Ecosystem Services Assessment

Mangrove forests are among the planet’s most valuable coastal ecosystems. They protect people and infrastructure from storms and flooding, support fisheries and food security, store and sequester exceptionally large carbon stocks (“blue carbon”), and provide irreplaceable habitat for biodiversity. Over the next decade (2026–2036), scaled protection and restoration of mangroves is one of the highest-return nature-based solutions available, delivering climate mitigation and adaptation benefits alongside measurable economic and health co-benefits. Key global reference points: • Global mangrove extent (2020): ~14.8 million hectares in 123 countries. • Flood-risk reduction value: >US$65 billion per year in avoided flood damages; ~15 million more people would be flooded each year if mangroves were lost. • Asset-scale value: the present value of flood reduction benefits from mangroves (100-year horizon; 4% discount) was estimated at ~US$855 billion (2020). • Total ecosystem service value: widely cited estimates place global mangrove services in the range of US$462–798 billion per year. • Destruction has large costs: UNEP estimates up to ~US$42 billion in economic damages annually from mangrove destruction. • Blue carbon performance: mangroves are among the most carbon-rich forests, with estimated average sequestration of ~6–8 tCO2e/ha/year. What “10-Year Value” Means Value is presented as a bundle of benefits that accrue from avoiding further loss of existing mangroves and restoring degraded or historically converted mangrove areas. Some benefits (avoided flood damage) can begin immediately after hydrologic reconnection and early canopy recovery, while others (e.g., mature fisheries productivity and full sediment-carbon accumulation) grow over decades. To remain decision-useful for governments and investors, we focus on benefits that are measurable within a 10-year window and are supported by peer‑reviewed or institutional references. Why Mangroves matter globally Mangroves occur along tropical and subtropical coastlines and form a living interface between land, rivers, and the sea. They stabilize shorelines, reduce erosion, filter pollutants, and create complex root structures that serve as nurseries for commercially important fish and invertebrates. Because mangroves accumulate carbon in biomass and especially in waterlogged sediments, they are also a central component of global “blue carbon” strategies. Mangroves are a globally significant asset class for climate resilience, blue carbon, and coastal livelihoods. The evidence , over the coming decade, protecting existing mangroves & restoring feasible areas can deliver large, measurable economic returns, often dominated by avoided flood damages, while also advancing net-zero pathways & food security. For governments, mangrove programs can be treated as investable national infrastructure. For investors and philanthropies, they represent a high-integrity nature-based solution.

What is a Baseline Study in EIA? A Baseline Study is the foundation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It involves the systematic collection and analysis of environmental data to describe the current (pre-project) status of the physical, biological, and socio-economic environment of a proposed project area. Think of it as taking a "snapshot" of the environment before any development begins, so that we can: - Identify sensitive or valuable environmental components. - Detects future changes caused by the project. - Provide a reference for monitoring and mitigation. Why is the Baseline Study Important? 1. Informs Impact Prediction: It helps compare “before” and “after” scenarios. 2. Guides Decision-Making: It provides scientific evidence to justify project approval or rejection. 3. Enables Effective Mitigation: Knowing what's at stake allows better mitigation planning. 4. Ensures Legal Compliance: Many regulations require a detailed baseline assessment. Key Components of a Baseline Study 1. Physical Environment: ~ Climate and meteorology ~ Geology and soil ~ Air quality ~ Noise levels ~ Hydrology and water quality 2. Biological Environment: ~ Flora and fauna (terrestrial and aquatic) ~ Biodiversity hotspots ~ Ecosystem services ~ Protected areas or endangered species 3. Socio-Economic Environment: ~ Land use and infrastructure ~ Demographics and livelihoods ~ Cultural heritage ~ Public health ~ Community resources 4. Legal and Institutional Setting: ~ Environmental laws and regulations ~ Land ownership and rights ~ Administrative boundaries How is Baseline Data Collected? √ Field Surveys: Air, water, soil sampling; biodiversity assessments √ Remote Sensing and GIS: Land use mapping, terrain analysis √ Secondary Data Sources: Government records, academic studies, meteorological data √ Stakeholder Consultation: Local knowledge, community concerns Example Scenario: ✔ If a sugar mill is proposed near a rural waterbody, the baseline study would: ✔ Measure current water quality (pH, BOD, COD, heavy metals). ✔ Assess aquatic life health. ✔ Survey surrounding land use (agriculture, settlements). ✔ Collect socio-economic data (who uses the water, for what purpose). Only then can we determine what impacts might occur and how to mitigate them. Best Practices: √ Ensure seasonal coverage to capture variability. √ Use standard protocols for data collection. √ Integrate indigenous and local knowledge. √ Maintain transparency and reproducibility. What I find most valuable is that baseline studies not only support sustainable development but also ensure that environmental decisions are informed, inclusive, and scientifically grounded. P.S. Let’s not forget: "If you can’t measure it before, you can’t manage it after." #EnvironmentalEngineering #EIA #Sustainability #BaselineStudy #ImpactAssessment #CivilEngineering #EnvironmentalManagement #LinkedInLearning

🌍 What if every infrastructure project could deliver for nature and people? A year ago, we set out to answer that by piloting the TNFD LEAP framework on infrastructure projects. At AECOM, we’ve always recognised that nature underpins the success of infrastructure—whether it’s water for energy systems or biodiversity providing resilience to protect assets from climate risks. But the challenge has always been: how do we properly assess this? The focus has always been on protecting nature impacts but infrastructure dependencies are rarely thought about. That’s why we undertook the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) with Global Canopy and Nature-based Insights, applying the LEAP approach across a range of real-world infrastructure projects. Here’s what we did: 🔍 We assessed nature-related dependencies, from water security to ecosystem services that support asset performance. 📉 We identified impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem condition, including risks to species, habitats, and natural capital. 🌱 We looked for opportunities to deliver nature-positive outcomes, like enhancing biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, and embedding nature-based solutions into project design. 👉 What stood out was how interconnected these risks and opportunities are—and how important it is to consider them early, not as an afterthought. 👉 We also found that the LEAP framework works, but to make it mainstream for infrastructure, we need better data and more sector-specific guidance. 👉 The TNFD framework has highlighted how much more should probably be considered as part of EIAs - we should be considering nature's value and benefits far more than just impacts to ensure dependency resilience. One year on, the insights we gained feel even more relevant. The TNFD is gaining traction, and nature-related risks are climbing higher on the agenda. For infrastructure to be truly sustainable—and resilient—we need to reconsider nature as a beneficial asset that protects infrastructure. Our pilot summary is here if you’d like a deeper dive: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gNYwcJqT #TNFD #Infrastructure #NaturePositive #Biodiversity #LEAP #FutureOfInfrastructure

What if insects could help us measure the health of our world? 🐛 🌍 👨🔬 Exactly one year ago I shared a colourful infographic linking insects, One Health, and ecosystem services. That visual intuition became something more powerful: a scientific tool ⚙️ 🔬 Together with Daipiero Gómez, we just published our paper: "Ecosystem service indicators in insect farming: a novel One Health perspective" 📄 here: https://lnkd.in/eZbM9DaV What did we actually do ❔ We developed metrics, real indicators 📈 to evaluate how insect farming contributes to ecosystem services that affect human, animal, and environmental health. In other words, we tried to measure what is usually just told as a story. Why metrics ❔ Because we need to move from “insects are good for the planet” to how, in what way, to what extent, and under what conditions. Metrics help: 🌍 Compare practices and systems 📊 Monitor impacts over time 🎯 Guide decisions in policy, farming, and conservation 🤝 Build bridges between sectors (stakeholders) Although our case focuses on insect farming, the framework could be adapted to other types of insect management: conservation 🌱, pest control 🐞, wild collection… this is just the beginning 😉 I also updated the original infographic!📊 The new version shows the interconnections between ecosystem services and the One Health approach, based on what we propose in the paper. Insects 🐜 are strategic allies in building food systems that are healthier, more sustainable ♻️, and truly circular 💪, if we know how to measure their value, optimise their socio-ecological roles, and address their challenges. #OneHealth #InsectFarming #EcosystemServices #Metrics #Indicators #Sustainability #Bioeconomy #CINAT #Insectonomy #ScienceWithPurpose #Bioprospecting Facultad FMVZ UNAL Universidad Nacional de Colombia Research Center for Terrestrial Arthropods - CINAT Université Laval

🌿 Advancing Nature-Related Risk Assessment: Insights from the Latest Research A recent article in Environmental Science & Policy presents the Integrated System for Natural Capital Accounts (ISNCA) — an innovative framework designed to measure ecosystem vulnerability by combining ecological integrity, exposure, and risk factors. This system aims to provide a more comprehensive and dynamic assessment of natural capital, enabling better tracking of how ecosystems are impacted by human activities and environmental pressures. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dXSZBHtF Key takeaways from the study include: - Ecosystem Vulnerability Measurement: ISNCA integrates multiple indicators to quantify the health and risk status of ecosystems, moving beyond static snapshots to more actionable, real-time data. - Natural Capital Accounting: The framework supports more transparent accounting of ecosystem services, which are essential for economic sectors relying on natural resources. - Risk-Informed Decision Making: By factoring in exposure and ecological integrity, ISNCA equips policymakers, businesses, and investors to better anticipate and mitigate nature-related financial risks. - Scalability and Adaptability: The system is designed to be scalable across regions and ecosystem types, fostering global adoption and harmonization of natural capital metrics. These advancements are crucial as the world grapples with accelerating biodiversity loss and climate change, which pose systemic risks to economies and societies alike. Link to Conservation Finance: At the intersection of science and finance, initiatives like HIFOR leverage frameworks such as ISNCA’s to develop measurable, outcome-based conservation finance instruments. By creating standardized units tied to the integrity of tropical forests, HIFOR supports the flow of private capital to protect ecosystems that the ISNCA framework helps to monitor and value. As we advance tools like ISNCA, the path toward integrating nature into financial systems becomes clearer — enabling smarter investments that sustain both the planet and the economy. 🔗 Learn more about HIFOR: hifor.org #NaturalCapital #EcosystemRisk #ConservationFinance #Sustainability #HIFOR #Biodiversity #ClimateRisk #EnvironmentalPolicy

𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝟐𝟐,𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 ₹𝟏,𝟕𝟎𝟎 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬! A few days back, I came across a fascinating IIT Bombay study that quantifies what many intuitively know … nature provides services that would cost us a fortune to replicate. To put this in perspective, ₹1,700 crore is several times the entire annual budget of Mumbai's municipal parks department. Yet, mangroves protect Mumbai from storm surges, nurture fisheries, absorb pollution, and filter coastal waters, all without maintenance contracts or budget approvals! For Greater Mumbai alone, these services are valued at ₹1,155 crore per year. What's particularly fascinating is how, in an on-ground study, different urban, semi-urban, and rural communities showed a willingness to pay for mangrove conservation … 📍 Rural fishing communities, despite lower incomes, offered to pay ₹154 per month 📍 Semi-urban residents in Uran pledged the highest ₹214 per month 📍 Urban residents preferred contributing 10 hours per month over monetary payments To quantify this natural capital, researchers used a ‘Willingness to Pay’ methodology, averaging ₹169 per month per household across the region. I believe that putting precise economic values on nature’s services fundamentally shifts how we assess priorities and perceive value. When we assign measurable value to natural ecosystems, we change how infrastructure is planned and unlock new possibilities for green finance. The researcher Naman Gupta puts it rather well: "It allows us to consider mangroves not just as barriers to development but as assets." If you had to pay for nature’s services, what would you prefer – contributing time or money …? Image sources... 1. The Times Of India 2. Hindustan Times 3. Mumbai Live #NaturalCapital #Sustainability #GreenInfrastructure #ClimateChange