securing freshwater ecosystems

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Hollie Cole
5 years ago
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Water is vital for human survival, yet 1.6 billion people lack access to clean drinking water and 2.6 billion people lack adequate water sanitation.

Fresh water comes from precipitation, glacial melting and runoff, and it flows above- and under-ground delivering us invaluable services.

Despite the critical importance of healthy freshwater ecosystems for human well-being and for economic growth, unsustainable development has placed a great burden on nature s ability to deliver

1 Water is vital for human survival, yet 1.6 billion people lack access to clean drinking water and 2.6 billion people lack adequate water sanitation. We rely on fresh water not just for drinking and washing, but for fisheries, agriculture, transportation, industrial processes and electricity generation. Fresh water comes from precipitation, glacial melting and runoff, and it flows above- and under-ground delivering us invaluable services. One estimate places the global value of all freshwater services at US $7 trillion per year. Despite the critical importance of healthy freshwater ecosystems for human well-being and for economic growth, unsustainable development has placed a great burden on nature s ability to deliver enough fresh water to sustain all life on Earth. Working in more than 40 countries, Conservation International (CI) works to responsibly and sustainably care for natural systems so that ecosystem services the tangible benefits that people receive from nature, such as fresh water are available for today s needs and for generations to come. securing freshwater ecosystems CI s solution to maintaining global freshwater security is to focus on ensuring the reliable and sustained availability and quality of fresh water at the times and places it is needed to sustain people and other freshwater-dependent life on Earth. The reliable supply of clean water is vital to sustainable business operations for companies around the world. With increasingly scarce and unpredictable sources of water further exacerbated by a changing climate and ever worsening pollution and degradation of key sources lack of available clean water is a growing risk for many companies.

our approach Through the Center for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB), CI works in partnership with leaders in key industries to: reduce companies ecological footprint through innovative

2 our approach Through the Center for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB), CI works in partnership with leaders in key industries to: reduce companies ecological footprint through innovative business practices; harness the power of supply chains to drive the widespread adoption of good practices; invest strategically in on-the-ground conservation opportunities; and create dynamic communications campaigns that inspire consumers and employees worldwide to take action in their everyday lives. Our work with companies on water includes the following approaches: Creating water management strategies, policies and practices and advising on efficiency measures, water footprint accounting and sustainable water sourcing. Developing sustainable sourcing criteria, which include water conservation and watershed protection, to build sustainable water practices into business supply chains. Investing in water stewardship projects in areas of strategic importance to companies, where operations depend on reliable, clean water supplies from those regions. Communicating the importance of water conservation to educate employees, consumers and the general public on the importance of protecting nature s benefits. To ensure the development of successful, replicable strategies to conserve the ecosystem services provided by freshwater systems, CI and our partners are implementing demonstration projects in China, Brazil, South Africa, Colombia, Fiji, and other countries around the globe. Freshwater Demonstration Project Locations Supporting payment for ecosystem services mechanisms that assign a value to freshwater ecosystem services, thereby compensating the communities whose actions enhance or protect those services. 8/10 For more information contact: Marielle Canter Weikel, Director, Business Practices, Corporate Freshwater Strategies, Center for Environmental Leadership in Business Photos left to right: ci/photo by JOHN MARTIN, WILLIAM CROSSE, ci/photo by JOHN MARTIN Printed with:

Most of the world s key coffee-growing regions are the same areas where biological diversity is richest and most threatened by the combined effects of deforestation and climate change.

3 Most of the world s key coffee-growing regions are the same areas where biological diversity is richest and most threatened by the combined effects of deforestation and climate change. Recognizing this overlap, CI and Starbucks began working together in 1998 to develop a field model for coffee production that maintains ecosystem services and protects biodiversity. In 2003, CI and Starbucks joined forces to design Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices a set of environmentally, socially, and economically responsible coffee buying guidelines. The program since has grown to include an increasing number of growers across 4 continents in 20 countries, 16 of which overlap with biodiversity hotspots. coffee and freshwater conservation CI and Starbucks Shared Geographies

To evaluate progress toward achieving widespread adoption of best practices in coffee production, CI and Starbucks began an assessment of the C.A.F.E.

Cultivating, growing and harvesting coffee using methods that avoid adverse impacts on water resources. 2.

4 To evaluate progress toward achieving widespread adoption of best practices in coffee production, CI and Starbucks began an assessment of the C.A.F.E. Practices program in C.A.F.E. Practices includes an extensive water component at 2 stages in the coffee value chain: 1. Cultivating, growing and harvesting coffee using methods that avoid adverse impacts on water resources. 2. Minimizing the amount of water used and consumed, as well as preventing water pollution, in the processing of coffee beans. The preliminary results of the assessment are that over half of farms maintained buffer zones along all water bodies and more than three-quarters were not applying agrochemicals within 10 meters of water bodies. Additionally, by developing better ways to process, nearly three-quarters of producers managed wastewater to ensure no negative impacts on rivers, lakes and streams. Supplemental field surveys in Guatemala showed that farmers participating in C.A.F.E. Practices were more likely to see an improvement in water quality than those not participating in the program. Over time, Starbucks aims to increase adoption of these water management practices even further. Farmers can see real benefits when they make choices to more responsibly and sustainably care for their land and water. By planting trees along rivers and streams and using fewer pesticides and controlling erosion, they are restoring the natural landscape and providing rich habitats for birds and animals. Intact forests filter water naturally and keep the soil healthy, which provides protection against mudslides that can strip the land of valuable nutrients. 8/10 For more information contact: Marielle Canter Weikel, Director, Business Practices, Corporate Freshwater Strategies, Center for Environmental Leadership in Business Photos: Cristina Mittermeier/ilcp Printed with:

The mountains of Southwest China, known as Asia s water tower, are the source of fresh water for more than two billion people.

400 million people and the production of rice the staple of the Chinese diet.

5 The mountains of Southwest China, known as Asia s water tower, are the source of fresh water for more than two billion people. But with a fifth of the world s population, China also consumes vast quantities of water, putting intense pressure on the country s natural resources and its essential ecosystems. Deforestation along the mighty Yangtze River basin has led to massive soil erosion, which endangers the delivery of fresh water to more than 400 million people and the production of rice the staple of the Chinese diet. Through the Center for Environmental Leadership in Business, Conservation International (CI) has worked with many companies to support on-the-ground projects in a strategic market, China, to protect the largest sources of fresh water on the planet. Southwest China Biodiversity Hotspot freshwater stewardship in china China

Alcoa Foundation provided start-up support to help develop the framework for a China Freshwater Fund, supporting pilot payment for ecosystem services projects as well as an initiative to conserve

6 Alcoa Foundation provided start-up support to help develop the framework for a China Freshwater Fund, supporting pilot payment for ecosystem services projects as well as an initiative to conserve high-biodiversity freshwater areas. Working with FedEx, United Technologies Corporation and DreamWorks, CI implements conservation projects focusing on reforestation in Sichuan Province and planting of native plant species such as bamboo the giant panda s primary food source. Reforestation projects prevent soil erosion along rivers, as well as aid in filtering water. Reducing erosion and sedimentation will also improve water quality downstream in both rural and urban areas. CI and Marriott International recently launched a partnership to support a vital water conservation program in Pingwu County of the Sichuan Province. The program is designed to assist rural communities with sustainable businesses, such as mushroom farming and honey production, which place less stress on the environment. The goal of the program is to make conservation beneficial to local people and encourage forest, wildlife and water protection to be replicated in other areasof the Yangtze River watershed. CI also joined forces with PepsiCo China Ltd. to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation in China. CI and PepsiCo China created public service announcements telling Chinese youth about the importance of environmental stewardship of the Yangtze River, which aired during primetime coverage of the Pepsi Voice of the Next Generation band competition on Zhejiang Satellite TV reaching 100 million viewers in the 12 weeks they aired. Combined, these freshwater stewardship partnerships help protect critical ecosystems that are a vital part of Asia s water tower. 8/10 For more information contact: Marielle Canter Weikel, Director, Business Practices, Corporate Freshwater Strategies, Center for Environmental Leadership in Business Photos left to right: ci/photo by russell a. mittermeier, ci/photo by kate barrett, ci/photo by will turner Printed with:

BUSINESS + CONSERVATION

BUSINESS + CONSERVATION THE Center for Environmental Leadership in Business MAKING BUSINESS A POSITIVE FORCE FOR CONSERVATION Conservation International (CI) has actively engaged with corporations for