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Friends of the Earth International criticizes the UN Convention on Biodiversity for promoting tourism as a tool for biodiversity conservation. The statement argues that mainstream tourism leads to the eviction of indigenous peoples, destruction of ecosystems like mangrove forests, and excessive resource consumption, including high water usage and food waste. It highlights that 5% of global emissions are linked to tourism and warns that the aviation industry's planned 700% growth by 2050, supported by REDD offsets, is unsustainable. The document calls for a fundamental change in the tourism business model and policies that prioritize the rights and self-determination of local communities over corporate profit.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the UN Convention on Biological Diversity for promoting tourism to protect biodiversity, arguing that mass tourism leads to ecosystem destruction, water scarcity, and the displacement of indigenous peoples. The statement highlights that while community-based projects exist, the broader industry is characterized by corporate profit, high emissions, and human rights abuses.

The assessment finds that while Suriname's Constitution and Mining Decree provide a general basis for mining governance, the legal framework is outdated, lacking a national environmental authority and specific legislation on indigenous rights and mercury use. Key strengths include the use of comprehensive environmental assessment guidelines by NIMOS and the role of the OGS in managing the small-scale gold sector. However, significant gaps exist in financial benefit optimization, socioeconomic planning, and post-mining transition, particularly regarding financial assurances for mine closure. The report recommends updating the Mining Decree, establishing an environmental ministry, and further formalizing the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector.

The document serves as a manual for experts and officials to implement Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in Estonia. It details the legal requirements based on EU directives and Estonian laws (KeHJS and PlanS), outlining the process from screening and scoping to the final report and follow-up. It emphasizes the importance of integrating environmental considerations early in the planning of sectoral development plans and spatial plans, the use of various quantitative and qualitative assessment methods, and the necessity of public and institutional participation to achieve sustainable development goals.

The report evaluates Mongolia's mining sector governance across six themes: legal and policy environment, financial benefit optimization, socio-economic benefit optimization, environmental management, mine closure transition, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). While Mongolia demonstrates strengths in transparency (EITI participation) and professional human resources, it faces significant challenges in mine closure planning, waste management, and the formalization of ASM. The assessment concludes that Mongolia's overall implementation level of the IGF framework is 'average', with critical gaps in financial guarantees for mine closure and the lack of a comprehensive system for monitoring environmental impacts on water and biodiversity.

A coalition of 272 organizations argues that large hydropower projects do not meet the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) investment criteria due to greenhouse gas emissions, lack of innovation, and negative social and environmental impacts. The letter specifically calls for the rejection or removal of three projects from the GCF pipeline: the Qairokkum Hydropower Rehabilitation in Tajikistan, the Upper Trishuli-1 in Nepal, and the Tina River Hydro Project in the Solomon Islands.

The document is an open letter from ClientEarth and several environmental NGOs to the First Vice-President of the European Commission. It highlights a March 17, 2017, finding by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC) that the EU failed to provide adequate access to justice for individuals and NGOs in environmental matters, specifically breaching Article 9(3)(4) of the Aarhus Convention. The authors argue that while Member States and businesses can defend their interests, no individual or NGO has been granted legal standing before the Court of Justice of the EU to challenge institutional decisions on environmental issues, except for document disclosure refusals. To remedy this, the letter proposes that the European Commission amend Regulation 1367/2006 and that the European Court of Justice revise its interpretation of standing criteria under Article 263 TFEU to ensure environmental NGOs are considered to have "direct and individual concern" regarding acts impacting the environment.

The document highlights that while Indigenous Peoples and local communities hold between 50% and 65% of the world's land, they have formal legal ownership of only 10%. It emphasizes that approximately 2.5 billion people depend on these lands and that secure tenure significantly reduces deforestation rates, particularly in the Amazon. The text argues that the cost of securing these lands is minimal compared to the immense environmental and economic benefits they provide, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection.

The extraordinary CoP of the IAI, held on March 9, 2017, in Panama City, resulted in the unanimous election of Dr. Marcos Regis da Silva as Executive Director. The meeting included the appointment of a steering committee, the verification of credentials for twelve member delegations, and a review of the selection process conducted by a search committee.

A civil society statement arguing that the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) promotes harmful agro-industrial farming and must be radically reformed. The authors propose a transformation based on four pillars: fair and diverse economies, environmental and animal welfare protections, support for public health, and accountable, participatory governance.

The document details how the 2014 Farm Bill allocates funding for conservation programs to mitigate agricultural pollution and enhance soil productivity. It describes specific practices such as cover cropping, no-till operations, and intercropping, while outlining the four primary USDA conservation programs: EQIP, ACEP, CRP, and CSP.

Friends of the Earth International commemorates the anniversary of Berta Cáceres' murder, highlighting her leadership in opposing hydroelectric dams on the Gualcarque River in Honduras. The statement frames the violence against Cáceres and other women defenders as a result of a capitalist and patriarchal system that exploits both the environment and women's work. The organization calls for justice and announces a week of action from March 2nd to 8th, 2017, to combat systemic violence and the erosion of rights for Indigenous Peoples and working-class women.

The 2014 Farm Bill allocated $57.6 billion to conservation programs, focusing on voluntary on-farm practices. Key tools include cover crops, no-till/low-till operations, and intercropping, which aim to reduce nutrient runoff and sequester carbon. The document details four primary USDA programs: EQIP, ACEP, CRP, and CSP, outlining their funding, objectives, and the specific environmental benefits they provide, such as carbon sequestration and the protection of wetlands and marginal lands.

The document examines the multifaceted nature of security in Europe, contrasting the 'politics of fear' used by national populists with a progressive vision of security. It analyzes threats ranging from terrorism and digital vulnerabilities to energy insecurity and climate change, while emphasizing that social investment and the protection of civil liberties are more effective tools for stability than mass surveillance or militarisation. The text specifically critiques the 'securitisation' of migration and the role of the state in managing perceived risks.

The report assesses current and future climate risks in Myanmar, projecting significant temperature increases, variable rainfall changes, and rising sea levels by mid-century. It highlights vulnerabilities across biodiversity, health, agriculture, and infrastructure, while demonstrating how the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance (MCCA) uses vulnerability assessments in the Ayeyarwady Delta and Central Dry Zone to guide local adaptation planning.

The report finds that Myanmar is experiencing significant warming, with inland areas warming faster than coastal ones. Projections for the mid-21st century indicate temperature increases of 1.3°C to 2.7°C and sea level rise of 20 to 41 centimeters. While wet season precipitation is expected to increase, potentially exacerbating flooding, changes in the hot and cool seasons remain uncertain. The report emphasizes the high vulnerability of the Ayeyarwaddy Delta and Central Dry Zone, advocating for ecosystem-based adaptation and the integration of climate risk data into infrastructure and agricultural planning.

The document explains that 'site integrity' under the Habitats Directive necessitates achieving 'favourable conservation status' for both Annex I habitats and their associated 'typical species'. For sandbanks, this includes a range of invertebrates and fish, some of which are commercially valuable. In the UK, these sites are at high risk from bottom-towed fishing gear, which inhibits the recovery of static communities and biogenic reefs. The author argues that the precautionary principle requires prohibiting such gear unless it is proven to have no adverse effect, challenging 'partial protection' management plans that lack robust scientific data. A case study of The Wash demonstrates how protecting Sabellaria worm reefs and their buffer zones supports commercial fish species like plaice, dab, and sole.

The document outlines a strategic process for landscape restoration leaders to transition from a reliance on public finance to attracting private investment. It details four essential steps: identifying and engaging the right investors based on risk tolerance and growth stage; developing a comprehensive business plan focusing on the business model, management, finance, and deal structure; establishing a legal investable entity to channel funds; and tracking financial and operating performance to provide proof of concept. The guide emphasizes that private investors, except for impact investors, prioritize financial returns over environmental benefits and compare restoration ventures against opportunities in other industries.

The 2017 Green Economy Barometer reports a dual reality: while renewable energy capacity is growing and green technologies are hitting mass markets, the 'brown economy' remains dominant, biodiversity is in crisis, and financial systems continue to subsidise fossil fuels. The document argues that the transition is gathering speed but risks failure if it does not address the needs of rural economies, informal workers, and the youth unemployment crisis.

The document proposes a framework for measuring agricultural resilience in eastern Ontario, Canada, moving beyond traditional risk-reduction to a holistic, system-based approach. It identifies 36 indicators across six themes—climate change, population, farmland production, market and economy, rural infrastructure, and natural environment—to track the capacity of rural systems to absorb shocks and adapt. The authors emphasize that while some data is readily available, significant gaps exist in detailed farm economic data. The briefing argues for cross-sectoral collaboration to break down government 'silos' and suggests that these indicators are transferable to other agricultural regions across Canada.