Forest Service Perspective on Rangeland Ecosystem Services

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Forest Service Perspective on Rangeland Ecosystem
Services
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Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Largest
assessment of the health of the earths
ecosystemsLaunched by UN Secretary General in
2001Authorized by governments through 4
conventionsPrepared by 1360 experts from 95
countries
Approximately 60 percent (15 out of 24) of the
ecosystem services evaluated in the assessment
are being degraded or used unsustainably. The
degradation of ecosystem services often causes
significant harm to human well-being and
represents the loss of a natural asset or wealth
of a country.
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Natural assets are not reflected in traditional
economic accounts While ecosystem services are
fundamental to human well-being, their value is
not taken into account in national measures of
economic progress, or in landuse planning and
decision-making. A country could cut its
forests and deplete its rangelands, and this
would show only as a positive gain in GDP without
registering the corresponding decline in assets
or wealth.
Without value, there is no incentive to conserve
or enhance ecosystem services.
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Ecosystem Services that are inexpensive or
freely available today will cease to be available
or become more costly.
Walter Reid Institute for the
Environment, Stanford
How can we help prevent the degradation of
ecosystem services? new business models
new technologies new incentives new markets
changing human behavior
MARKETS AND PAYMENTS FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
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Valuing ecosystem services on public and
private lands Private investment in
ecosystem services may provide private
landowners with new revenue streams promote
conservation and sustainable land
management support ecological restoration increa
se appreciation and support of use of public lands
Making good stewardship profitable
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What ecosystem services are currently
marketable?Carbon sequestrationRenewable
energy (biofuels)Watershed servicesBiodiversity
What about avoided desertification? avoided
catastrophic fire or other natural hazards?
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Emerging mandatory marketsRGGI 7
Northeastern States model rule issued
8.15.2006 Launch date January 2009 Stabilizes
CO2 emissions by 2014, 10 reduction by
2019. CA AB32 passed 9.6.2006 Caps GHG
emissions at 1990 levels by 2020 (25
reduction) Mandatory emissions monitoring
reporting by Jan 1, 2008 Full implementation by
2012
In the U.S., the carbon market is in its
formative states
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On a state and regional level, climate change
policy is emerging
States with greenhouse gas reporting and
registries
Source Pew Center on Global Climate Change
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Market-based approaches includePublic
payments or incentives NYC watershed
management programSelf-organized private
payments Clean Water Services,
Oregon Trading programs Dillon Reservoir,
Colorado (phosphorus)
Payments for WATERSHED SERVICES
Forests are a source of drinking water for over
180 million people in the U.S.
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Interest in voluntary markets is
increasing retail carbon offsets and renewable
energyWhy?Preparation for federal regulation
? Established part of corporate sustainability
mission ? PR/branding ? In many cases, it makes
good business sense..VER Verified Emissions
ReductionsEmphasis on high quality carbon
offsets must be credible real, quantifiable,
additional, permanent, free from leakage Need
for standards, tracking system for credits
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Mitigation legally required and
enforcedWetland mitigation banksConservation
banks or endangered species mitigation
banksInvestments and Offsets voluntary,
project-basedPayments for access (ecotourism
bioprospecting research)Investments in
conservation and land management
Payments for BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION
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Market-based approaches are part of the
solutionMarkets and payments for ecosystem
services are a means of capturing the true value
of well-managed forests and rangelands. Payments
for carbon sequestration, watershed management,
ecotourism, and a host of other services may
supplement traditional forest revenues and
promote good stewardship, especially when used
together with other conservation tools.
What do markets accomplish?
Were in an exploratory phase We still have a
lot to learn
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www.fs.fed.us/ecosystemservices
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Janette KaiserUSDA FOREST SERVICEWashington
DCjkaiser01_at_fs.fed.uswww.fs.fed.us/ecosystems
ervices