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Global Efforts to Bridge Religion and Conservation: Are They Really Working? — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 17, 2012 10:40 PM

Awoyemi et al. argue that the gap between religion and conservation must be narrowed if the latter is to take its rightful place among mayor human concerns and endeavors. They believe that changes in human behavior are needed to conserve nature, and cite specific examples from around the world of religions and religious groups fostering such change. Because faith communities comprise the largest social organizations and can convey moral imperatives for protecting nature, the potential for advancing conservation globally is great.

Engendering Agricultural Research, Development, and Extension — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 16, 2012 05:17 PM

This publication discusses the essential role of women in food security and suggests how women may be incorporated in agricultural research and development. Authors call for a restructuring of agriculture programs, policies, R&D, implementation, and program evaluation.

CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Land Tenure & Governance — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 12, 2012 01:41 AM

The handbook, titled Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, will be officially released Friday May 11th during the 38th Special Session of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security in Rome. The guidelines target government authorities, the private sector, civil society and citizens interested in judging whether proposed actions are consistent with acceptable practice.

FOREST PEOPLES: Numbers across the world — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 11, 2012 09:15 PM

By providing estimated figures for indigenous and forest peoples' populations in countries and regions across the globe, this new Forest Peoples Programme report seeks to raise awareness of the existence of peoples who primarily depend on forests for their livelihoods, and to enhance their visibility as key actors and rights-holders in the management and use of forests and forest resources. These figures may serve as a useful reference in advocacy for the recognition of forest peoples' legal and human rights.

Global Efforts to Bridge Religion and Conservation: Are They Really Working? — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 11, 2012 09:15 PM

Awoyemi et al. argue that the gap between religion and conservation must be narrowed if the latter is to take its rightful place among mayor human concerns and endeavors. They believe that changes in human behavior are needed to conserve nature, and cite specific examples from around the world of religions and religious groups fostering such change. Because faith communities comprise the largest social organizations and can convey moral imperatives for protecting nature, the potential for advancing conservation globally is great.

State of Watershed Payments: An Emerging Marketplace (TO DELETE) — by LiLing Choo — last modified May 09, 2012 12:18 PM

A global research effort conducted by Ecosystem Marketplace identified a total of approximately 288 payments for watershed services (PWS) and water quality trading (WQT) programs in varying stages of activity over the past 30 years. In 2008, the baseline year, about 127 programs were actively receiving payments or transacting credits. The total transaction value from all programs actively engaged in 2008 is estimated at US$9.3 billion. Over the entire time span of recorded activity, total transaction value is estimated at slightly more than US$50 billion, impacting some 3.24 billion hectares. This report has 3 objectives, 1) to use project-level data to estimate the overall size and scope of the payments directed to protest or restore watershed services; 2) to account for the full spectrum of watershed services activities and track changes going forward, and 3) to look ahead at the opportunities and challenges based on the current level of transactions, experimentation, and lessons learned.

State of Watershed Payments: An Emerging Marketplace — by portaladmin — last modified May 09, 2012 12:15 PM

A global research effort conducted by Ecosystem Marketplace identified a total of approximately 288 payments for watershed services (PWS) and water quality trading (WQT) programs in varying stages of activity over the past 30 years. In 2008, the baseline year, about 127 programs were actively receiving payments or transacting credits. The total transaction value from all programs actively engaged in 2008 is estimated at US$9.3 billion. Over the entire time span of recorded activity, total transaction value is estimated at slightly more than US$50 billion, impacting some 3.24 billion hectares. This report has 3 objectives, 1) to use project-level data to estimate the overall size and scope of the payments directed to protest or restore watershed services; 2) to account for the full spectrum of watershed services activities and track changes going forward, and 3) to look ahead at the opportunities and challenges based on the current level of transactions, experimentation, and lessons learned. Featured in News: USAID RM Portal Featured Stories, September 7, 2010.

Science for Environment Policy - Enhancing the effectiveness of PES: a thematic issue — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 04, 2012 02:58 AM

This Thematic Issue of Science for Environment Policy explores research which can help guide effective PES schemes. Under PES agreements, a user or beneficiary of an ecosystem service provides payments to individuals or communities whose management decisions and practices influence the provision of ecosystem services.

TEEBrief - Issue 6, March 2012 — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 04, 2012 02:57 AM

TEEBrief is a regular e-newsletter bringing you highlights of news and information from the world of ecosystems, biodiversity and economics. This is issue 6 from March of 2012.

Surui: Carbon Finance & the Protection of Indigenous Peoples’ Forests in the Amazon — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 02, 2012 06:45 PM

The Surui Indians of the Brazilian Amazon made contact with the outside world for the first time only 40 years ago. This contact inaugurated a period of settlement, road construction and disease which decimated their population and their ancestral lands. Now the Surui are working with Forest Trends, the Katoomba Group, Amazon Conservation Team and other partners to wed sophisticated mapping technology and global carbon finance to protect their culture and forests. By supporting processes of local consultation and planning, mapping, technical carbon assessments and links to markets, the Katoomba Incubator and partners propose to catalyze carbon finance for the protection of over 240,000 hectares of native forest and the support of a sustainable future for the Surui.

Who is Brazil's Most Creative Person in Business? — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 02, 2012 06:45 PM

Who is the most creative Brazilian in business? Many will argue that professional football has become big business and therefore Neymar, young footballer from Santos FC called the New Pelé by the NYT, should be the right answer. Others will claim it must be Brazil’s most famous entrepreneur Eike Batista, the seventh richest man on earth. However, the right answer is much more exotic than a footballer or an entrepreneur. According to Fast Company Magazine, Brazil’s most creative person in business is a tribal chief who has partnered with Google to save his tribe from the brink of extinction and stop deforestation in Amazon rainforest.

Indigenous Tribe Earns Validation for Landmark Forest Carbon Project - Business Wire — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 02, 2012 06:44 PM

A small tribe of indigenous people unknown to the outside world a half-century ago and once on the brink of extinction has harnessed an innovative forest carbon project to shield their territory from illegal logging and preserve their chosen way of life. As a result, the 1300- strong Paiter-Surui last week became the first indigenous tribe in the Amazon and globally to earn carbon credits under internationally recognized standards for capturing carbon in trees -- setting the stage for scores of similar projects that can unleash needed funding for indigenous people who preserve endangered tropical rainforest across the Amazon.

Indigenous Tribe Earns Validation for Landmark Forest Carbon Project — by Portal Web Editor — last modified May 02, 2012 06:44 PM

A small tribe of indigenous people unknown to the outside world a half-century ago and once on the brink of extinction has harnessed an innovative forest carbon project to shield their territory from illegal logging and preserve their chosen way of life. As a result, the 1300-strong Paiter-Surui last week became the first indigenous tribe in the Amazon and globally to earn carbon credits under internationally recognized standards for capturing carbon in trees – setting the stage for scores of similar projects that can unleash needed funding for indigenous people who preserve endangered tropical rainforest across the Amazon.

Payments for Ecosystem Services-Getting Started: A Primer (multi-languages) — by Portal Web Editor — last modified Apr 30, 2012 03:04 PM

Introduction to payments for ecosystem services (PES) mechanisms (watershed, climate, biodiversity, etc.). Related content below include the SPANISH ("Paso a Paso") and PORTUGUESE versions, and the later Marine and Coastal Ecosystems versions. A VIETNAMESE language version is also available by request from mcolby@usaid.gov

Agenda for Katoomba XVI: Building a Blueprint to Harness New Investment for the Protection of Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services — by LiLing Choo — last modified Apr 27, 2012 09:47 AM

Agenda for the Marine Katoomba Meeting - Katoomba XVI: Building a Blueprint to Harness New Investment for the Protection of Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services, February 9-10, 2010 held at the Moore Foundation in Palo Alto, CA. This Marine and Coastal Katoomba Meeting capitalizes on ever-expanding interest in finding innovative solutions to conserve our marine environment and resources, in order to safeguard human well-being. The dialog around market-based mechanisms has to-date focused on fishery catch shares and quota markets. Rather than focusing on the state of existing marine and coastal markets, we will instead concentrate on developing new financing tools and approaches and expanding the use of market-based mechanisms to other services, such as coastline stabilization, beach maintenance and production, fish nursery functions of mangroves and seagrass beds, coastal water quality and ocean carbon storage.

TOPS - Promoting Excellence in Food Security Programming — by Portal Web Editor — last modified Apr 19, 2012 03:03 AM

TOPS, funded by USAID/Food for Peace (FFP), will strengthen the capacity of FFP grantees and improve the quality and effectiveness of food aid implementation through fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing concerning food security and nutrition best practices.

EAST AFRICA Food Security Alert - April 6, 2012 — by Portal Web Editor — last modified Apr 10, 2012 03:54 PM

As detailed in the April 3 FEWS NET East Africa Special Report, rainfall for the March-May season in the eastern Horn of Africa is expected to begin late, to be poorly distributed over space and time, and to total only 60 to 85 percent of average. Significant negative impacts on crop production, pasture regeneration, and the replenishment of water resources are likely. The most serious and immediate impacts are expected in root-crop and Belg-producing parts of Ethiopia. Additional areas of concern include the marginal rainfed cropping areas of southern Somalia and southeastern Kenya, and pastoral areas of the greater Mandera Triangle, where the impacts of the poor rains will be felt later in the season as conditions progressively deteriorate. Given extreme food insecurity and famine in these areas during 2011, and the likelihood of a poor March-May season, humanitarian partners should immediately implement programs to protect livelihoods and household food consumption in the eastern Horn of Africa.

US Forest Service Tourism Technical Assistance Trip: Uganda — by Adam Welti — last modified Apr 05, 2012 10:52 AM

The mission of this US Forest Service technical assistance trip was to further refine interpretive services and products offered by local entrepreneurs to enhance the visitor experiences throughout the Albertine Rift. This mission was supported by the USDA Forest Service through funding from the USAID Sustainable Tourism in the Albertine Rift (USAID-STAR) program. USAID-STAR is supported by USAID-Uganda and implemented by the Global Sustainable Tourism Alliance (GSTA) and others.

GIS Capacity Building for the PLI Project: US Forest Service Technical Assistance Trip, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia — by Adam Welti — last modified Apr 05, 2012 10:41 AM

In Support to USAID-Ethiopia for Assistance in Rangeland Management Support to the Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative (PLI) for USAID-Ethiopia Office of Business Environment Agriculture & Trade. Geospatial mapping and building GIS capacity were identified as primary needs in the development of Rangeland Management Plans for the PLI II Project. An initial trip was conducted in May – June, 2011 and findings and recommendations can be found in the trip report submitted in June, 2011. The second trip’s goals were to continue the GIS capacity building efforts started during the first trip.

GIS Capacity Building: US Forest Service Technical Assistance Trip Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia — by Adam Welti — last modified Apr 05, 2012 10:22 AM

In Support to USAID-Ethiopia for Assistance in Rangeland Management Support to the Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative (PLI) for USAID-Ethiopia Office of Business Environment Agriculture & Trade. Geospatial mapping was identified as a primary need in the development of Rangeland Management Plans for the PLI II Project. This is a supplemental report to the Community Based Rangeland Management Plan Trip Report that is specific to GIS and outlines findings and recommendations for building GIS capacity for the project.