The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
Agricultural systems as well as other ecosystems generate ecosystem services, i.e., societal benefits from ecological processes. These services include, for example, nutrient reduction that leads to water quality improvements in some wetlands and climatic regulation through recycling of precipitation in rain forests. While agriculture has increased
This document is intended to facilitate further discussions on the proposed intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services and its potential role in producing or contributing to assessments for biodiversity and ecosystem services. It reviews a selection of assessments with the potential to provide lessons that may be relevant …
This report analyses options for scaling up existing estimates of ecosystem service values to larger geographical scales. It also presents a case study of wetlands at the European level and discusses the results and policy applications.
The authors of the recently completed Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture (CA) concluded that there are sufficient water resources to produce food for a growing population but that trends in consumption, production and environmental patterns, if continued, will lead to water crises in many parts of the world. …
The state of Punjab has been left with less than 1% of the area under wetlands. About 30 wetlands, most of which are of natural origin were reported to occur in the state although some have already lost their wetland characteristics.
This new UN report presents challenges of unregulated wastewater discharged into rivers and seas. Calls for transforming wastewater into clean and economically attractive resource & details strategies that focus on sustainable water management. The world is facing a global water quality crisis. Continuing population growth and urbanisation, rapid industralisation, and …
This report of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was produced in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and other partners. It aims to foster better awareness of the crucial role that forests and wetlands play in sustaining the availability and quality of water critical for …
The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation Initiative is a collaborative effort of ICIMOD, the United Nations Environment Programme, and partners in the three countries. It was initiated through an extensive consultative process, and launched with an Inception Workshop and Consultation held in Kathmandu in July 2009. The Conservation Initiative will engage …
Recently, there has been considerable satisfaction and pride in official circles over the fact that the country has added to its green cover. Officials seem to believe that the rate of deforestation has been arrested. On the face of it, it certainly seems to be a matter of joy. But …
Normal Central Assistance and Additional Central Assistance (ACA) are devolved by the Planning Commission to assist the State Governments in specific areas. The present paper details an incentive mechanism for preventing deforestation and promoting conservation of forest ecosystems. A number of options to provide support to the states with vast …
The rapid increase in the science and implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) around the world in the past 15 years is now being followed by similar increases in the science and application of marine ecosystem-based management (EBM). Despite important overlaps and some common goals, these two approaches have remained …
This latest review by RSPCB focuses on governance of urban green spaces for development of Jaipur as a world-class city. It reviews status of urban forestry across the world & presents strategies for creating multifunctional landscapes to enhance urban resilience and human well-being. Many policy instruments and robust scientific evidence …
A strong, credible body of scientific evidence shows that climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for a broad range of human and natural systems. As decision makers respond to these risks, the nation
The health and livelihoods of people in rural and peri-urban areas in developing countries is often strongly related to ecosystems services and water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Although provision of both is integral to water management, the linkages between the two are rarely recognised in approaches to ecosystem management …
