AECOM - Environmental Services’ Post

We’re proud to have developed a pioneering nature positive toolkit for the Environmental Services Association (ESA) with WSP. Aligned with international frameworks and methodologies including the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the Science-based Targets for Nature (SBTN), the toolkit describes how #recycling and #WasteManagement organisations in the UK can understand and not only mitigate their impacts on nature, but take action to support a #NaturePositive future. Our #NatureServices lead Julia Baker, said: “All parts of our economies and societies are impacted by the increasingly vital role of nature and #biodiversity. Nature services is integral to our Mott MacDonald values and we’re proud to have contributed to such an important new project.” Gain insights on more measures to protect and restore our biodiversity and #ecosystems. 👇 https://mottm.ac/3R0lX3e

In the latest issue of Duke Environment, come along with us on a journey of renewal and resurgence as we explore how students and scientists are rebuilding nature in viable ways. Discover the transformative initiatives of Duke Restore, where innovation meets conservation and regeneration, restoring the hope of a more sustainable tomorrow.

‘Nature positive’ isn’t just planting a few trees – it’s actually stopping the damage we do Martine Maron Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Megan C Evans Senior Lecturer, Public Sector Management, UNSW Sydney Sophus zu Ermgassen Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Oxford Have you heard the phrase “nature positive”? It’s suddenly everywhere. The idea is simple: rather than continually erode the natural world, nature positive envisions a future with more nature than we have now. Created by an environmental alliance, the nature positive concept has been embraced by industry, world leaders and conservationists. Sudden popularity can be reason for caution. After all, we’ve seen well-intended ideas become cover for greenwashing before. And without strong guardrails, we risk nature positive being used as a distraction from continued failures. Our new research points to three ways to make sure nature positive is truly positive for nature. What’s the big idea? According to the Nature Positive Initiative, “nature positive” aims to halt and reverse nature loss measured from a baseline of 2020, through increasing the health, abundance, diversity and resilience of species, populations and ecosystems so that by 2030 nature is visibly and measurably on the path of recovery So, nature positive means seriously scaling back negative impacts on nature – through tackling land clearing, invasive species, and climate change – while also investing in positive impacts like ecosystem restoration and rewilding. The goal is hugely ambitious. But it’s also essential. Read on at https://lnkd.in/gEtGsDiA

I’ve just read a cool article about the Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership (UKBCEP) and thought that some of my connections may be interested! Blue carbon is the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems. The Blue Carbon Initiative currently focuses on carbon in coastal ecosystems - mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses. These ecosystems sequester and store large quantities of blue carbon in both the plants and the sediment below. The report was launched to accelerate action for managing, protecting, enhancing and restoring blue carbon habitats world wide. Blue carbon habitats offer significant global benefits for both people and our environment. However, there is still a lack of knowledge surrounding how best to manage these ecosystems. I have only recently educated myself on the importance of Blue Carbon and the statistics are incredible. They contribute significantly and blue carbon habitats have suffered great losses due to human activities.    Professor Graham J.C. Underwood, Chair of the UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership, emphasises the importance of collaboration to find innovative research solutions for the sustainable management and creation of resilient blue carbon habitats. The UKBCEP, was only established in 2022. It has already had great influence and brings together science and policy experts to advance the UK's commitments to managing, protecting, and restoring blue carbon habitats. They are a great project to follow and support! #BlueCarbon #Sustainability #EnvironmentalConservation #TogetherForChange

How might we find the structures to enable the Sovereignty of Nature? Shifting our legal framework from one of dominion over nature to one that upholds the sovereignty of nature and acknowledges its right to self-determination is imperative for the well-being of both our planet and humanity. For centuries, legal systems have treated nature as property to be exploited for human benefit, leading to widespread environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Recognising nature’s intrinsic value and granting it legal standing would represent a profound paradigm shift towards a more equitable and sustainable relationship with the natural world.

UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has launched new infographics that answer key questions and bring Biodiversity Net Gain to life.   Explore the process of implementing BNG and understand where environmental policies overlap.   📊 Download here: https://lnkd.in/gKkfDM6t   These infographics are part of a series of resources helping to demystify BNG/ENG for practitioners in our industry. By complying with Biodiversity Net Gain legislation as a minimum, and going beyond by implementing Environmental Net Gain, we have the opportunity to bring nature back into our built environment so that both people and wildlife can thrive. 🌼   #sustainabilitymatters #bng

Centre has tweaked the norms of the Green Credit Programme (GCP) to prioritize ecosystem restoration over tree planting. The GCP encourages investments in afforestation projects in 'degraded' forest lands for 'green credits.' The Union Environment Ministry, the overall coordinator of the programme, has clarified that the restoration of ecosystems should be the priority rather than tree planting for financial gains. This move comes amid concerns that the GCP may encourage tree planting for financial benefits. It is a positive step towards ensuring sustainable and responsible afforestation practices in the country. #GreenCreditProgramme #EcosystemRestoration #Afforestation #Sustainability

Community #ForestRestoration can be a great alternative to #ScaleUp tree planting and its benefits. According to #WEF, there are 5️⃣ principles for partnering with communities: 1️⃣ Understanding the local context 🌍🔍 2️⃣ Obtaining free, prior, and informed consent 🤝📜 3️⃣ Co-designing initiatives 🛠️ 4️⃣ Implementing collaboratively 👥🤝🌱 5️⃣ Recognizing land rights ✊🌎

This is an important step forward for the future of blue carbon policy in New Zealand, as work continues to investigate a blue carbon credit scheme that would incentivise the conservation of coastal wetlands. #thenatureconservancynewzealand #bluecarbon #climatechange #climatechangesolutions #thenatureconservancyasiapacific

Does the #spectacle of #conservation #guarantee human wellbeing and safe-guard natural habitats #relied on the premise that humans and their environment are one in a whole? #(PART I) The fundamental thinking underlying the discourse propagated by international environment agencies and organizations is axed on the argument that it is in human’s own interest to diminish and or placate actions that seemingly contribute towards global environmental deterioration. Regrettably, this had been impaired by the controversies surrounding discourses on environmental sustainability, the major point of contention being the destructive influence of man’s actions on the ecosystem. In the same vein, this stance is corroborated further by ascertaining the role of scientists and local policy makers in creating a furry of underrated and unfounded assumptions on environmental sustainability, which victimizes local people‘s livelihoods and chastises them as obstinate perpetrators of environmental degradation. It is thus unsurprising that the nature-culture debate has always constituted an important binary in the construction of anthropological knowledge and discourse about culture, environment and sustainable development. Recently, the nature-culture debate has seemingly shifted angles towards deliberate attempts of development agencies and environmental corporations to succinctly demarcate this nature-culture boundaries or relationships as a measure towards safeguarding the environment and natural habitats; hence conservation. However, the reclassification of nature and habitats into reserves and or parks for environmental sustainability motives, has received tons of criticism as development theorists argue that it indirectly reinforces western influence and negatively affects the livelihoods of the local people whose natural living habitat have been targeted as conservation reserves. Central to the debate put forth by global environmentalist agencies is the assertion that the problem of environmental degradation and the strategies embarked upon is a sustainable measure to curb the destructive human influence on the environment.