Jamie Micah Lawrence

It is encouraging to see the role of conservation #Farming in nurturing our food systems amidst #ClimateChange. Enhancing soil health and reducing environmental impact, this approach boosts productivity and supports #Sustainable farming practices. Improved soil health boosts yields and builds a resilient food supply while nurturing our #Environment. MoEF&CC Read more: https://lnkd.in/gj9DcmtU 

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As UN Biodiversity COP16 draws near, the role of finance in delivering on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) remains a critical yet complex challenge. While institutions increasingly acknowledge the value of biodiversity, they often still rely on a reductionist mindset that treats nature as a ledger entry. This view risks oversimplifying the web of life into something that fits neatly into spreadsheets, overlooking the ecological and cultural complexities that sustain resilience. The financial sector, built on assumptions of endless growth, must reconcile its short-termism with the long-term realities of ecosystem health—realities that do not bend to quarterly earnings or market cycles. Yet, aligning capital flows with the GBF requires more than data and disclosure frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). It demands a shift in the deep structure of investment logics, recognising that financial stability is intertwined with ecological resilience. There’s an opportunity here, but it must be approached with care. Emerging tools like AI and blockchain can aid in transparency and impact tracking, but their benefits remain inaccessible to many on the front lines of biodiversity. This disparity risks deepening existing inequities between those with capital and those whose local knowledge and stewardship are vital for true nature-positive outcomes. Power dynamics shape this landscape. A few large actors often dictate the terms of engagement, leaving smaller, community-driven efforts struggling for recognition and resources. This is particularly true in biodiversity-rich regions where financial flows frequently follow global risk models rather than the wisdom of local experience. As we face mounting ecological risks, the importance of integrating these diverse perspectives into financial decisions cannot be overstated. COP16 represents a chance to rethink how finance operates within planetary boundaries. It’s a chance to move beyond the comforting allure of technological fixes and grapple with the deeper question: how do we reshape a financial system to respect the limits of the living systems upon which all markets ultimately depend? The answer lies not in perfect metrics but in a fundamental shift in values, where long-term stewardship takes precedence over short-term gain. #COP16 #GlobalBiodiversityFramework #BiodiversityFinance #SustainableFinance #NaturePositive #FinanceForNature #EcosystemResilience #PlanetaryBoundaries

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Let me add four critical observations to your invaluable #CRCF reflections: 1. Lack of use case definition for #CRCF: this was a political/ design choice at the start of the legislative process for the CRCF. Due to this flawed approach the CRCF cannot be ‘fit-for-purpose’ ( as the purpose is not defined beyond the inherently vague and ambiguous ‘ let’s support voluntary action for land-use and other removals’). This aspect is really painful in the context of developing a holistic, beyond GHGs MRV system that could support for exsmole CAP ( common agricultural policy) & ETS ( mandatory, sectoral emissions trading) 2. By setting the bar very low on minimum sustainability requirements , including co-benefits the CRCF will not support, but undermine high integrity, sustainability supporting activities. This is a giant negative risk: by obtaining a ‘ high quality EU stamp’ for something that almost all existing standards meet is not a step forward, but a step backwards. 3, Assuming zero baselines & assuming financial additionality in a large number of cases is irresponsible simplification. This must be radically changed. 4. The belief that applying existing State Aid rules, in the same way as applied to Microsoft / Ørsted / Stockholm Exergi multimillion EUR BECCS deals , to agricultural and forestry interventions is delusional. I am glad that CDR working group members are diving deep into the materials available since 11 October and will submit their suggestions by 15 November . Thanks for the comment under my CRCF sonnet: https://lnkd.in/erb-86mW #CDR #removals #carbonfarming #agriculture #sustainability #biodiversity #EUGreenDeal #CAP #EUETS #MRV

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📣 The first European Climate Risk Assessment is out! 🌊🔥 https://lnkd.in/efW4V3S4 This first-of-its-kind report has identified and assessed the 36 major climate risks for Europe, grouped into five broad sections: ❕ ecosystems ❕ food ❕ health ❕ infrastructure ❕ economy and finance. The report explains that more than half (21 out of the 36) major climate risks for Europe identified need more action in the short-term, with eight of them being particularly urgent. Urgent action is needed for risks from all policy clusters, indicating that policies need to increase in ambition, scope and implementation. A third of these risks need further investigation, including more research, better monitoring or a review of the policy framework. European Environment Agency

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#VM0047 methodology has become the new buzz among Agroforestry Carbon Projects. While there are no registered projects and no issuances either I wonder what the hype is really about. Verra has 1432 projects under the AFOLU category, with 43 projects under VM0047 (and this number continues to grow) and 247 projects under AR-ACM0003, making up 20% of the total NBS portfolio. As AR-ACM0003 is waning in its glory the push from investors to adopt the VM0047 for agroforestry projects is a bit too much. Not just adopting new projects with VM0047 but also #switching #older #registered/ or nearly registered AR-ACM0003 projects to VM0047. For Verra this may just be more work to review the same project again!  And looking at the current turnaround time, it will be no less than a nightmare!   Just wondering if it's really worth the time, effort and resources to re-register the same projects with the VM0047 methodology to suit the requirements of Investors. I strongly believe that there could be a way to integrate AR-ACM0003 with VM0047 instead of re-validating the same projects all over again. What do you all think? FCF India Fair. Inclusive. Transparent.

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This new article by Jonas et al. in the journal Frontiers of Conservation Science provides the first assessment of the contribution of “other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs)” to global targets to protect biodiversity. OECMs are sites outside of protected areas that deliver effective, long-term conservation of biodiversity. Both protected areas and OECMs contribute to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework’s Target 3, which calls for the conservation of 30% of marine, terrestrial and inland water areas by 2030. The research is based on 820 sites in nine countries and territories that were reported to the World Database on OECMs between 2019 and 2023, covering 1.9 million km2 and contributing over 1% to the 30% terrestrial coverage target. The paper finds that almost 30% of the reported OECMs overlap with identified Key Biodiversity Areas. More than half are under governance by governments and less than 2% are governed by Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). This likely reflects underreporting by IPLCs, but is significant in showing the role of governments and private landowners in OECMs. Many of the reported areas are under shared governance (40.9% of OECMs, compared to 2.5% of PAs), most commonly collaborative governance. https://lnkd.in/dt8_7Z3X Image: Maasai conservation site, Kenya – Joan de la Malla / Mongabay

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There are over 100 towns across Europe that have banned the use of pesticides on public land! Called the European Pesticide Free Towns Network, towns that join the Network sign a commitment to preserving public health and biodiversity be it #glyphosate-free, pesticide bans on public land, or pesticide bans on public and private land. Why is there not more leadership from local governments in the United States? Nearly every U.S. state prevents towns from passing pesticide bans through #preemption law. Residents of Alaska, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Nevada can petition their towns to ban toxic pesticides from use in their playgrounds, schools, gardens, farms, and communities. There are some states, like Massachusetts, that offer towns the opportunity to petition the state legislature for approval of local ordinances - which has been successful in recent years! (Learn more about this in an upcoming Daily News 🗞️) With the reversal of #Chevron doctrine and attacks on federal regulatory agencies in service of public interest and health, now more than ever will state and local leadership become pivotal to pushing the envelope on climate policy. Managing land with organic management principles is not only possible, but necessary to realizing a safer environment! #pesticidefree #organic #climate #biodiversity

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Study of Emission reductions of carbon credit schemes: Wake up call? Read this. And turn your efforts to Real Climate Reduction. ”We estimate that less than 16% of the carbon credits issued to the investigated projects constitute real emission reductions, with 11% for cookstoves, 16% for SF6 destruction, 25% for avoided deforestation, 68% for HFC-23 abatement, and no statistically significant emission reductions from wind power and improved forest management projects. Carbon crediting mechanisms need to be reformed fundamentally to meaningfully contribute to climate change mitigation.”

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Evidence shows that #forests cause more frequent and copious #rainfall than farmland. In #drought ridden lands the implications of this are important. More forests integrated into the landscape. More #agroforestry integrated into farms.

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Sharing WWF’s latest innovation, the #NBSAP Tracker—a powerful tool that monitors how countries are advancing their biodiversity commitments through their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs). This tracker offers an accessible way to assess progress and evaluate how national strategies align with the UN’s Global Biodiversity Framework, with the goal of reversing biodiversity loss by 2030. Explore more: https://lnkd.in/gcjRjbMJ

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Reminder! Verra is running a consultation on a minor revision to “VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.0” in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. The last day to submit comments is May 6, 2024. The revision would allow proponents using "VM0042" to quantify the exact number of Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) resulting from reduction or removal activities, respectively. It would also enable proponents to apply the appropriate mitigation outcome label to VCUs generated by their projects. See the full announcement for details on how to provide feedback! #Verra #CarbonMarkets #CarbonCredits #StandardsMatter

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How can conservationists motivate landowners to change management systems and practices to generate natural climate solution, biodiversity conservation and restoration, and other valuable ecosystem services for our magnificent planet, for our society, and for the landowners themselves? Fact sheets typically aren't enough. Even financial incentives aren't necessarily enough without strategies to overcome emotional mind resistance to change (and other local community norms and associated social pressures). So, what then..? When a task feels to big and daunting, the emotional mind will resist.  One way around this is to "Shrink the Change" (as Chip and Dan Heath call the strategy in their book, "Switch"). An example of this approach is the Martial Arts belt system… This is an emotional mind trick – it HATES doing things with no immediate payoff. The succession of belts (e.g., from white and yellow, to green and brown, to black and beyond) enables you to celebrate each step along the way with a series of smaller, confidence-building wins. The result is to inspire confidence and hope that you can reach the next level of improvement. Hope is fuel for overcoming emotional mind resistance! Can you think of ways to apply this principal to your efforts to advance natural climate solutions and to restore the health of habitats and their biodiversity? It is just one of many tools that we may use as we customize "Integrative Conservation Strategies" for our amazing clients! https://lnkd.in/gksGac5H How can we help YOU achieve your natural climate solutions, biodiversity conservation and restoration, and other goals..? Click here to schedule a free 30-minute discovery call - let's chat! https://lnkd.in/gPZMbR-2

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Another aspect in #biochar production is the acetic acid which will be produced by biomass thermolysis ( #pyrolysis ), too. This will also help for better growing. And at the end a better and more humus growing will also a #CO2-sink and farmers can produce more #food, too ... #AkkodisTechExperts #plantengineering #rCB

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A UN report has criticized the focus on forests as #carbon sinks, arguing it diminishes their #ecological value. The report calls for a shift towards more effective #forest governance that considers social and ecological aspects besides carbon sequestration. There should be state regulations and community-led #initiatives as possible solutions. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gJ5BfcbW

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