Earth Economics

Oceans store 90% of the planet’s carbon but receive only 4% of global conservation funding. SeaTrees is a California-based platform that supports communities and scientists who protect and regenerate blue-carbon coastal ecosystems. They introduced marine biodiversity credits at the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference to restore marine ecosystems. Initial credits will focus on three key projects: Kenyan mangroves, an Australian kelp forest, and a coral reef in Fiji. SeaTrees hopes to grow its portfolio to 100 marine restoration projects by 2030. #marinebiodiversity https://ow.ly/18rJ50Ug4c1

Mill Creek is a Walla Walla tributary whose insufficient stream flows and high temperatures pose a severe risk to steelhead and bull trout. It is also the primary source of water for the City of Walla Walla. After decades of effort, the city was able to enroll an Oregon surface water right into Washington state’s Water Trust Program, ensuring minimum summer stream flows for fish migration. The Walla Walla basin flows through both states before joining the Columbia River. Water rights in the basin are over-allocated—demand exceeds supply. It is hoped that cross-border water management can improve both water quality and supply. #collaborativemanagement https://ow.ly/2XiG50Ug3JM

Indigenous communities In the Peruvian Andes are reviving ancient knowledge to protect their way of life and restore vulnerable mountain ecosystems. This includes planting quenua (Polylepis spp.), a genus of trees and shrubs that prevent erosion, store water to feed downstream springs and wetlands, and increase habitat resilience to climate change. These communities are also digging ponds to store water from the rainy season, a practice initially developed by the Incas. The ponds recharge aquifers and keep vegetation green for livestock, as well as offering as water source during droughts. #sourcewaterprotection https://ow.ly/cSQg50U9jsI

Nature is a critical to our individual and shared wellbeing, not all value is economic. Even where this is possible, economic value is derived from other data—biophysical, sociodemographic, cultural—and these factors are equally important, especially in the context of ecosystem function and cultural connection. #naturesvalue https://ow.ly/ONLu50U9iUS

Climate jobs are often adaptation within preexisting careers: electricians learn how to install solar panels, construction workers adopt new engineering requirements, and bankers increasingly manage climate risk. The tax incentives in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act could ultimately fund more than 6,200 projects in utility-scale clean energy and storage, supporting nearly 4M jobs. #climateworks “Every job will be affected by climate change.” Lara Skinner, Climate Jobs Institute, Cornell University https://ow.ly/YqfI50U9gb6

Water potatoes are a traditional food for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Dryer summers are threatening the survival of this small wetland tuber. The Coeur d’Alene are working to restore wetlands to curb rising temperatures and safeguard this rich food source and traditional way of life. With the guidance of elder knowledge, the Tribe is also bringing back beavers and salmon, restoring native grasses, and repairing stream channels. Beaver dams raise the water table, making the landscape more welcoming to wildlife and more resilient to drought. The Tribe has planted over 18,000 trees and added small man-made dams to encourage beavers to return. #wetlandswork https://ow.ly/9w4V50U9fng

The NY-based shoreline protection project Living Breakwaters is rebuilding oyster reefs that once thrived off of the southern shores of Staten Island. Oyster reefs can protect coastlines by breaking up incoming wave energy. With its extensive coastlines, Canada is especially interested in these nature-based solutions. #disasterriskreduction "The idea with oyster reefs is that they can build themselves up, unlike our traditional infrastructure, which is static … They can kind of build themselves up as sea levels rise, to continue to provide that protection without human intervention." Jacob Stolle, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique https://ow.ly/xNJ250U9eSE

Communities lacking green spaces are ill-prepared for the high-precipitation events that are becoming increasingly common. Earlier this year, a storm in Los Angeles dumped a record 10 inches of rain in 24 hours. Yet the city was able to retain more than 8B gallons in its reservoirs and aquifers. This success is in part due to the city adding rainwater catchment systems, infiltration basins, permeable pavement, and other green spaces. #greeninfrastructure https://ow.ly/6qOt50U9ehn

Earth Economics has open research internship positions! Join us to gain practical, real world experience as we apply ecological economics to communicate the value of nature-based solutions. We especially encourage students (graduate and advanced undergraduate) eligible for in-state work study, but welcome applications from inquisitive, detail-oriented individuals with a passion for better understanding relationships between communities and the natural world. #betterdecisionsnaturally https://ow.ly/A1QC50U8iZO

Earth Economics is celebrating more than 10 Years with The Kresge Foundation! The generous support of the Kresge Foundation has enabled Earth Economics to provide federal agencies, municipalities, utilities, community-based organizations, and other non-profit groups with applied ecological economic analysis, tools, support, and policy advocacy since 2013. #kresgefoundation https://ow.ly/RqLi50U7yHH