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 Vol. 3, No. 2: April 9, 2008
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Jessica Salas: the Human Watershed
Review of an article by Cameron Walker
A truly resilient lady, Jessica Salas, president of the International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association and belonging to numerous watershed organizations in her homeland of the Philippines, including the Philippine Watershed Management Coalition (1997-2003) and the Kahublagan Sang Panimalay Foundation Inc (KSPFI) (since 1988), is not afraid to get wet. Indeed, her story is a testament to the ability to learn from past lessons and become stronger as a result. After supporting tree plantations in the Maasin Basin, Philippines, she realized that non-native tree plantations could become part of the problem rather than the solution to watershed management. She therefore turned to other alternatives including support to small-scale rainwater harvesting methods such as the creation of small ponds that generate multiple environmental and social services. These small ponds help groundwater replenishment, erosion and water flow control, freshwater fish farming, aquatic plant provision and provide a source of irrigation for small scale household vegetable patches. This story by the Ecosystem Marketplace highlights the journey of an exceptional woman who brings a personal touch to the notion of adaptive management.
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Understanding voluntary carbon markets: relevance for community based payment for environmental services projects?
The Stockholm Environment Institute and Tricorona released in March 2008 a very useful report entitled “Making Sense of the Voluntary Carbon Market: A Comparison of Carbon Offset Standards”, commissioned by WWF, which helps the non-initiated to better understand the role of different players involved in the voluntary carbon market. The report provides an overview to the main voluntary carbon offset standards (Gold Standard, Voluntary Carbon Standard 2007, VER+, the Voluntary Offset Standard, Chicago Climate Exchange, The Climate Community and Biodiversity Standards, Plan Vivo System, ISO 14064-2, GHG Protocol for Project Accounting) and compares them to the Clean Development Mechanism. The report has a section on co-benefits, which discusses each standard’s relevance to sustainable development. In a nutshell, out of nine standards reviewed, only three include co-benefits in their mandate: the Gold Standard, the Climate Community and Biodiversity and Plan Vivo. Out of these three, only the last two include LULUCF projects (forestry, agriculture etc.). LULUCF projects are essential to curbing GHG emissions in developing countries and are often of great relevance to local communities depending on natural resources. These findings highlight therefore a need for more socially relevant, natural resource based carbon projects (and carbon standards).
Potential and Challenges of Payments for Ecosystem Services from Tropical Forests
By Michael Richards and Michael Jenkins (Forestry Briefing n.16)
The brief summarizes potential and challenges associated with payments for ecosystem services (PES) as a means of promoting the sustainable management or conservation of tropical forests, including the challenge of combining equity or poverty reduction objectives with environmental objectives, and the interaction of PES with broader forest sector and ‘extra-sectoral’ policies. The brief discusses mainly carbon and avoided deforestation, but also watershed PES, biodiversity and other bundled environmental services. A nice and short document to get acquainted with some of the main themes in the PES literature.
CDM in Charts
by Yuji Mizuno (IGES)
A simple and comprehensive document synthesizing Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) procedures. The document is also found in other languages including Japanese, Russian, Mongolian and Spanish.
MDL en Gráficos
de Yuji Mizuno (IGES)
Un documento fácil y comprehensivo del mecanismo de desarrollo limpio (MDL) ahora traducido en español por la Oficina Costarricense de Implementación Conjunta (OCIC), en Costa Rica. El documento se encuentra también en otros idiomas incluyendo el Ingles, Japonés, Ruso y lo de Mongolia.
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Program Associate - Tropical America Katoomba Group
Location: Washington, DC | Deadline: April 22, 2008
Location: Washington, DC | Deadline: April 22, 2008
The Katoomba Group is an international network of individuals working to promote, and improve capacity related to, markets and payments for ecosystem services (PES). The Group serves as a forum for the exchange of ideas and strategic information about ecosystem service transactions and markets, as well as site for collaboration between practitioners on PES projects and programs.
The Tropical America regional Katoomba Group focuses on strengthening multi sector participation in Payment for Ecosystem Services in the countries of Latin America, as well as facilitating participation from the region in important international topics and events. We foster sharing of the experience and knowledge of Katoomba partners in the aim to improve the use of PES via our initiatives, meetings and activities. The TAKG seeks to fill a full time position working in this dynamic and growing program of work in Latin America beginning on or around May 5th.
The Tropical America regional Katoomba Group focuses on strengthening multi sector participation in Payment for Ecosystem Services in the countries of Latin America, as well as facilitating participation from the region in important international topics and events. We foster sharing of the experience and knowledge of Katoomba partners in the aim to improve the use of PES via our initiatives, meetings and activities. The TAKG seeks to fill a full time position working in this dynamic and growing program of work in Latin America beginning on or around May 5th.
– Click here to learn more about the position and to apply (pdf)
Program Administrative Associate - Forest Trends
Location: Washington, DC | Deadline: April 22, 2008
Location: Washington, DC | Deadline: April 22, 2008
Forest Trends is an international non-profit organization that works to expand the value of forests to society; to promote sustainable forest management and conservation by creating and capturing market values for ecosystem services; to support innovative projects and companies that are developing these new markets; and to enhance the livelihoods of local communities living in and around those forests. We analyze strategic market and policy issues, catalyze connections between forward-looking producers, communities and investors, and develop new financial tools to help markets work for conservation and people.
Forest Trends seeks a Program Administrative Associate to work across three of our programs. The Program Administrative Associate will support the activities of the Communities & Markets Program, the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program (BBOP), and the Tropical America Katoomba Group. For more information on Forest Trends and these programs, please visit www.forest-trends.org and www.katoombagroup.org.
Forest Trends seeks a Program Administrative Associate to work across three of our programs. The Program Administrative Associate will support the activities of the Communities & Markets Program, the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program (BBOP), and the Tropical America Katoomba Group. For more information on Forest Trends and these programs, please visit www.forest-trends.org and www.katoombagroup.org.
– Click here to learn more about the position and to apply (pdf)
Program Manager - Ecosystem Marketplace Biodiversity Program
Location: Washington, DC (Flexible)
Location: Washington, DC (Flexible)
The Ecosystem Marketplace is seeking a Program Manager for our Biodiversity Program. The Biodiversity Program of the Ecosystem Marketplace tracks the developments in the emerging markets for biodiversity. These markets fall into three categories: regulated compensatory mitigation, voluntary payments or offsets, and public payment programs. The Biodiversity Program follows the emerging markets in each of these areas and provides related information, news, and analysis to it’s readers on the Ecosystem Marketplace. The regulated compensatory mitigation markets some of the most developed payments for biodiversity and thus a major focus of the Biodiversity Program.
– Click here to learn more about the position and to apply (pdf)
Program Manager - Business Development Facility, Forest Trends
Location: Washington, DC | Deadline: May 31
Location: Washington, DC | Deadline: May 31
The Manager will report to the Director of BDF and coordinate closely with other Forest Trends’ and Katoomba Group Programs. The BDF Manager will work with the BDF Director and consultants to identify and provide business and technical support to private sector and community forestry & agroforestry operators to diversify into a range of new business opportunities. The initial focus of such work will be on payments for ecosystem services (PES), particularly for forest-based carbon. In addition, other major focal industries are likely to include: ecotourism/recreation, botanical/non-timber forest product (NTFP), and improved forestry/ agroforestry operations. In addition, another major responsibility for the Manager will be coordinating with the Katoomba Group regarding support provided to communities to commercialize PES and to engage the private sector. This work will focus initially on the work of the Tropical Americas Katoomba Group (TAKG) Incubator. Over time, it will be necessary to support additional Katoomba Group Incubators as they develop in other regions.
– Click here to learn more about the position and to apply (pdf)
Director of Development, EcoLogic Development Fund
Location: Cambridge, MA. | Deadline not announced.
Location: Cambridge, MA. | Deadline not announced.
The Director of Development is responsible for the strategic direction and overall management of fundraising initiatives, both institutional and individual, including planning, budgeting, monitoring and implementation. In addition, the position oversees all communication efforts and plays a leadership role in the overall organization’s strategic planning. The director also represents the organization at philanthropic-related events and meetings. Ecologic is recognized for doing cutting edge work in international development and natural resource management. As the demands for these programs grow, there will be many opportunities for an entrepreneurial person, such as pioneering the development of corporate social responsibility partnerships. The director is responsible for raising $2.1 million annually and the annual budget is expected to grow to $6 million by 2011.
– Click here to learn more about the position and to apply (pdf)
UNEP- WCMC Chevening Scholarship (tenable 1 year)
Location: Cambridge, UK. | Deadline: April 14th, 2008
Location: Cambridge, UK. | Deadline: April 14th, 2008
The scheme aims to help young professionals prepare for a role in national and regional policy development and decision-making to resolve biodiversity-related challenges. Main objectives are 1) to review and analyze available information on the status of biodiversity and its conservation and sustainable use, focusing on particular species, ecosystems or conservation approaches, and 2) develop reports, tools and/or other outputs relevant to the identified area of work with specific recommendations for their implementation and use by policymakers and practitioners.
Residents of the EU, North America and Canada are not eligible for this award.
Residents of the EU, North America and Canada are not eligible for this award.
Two Job Openings with the Voluntary Carbon Standard Association (VCSA)
Location and deadlines: variable
Location and deadlines: variable
The VCSA is a new organization responsible for the management of the VCS program, which provides a robust, new global standard and program for approval of credible voluntary offsets. There are currently job openings for a CEO and Program Manager.
ACRE Resources Jobs
Location and deadlines: variable
Location and deadlines: variable
There are several positions available through this recruitment agency specializing in Environment, CSR / Sustainability and Climate Change. Most positions related to carbon trading in the climate change division.
Post-doc position in Costa Rica
Duration: 12 months. | Deadline: April 30th, 2008 or until position is filled
Duration: 12 months. | Deadline: April 30th, 2008 or until position is filled
Housed at CATIE, a large widely-recognized international agricultural research center in Costa Rica www.catie.ac.cr, the Environment for Development (EfD) Center for Central America is a non-profit research institute aimed at improving environmental and natural resource policy making in Latin America. It belongs to a consortium of six EfD centers in developing countries led by the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and Resources for the Future in the US www.efdinitiative.org.The post-doctoral fellow will conduct policy-oriented research relevant to Latin America. We seek economists and professionals in related fields who will have completed a PhD by June 2008. The fellow will conduct new research in collaboration with EfD staff leading to publication in international scholarly journals. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: health and environment, pollution, climate change, poverty and environment and conservation policy. Please submit 1) a cover letter 2) a CV 3) a research paper 3) 3 confidential references and 4) 10 page for new research to be carried out during the fellowship. Benefits include housing and insurance.
Send applications to: efd@catie.ac.cr
Contact: Juan Robalino, robalino@catie.ac.cr
Funding Available for Conferences: Climate Change Adaptation in Africa
(IDRC-DFID). Deadline April 15, 2008
(IDRC-DFID). Deadline April 15, 2008
IDRC’s Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) program is now offering financial assistance to institutions soliciting CCAA’s support for African attendance to meetings or conferences in order to strengthen their capacity to contribute to climate change adaptation in Africa.
Un fonds de soutien aux conférences disponible: Adaptations aux changements climatiques en Afrique
(CRDI-DFID) Date limite, le 15 Avril 2008
(CRDI-DFID) Date limite, le 15 Avril 2008
Conformément à ses objectifs de renforcement des capacités, le programme ACCA offre désormais, un appui financier aux institutions qui faciliteraient la participation africaine aux rencontres ou conférences qu'elles organisent sur l'adaptation aux changements climatiques. Les applications doivent être soumises au plus tard le 15 avril 2008.
Second International Meeting of Successful Cases: Education for the Development of Sustainable Societies
Boca del Río Veracruz, Mexico from May 5 to 8 of 2008
Boca del Río Veracruz, Mexico from May 5 to 8 of 2008
The main objective of this event is to identify and analyze initiatives involving educational and governance processes that have motivated habits and attitudes towards more sustainable practices, alternative environmental methods, as well as conservation actions for sustainable development in the tropics. Furthermore, the congress aims to promote and integrate recommendations that will be useful to achieve environmental governance for the development of more sustainable societies.
Segundo Congreso Internacional de Casos Exitosos: Educación para el Desarrollo de Sociedades Sustentables
Boca del Río, Veracruz, México 5 al 8 de mayo 2008
Boca del Río, Veracruz, México 5 al 8 de mayo 2008
El congreso está dirigido a campesinos y productores, a organizaciones, instituciones, funcionarios públicos, iniciativa privada, individuos, académicos y estudiantes interesados en aprender y compartir estrategias y experiencias de educación para el desarrollo de sociedades más sustentables. Los participantes están invitados a exponer sus casos en las siguientes modalidades de presentación: ponencias orales y carteles. Habrá además sesiones especiales que incluyen una sesión de videos, talleres pre-congreso y una feria de materiales educativos, artísticos y de consumo responsable.
Biodiversity for Poverty Reduction at the CBD CoP9
Bonn, Germany, Saturday May 24th, 2008
Bonn, Germany, Saturday May 24th, 2008
The PCLG will host a “Biodiversity for Poverty Reduction Day” on Saturday May 24th, 2008 – the middle weekend of CoP9 of the Convention on Biological Diversity - in Bonn, Germany. The day will have three key elements: 1) Policy initiatives linking biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction, 2) Research findings: what have we learnt about biodiversity-poverty linkages?, 3) Linking poverty and conservation in practice. We would like to encourage wide participation in this event – from PCLG members and others. If you would like to highlight your work (we will include a mix of paper and poster presentations) please send a short proposal including an abstract to pclg@iied.org by 18th April 2008. We have a limited number of travel grants available. Any PCLG members in developing countries who are not otherwise attending CoP9 and might require assistance with travel expenses to attend this event should contact us (pclg@iied.org) by 11th April.
– More information on Biodiversity for Poverty Reduction Day
Equator Prize 2008 Celebrating Community Success in Biodiversity Conservation and Poverty Reduction
Barcelona, Spain, nomination open until May 31st, 2008
Barcelona, Spain, nomination open until May 31st, 2008
This marks the fourth round of the internationally renowned Equator Prize. Awarded biennially, the Equator Prize recognizes community-based initiatives that demonstrate extraordinary achievement in reducing poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the equatorial belt. Prize winners receive worldwide recognition for their work as well as an opportunity to help shape national and global policy and practice in the field. The Equator Prize will be presented in October 2008, in Barcelona, Spain, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. All winners will have the opportunity to showcase their work in the "Poble" Dialogue Space at the Congress. The Equator Prize 2008 nomination process will be open through May 31, 2008.
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