Earth Economics

The Syilx Okanagan, Secwépemc, and Ktunaxa First Nations have worked for decades to try to restore salmon populations along the Columbia River. They signed an agreement with the federal and provincial governments to determine the feasibility of restoring salmon to the river’s headwaters in British Columbia. However, funding for that agreement expires in March of next year. The First Nations are pressing the Canadian government to establish long-term funding for restoration work, similar to the recent US commitment of $1.2B for the Columbia River Salmon Recovery Initiative. The BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund has contributed $5.3M to the Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative, set to expire in March of 2026. #salmonrecovery https://ow.ly/yJbn50Tn45p

The Tribal Coastal Resilience Portfolio of the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative, in collaboration with the UW Climate Impacts Group, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, and Washington Sea Grant, have released a report on “Climate Adaptation Barriers and Needs Experienced by Northwest Coastal Tribes.” Despite taking the lead in climate adaptation, NW coastal Tribes face significant limitations, including financial support, staff and workforce capacity, partnerships, technical assistance, and communication, education and outreach. The authors hope the report will build awareness of such challenges among funders, policymakers, and technical support providers, among others. #climateadaptation https://ow.ly/hH2M50TmvH2

Climate change is compounding those factors which limit fish availability, increasing food insecurity and nutrition-related diseases in coastal seafood-dependent communities. Several First Nations—including the Tla’amin Nation, 'Namgis First Nation, and the Skidegate Band Council—have teamed up with the First Nations Health Authority and university researchers across Canada to study changes in diet, food use and health status associated with climate change. It is hoped that better understanding of these factors will lead to better climate adaptation planning and action to support sustainable independence of coastal First Nations. #foodsecurity https://ow.ly/XVQ250Tl7Cc

Earth Economics is the newest member of the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (PNW CESU), hosted by the University of Washington. CESUs provide research, technical assistance, and education to federal land management, environmental, and research agencies and their partners. The partners serve the biological, physical, social, cultural, and engineering disciplines needed to address natural and cultural resource management issues at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context. The PNW CESU is one of seventeen CESUs representing biogeographic regions encompassing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. insular areas. The broader network includes 19 federal agencies and more than 500 nonfederal partners such as tribes, academic institutions, state and local governments, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and other partners—all working together to support informed public trust resource stewardship. Earth Economics will focus on valuation of ecosystem services, which is becoming an important tool to agencies as they maximize public benefits from federal investments. In February, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget released guidance to agencies on accounting for ecosystem services in benefit-cost analysis. #PNW-CESU https://ow.ly/yy9Y50Tkqxa

Ridges to Riffles (R2R) is an Indigenous-led conservation group focused on helping Indigenous Peoples restore and protect the natural and cultural resources central to their identity and sovereignty. Their goal is to support Indigenous communities and governments through advocacy and support for policies that advance Indigenous natural resource stewardship and conservation. #indigenousconservation www.ridgestoriffles.org

This June, the US Interior Department published the long-awaited report “Historic and Ongoing Impacts of Federal Dams on the Columbia River Basin Tribes.” Since 1942, the Columbia River system (including the Snake and North Fork Clearwater rivers) have been disrupted by a series of 11 dams. This has led to severe impacts on the salmon runs central to Indigenous cultures and spiritual practices, health, and economies—a quarter of the original salmon populations were made extinct, and all but 5 of the remaining populations are currently threatened or endangered. Tribal leaders have responded positively to the report, which is based on data provided by Tribes throughout the basin. #riversovereignty “This is the first time the federal government has ever recognized the true impacts to our people and to our ecosystem … we’re very optimistic and encourage individuals to read the report, to become informed.” —Corinne Sams, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation https://ow.ly/uLlL50ThMjR

Earth Economics’ partner South Bronx Unite is partnering with The Bronx is Blooming to change public awareness of the potential of vacant lots throughout the borough. From “guerilla gardening” (growing food or flowers in neglected open spaces) to “seed bombing” (rolling flower seeds into mud balls, which are then throw into inaccessible open spaces), these groups are advocating for a more equitable distribution of publicly accessible green space—parks and gardens—as a means to improve air quality while also increasing opportunities for residents exercise or gather together. #urbangreenspaces https://ow.ly/TnEv50TgZ2N

Last month, Microsoft purchased 80K tons of carbon credits from the Western Rivers Conservancy’s Blue Creek Improved Forest Management Project of Northern California. The project is managed by the Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) to restore old-growth and improve ecosystem health, while still supporting sustainable timber harvests and generating carbon credits. Of the more than 47K acres that WRC manages along Blue Creek, nearly 15K will be conserved to protect salmon habitat. The remainder will be managed as a community forest for the Yurok tribe, as part of their ancestral lands. #tribalconservation https://ow.ly/sPLt50TfR7m

Walkability can be key to community livability and local quality of life. Though many (most?) cities are designed around movement by automobiles, walkable cities and neighborhoods are planned and zoned so that daily needs are a short, 15-20 minute walk of bike ride away—including urban parks. For car-centric cities, improving walkability and traffic safety requires investments in safer bike and bus lanes, increased housing density, and accessibility, as well as changes in zoning, including relaxing parking requirements. For those who are successful, benefits include cleaner air, greater access to green space, and stronger communities. With careful planning, investment, and anti-displacement policies, such infrastructure improvements can avoid gentrification. #livablecities https://ow.ly/XvbP50TeIZV

The Haida Gwaii is a remote archipelago along Canada’s Pacific Coast, sometimes called “Canada’s Galapagos” for its rich biodiversity. It has been home to the Haida people for thousands of years, who had developed a thriving society of sailors, traders, and artists prior to the arrival of Europeans. From smallpox to industrial logging, the Haida faced considerable threats over the past few centuries—today, there are just 2,500 Haida First Nation members left. In 2002, they sued the provincial government for title to their lands. This May, they were finally granted aboriginal title. It is the first time a Canadian government has recognized Indigenous title claims. The transition to Haida control will still involve years of negotiation (there are lands within the Haida Gwaii owned by non-Haida people), but that process has begun. #nativelands https://ow.ly/w1wb50T8OFh