Oregon RC&D Conference Redmond, Oregon April 23, 2010

Transcription

1 Oregon RC&D Conference Redmond, Oregon April 23, 2010

2 When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water. In the American West, water flows uphill to money.

3 Used to measure in pounds and acres and gallons and board feet: commodity production Now measure in years and local jobs and stable communities: natural resources as long-term assets

4 Originated with Australian Landcare program Taken up in Europe, South Africa, Iceland, Canada Adopted in western U.S. under Western Governors Association s Policy Resolution 09-11; Montana s Restore Montana program; Arizona s Forest Health Advisory and Oversight Councils

5 Pioneer efforts in watershed management and restoration Forestry: restoration, wildfire mitigation, biomass utilization Sustainable agriculture, bioenergy, ecosystem services transactions

6 Implementing irrigation efficiency (engineering, pipe sales) Conservation/restoration revenue opportunities (water markets, riparian restoration funding, future hydro revenues) Sustainable ag practices (carbon, temperature, salmon credits; reduced chemical inputs) Expanding restoration economy (incentive $, mitigation exchanges, water transactions, tourism & recreation $) Improved long-term stability of human + landscape systems

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8 Markets developing slowly: many public good aspects + high transaction costs + fluctuating supply + limited opportunities for small landowners Arguments currently swirling: Reallocation from agricultural to urban uses Large economic losses for areas of origin Large hydrologic effects caused by interbasin trades

9 Markets : a possible solution MBIs and PES build on local solutions and development, place-based values, potential to benefit whole communities Importance of transitional institutions right now

10 1. Collective engagement of all rights-holders; attention to preserving agricultural uses while considering environmental uses 2. Develop shared vision among potential and current users 3. Identify demand as well as supply 4. Understand how to measure services, or market cannot work

11 Essential components: Choice (time and $) Engagement with landowners (knowledge and aggregation) Engagement with businesses (profit lines) Regulatory changes (predictability) Reducing risk (govt role?) Monitoring as opportunity (data analysis pods)

12 Whether markets develop or not Brokerage: combining restoration activities, working with smaller acreages Research: understanding the market opportunities Cooperative entrepreneurship: combining the restoration opportunity with funding options Training: ES auditors, ES project designers, ES monitors, restoration data analysts (pods of geeks)

13 COMMODITY % OF FARM INCOME POTENTIAL CLIENT Wheat 10% World market Timber 25% World market Potatoes 15% Regional/local market Carbon credits 15% Steel company Water filtration credits 20% Urban water auth/utility Biodiversity credit 5% Philanthropic trust Temperature credit 10% Cost sharing, w shed mgt

14 Ecosystem service districts: linking Landscape labeling: distinguishing Restoration monitoring analysis: integrating

15 Could provide an institutional mechanism to help ensure natural capital is maintained Matches: Local control with regional and national networks RCD goals and missions Farm and watershed scale initiatives Potential links w/watershed Councils Ecology + economics + ecosystem services + legal issues involved in managing ecosystems for the good of a community

16 Information generator eg compare cost of service provision through natural and built means Coordinating function to provide information exchange among districts, highlight conflicting activities Land use powers or zoning authority Taxation authority to provide funds to help allocate services optimally through pricing

17 Identify, match, and map market mechanisms with available ES + associated occupations Strategic use of mapping and information tools for planning and match with incentive programs Jobs: assessors, consultants on strategic conservation, designers and certifiers, earth movers, monitors, analysts. Link measures of ES to landholder actions Quantify enviro benefits associated w/on ground work regional planning and targeting for scarce public funds Thus help ID other investors and clients who can involve landowners who are not strategically located

18 Local rules regulate trade landscape labeling Local communities linked to global communities; local equity important Local co-operatives, global partnerships and collaborations Local groupings recognize the need to share experiences and solutions

19 1. Combining PES with product labeling based on delivering/protecting ES 2. Deliver benefits of PES through social and infrastructural investments 3. Develop a nationally/ internationally recognizable format for verifying ES provision

20 Design market mechanisms that encourage investment of all kinds in natural resource management Link ecosystem service production with willing investors = local and global marketing Potential product premiums

21 Ecological benefits: Manage at a landscape level Consider suites of ecosystem services Engage landowners in broader goals Social benefits: Reduce transaction costs Improve inclusiveness Allow flexibility around changing markets Social pressure to limit freeriding Fits with truffle, trail projects

22 Distributed networks of information, local to global Locally-based knowledge development in the field, feeds into verification systems Fits with energy analysis and tourism development

23 Dual meaning: biophysical systems + human systems, communities create and change ESD and landscape labeling are communitybased concepts Opportunities abound for defining how a community wants to market its available Ecosystem Services

24 Institute for Natural Resources