nature conservation throughout the country. Under the initiative, UniCredit will support research, monitoring, species protection, and educational activities, it said in a press release. Planned activities also include water footprint reduction as well as climate mitigation and adaptation measures.
POLICY
Fire prevention – UNDP has launched a $2-mln project in Belarus aimed at improving forest fire prevention in the Brest and Gomel regions. The initiative, funded by China, will run until the end of next year and lead to the development of a framework for sustainable forest management, combining technologies with community-based participation. The project will provide local forestry enterprises with essential firefighting infrastructure, including high-capacity motor pumps, power generation equipment, and personal protective gear.
On the agenda – China’s environment ministry is planning to include blue carbon in the country’s next five-year plan (2026-30) to protect marine resources, China Environmental News reported. The government plans to build a solid “blue carbon pool”, support new research, build a relevant standard system, and deepen international cooperation, a ministry official told a forum this week. The ministry will also continue to support Hainan province in implementing pilots and exploring new paths for blue carbon development. Hainan’s mangroves store an average of 274 tonnes of carbon per ha, the highest rate in China, according to China Daily.
Resilience funding – The New Zealand government has awarded F$4.3 mln ($1.9 mln) in funding to Fiji through the Pacific Agriculture and Sustainable Land Management Partnership, FBC News reported Thursday. The partnership will focus on landscape planning using environmental and socio-economic data, and cost effective soil monitoring for improved productivity. The support is part of a $18.5 mln regional initiative running from 2025-29 across six Pacific nations.
OECMs – The South China Botanical Garden has estimated that protected areas will cover 18% of the country’s land by 2030, stressing that the government will need to accelerate the mainstreaming of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to meet the Global Biodiversity Framework ’30×30′ target. The study, published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, said China should clarify the OECM identification procedures at a national level, suggesting that the country’s diverse natural holy sites could also be included.
A cat’s dream – Amsterdam will spend up to €100,000 to install special steps along city centre canals to help cats and other animals climb out, local media outlets DutchNews and de Volkskrant have reported. According to Maggie Ruitenberg from cat expertise centre Katten Kenniscentrumladder, these special steps can help animals escape a watery death as long as there are enough of them. So far this year, 19 cats are known to have drowned in Amsterdam’s canals, according to local reports.
SCIENCE & TECH
Danube biodiversity – Researchers from six central and eastern European countries have joined a cross-border project aimed at enhancing nature across the Danube region. Under the initiative, institutions from Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Serbia will work with regional and national bodies to map habitats along the Sava and Danube rivers in order to support biodiversity restoration efforts. The project aims to contribute to the EU’s biodiversity targets, they said.
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EVENTS
Carbon Forward Expo London: Oct. 7-9, London – Europe’s premier carbon markets conference. Our flagship event takes place in London once again, and will celebrate its 10th year analysing global carbon markets. Over three information-packed days, we’ll bring you leading experts, thought-provoking content, trailblazing organisations, lively discussions, and innovative thinking across the compliance, voluntary, removal, and renewable energy markets. This year’s edition will feature more side events, workshops, and our inaugural Startup Pitch Hub! More details and a call for proposals to follow. Super Early Bird discounts now available. Register
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