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The document advocates for a 'nexus' approach to land management to address the conflict between the need for increased agricultural productivity and the reality of land degradation. It highlights that while 24% of global land is degraded, a significant portion is improving through restoration. The proposed nexus approach seeks to move beyond the narrow goal of maximizing yields to reduce tradeoffs and build synergies between water, energy, food, and climate regulation.

The case study examines the implementation of REDD+ within the SADC region, highlighting the tension between global carbon sequestration goals and regional needs for sustainable development. It details the SADC FANR Directorate's efforts to provide a 'regional value add' through a support programme, specifically focusing on a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) project funded by GIZ. The analysis emphasizes that while carbon is the primary global driver, local and regional benefits—such as hydrological services and non-timber forest products—are often more critical to the region's population. The document concludes that SADC's approach to REDD+ pilots balances carbon effectiveness with regional equity to avoid marginalizing countries with lower forest cover.

The report argues that while trade integration in SADC has been stagnant, integration in public goods sectors like water, power, and conservation has seen varying degrees of success. It finds that these processes are heavily dependent on third-party financing and often suffer from a disconnect between donor-driven regional agendas and national service delivery priorities. The document highlights that SADC lacks the institutional capacity to implement policies, often requiring independent entities or NGOs to manage funds and projects. Case studies on REDD+, transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) illustrate that bottom-up collaboration and the transposition of regional goals into national law are more effective than top-down mandates.

The document details how Sime Darby's palm oil operations in Liberia violate national laws and international human rights, specifically regarding land grabs and the lack of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). It highlights environmental risks to the Upper Guinean Forest Ecosystem and lists European banks and pension funds providing financial support to the company.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) advocates for the inclusion of robust conservation measures in the 2013 Farm Bill, specifically calling for maintained funding, conservation compliance for all federal subsidy beneficiaries, and the creation of a national sod-saver program. The letter emphasizes that integrating native perennial prairie plants and short-rotation biomass crops on marginal lands can simultaneously achieve conservation goals—such as carbon sequestration and water quality improvement—and energy goals by providing sustainable bio-based feedstock to displace fossil fuels.

The report finds that the implementation of the DETER satellite system, which allows for rapid identification of deforestation hotspots, was the primary driver of deforestation deceleration in the Brazilian Amazon during the 2000s. By enabling Ibama to focus law enforcement and monitoring more precisely, these command-and-control policies prevented the loss of approximately 59,500 km² of forest between 2007 and 2011. The analysis indicates that these conservation efforts did not negatively impact local agricultural production and provided significant monetary gains when considering the value of carbon retention.

The document analyzes the Brazilian Forest Code through the lens of property rights theory, arguing that the gap between formal laws (de jure) and actual practice (de facto) creates uncertainty that hinders environmental protection. It traces the historical path dependence of Brazilian land ownership, which resulted in extreme concentration of wealth and power. The author links insecure property rights to several 'pathologies,' including land conflicts, the absence of tenancy markets, and increased deforestation in the Amazon. The paper concludes that for the Forest Code to succeed, the government must provide credible signals to converge de facto and de jure rights and reduce transaction costs for compliance.

The SACC project investigates the exchange processes between the deep ocean and the continental shelf of eastern South America, specifically testing the hypothesis that the Subtropical Shelf Front (STSF) is a primary site for shelf water transfer. Initial findings indicate that the Patagonia shelf absorbs approximately 17 Tg C per year and that freshwater inputs from the Rio de la Plata and Patos Lagoon significantly influence ecosystem production in the Southwest Atlantic.

The Union of Concerned Scientists proposes a transition from industrial agriculture to 'healthy farms' based on agro-ecological principles. The brief identifies four key strategies: adopting a landscape approach to biodiversity, increasing crop rotation diversity, reintegrating livestock and crops, and expanding the use of cover crops. It argues that these methods can maintain high yields and profits while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, mitigating pollution, and enhancing soil fertility. The document concludes that this transition requires systemic policy changes, including increased financial incentives, expanded technical assistance, and more publicly funded research into sustainable practices.

The report details pilot-scale trials in Manitoba using commercial agricultural equipment to harvest cattails from highway ditches and wetlands. It finds that while commercial equipment can be used, success is highly dependent on soil moisture and timing. The trials demonstrated that cattails can effectively capture phosphorus, though late-season harvesting reduces the amount of nutrient recovery. Economic analysis indicates that harvesting costs vary by site, with wetland harvesting generally being more productive but posing higher risks of equipment damage and sinking.

The report establishes a reference case for greenhouse gas emissions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 1990 to 2030. It identifies agriculture as the largest non-LULUCF emitting sector and notes a significant historical shift where the DRC moved from being a large net carbon sink in 2000 to a small net emitter by 2010. The projections are based on GDP and population growth forecasts, though the report highlights substantial data gaps and uncertainties, particularly in the LULUCF and agriculture sectors.

The report establishes a business-as-usual emissions baseline for Rwanda from 1990 to 2030, identifying agriculture as the largest non-LULUCF emitting sector. It projects a transition from a significant net carbon sink in 2000 to a net emitter by 2010, with future projections based on GDP growth, population increases, and existing policies. The analysis highlights substantial data gaps and uncertainties, particularly in the LULUCF and agriculture sectors.

The document examines Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) as a tool to incentivize agricultural land managers to provide non-market environmental benefits. It distinguishes between action-based payments, which reward the adoption of specific practices, and outcome-based payments, which reward actual environmental results. The authors argue that outcome-based approaches are more effective at delivering biodiversity and ecosystem services because they encourage farmer innovation and target the most ecologically valuable land. While European examples often focus on site-specific biodiversity in grasslands, the report suggests that shifting from top-down contractual agreements to local governance and participatory design is essential for scaling these mechanisms. Barriers to implementation include scientific uncertainty, high administrative costs, and the risk of 'leakage' where environmental damage is displaced outside the PES zone.

The research investigates the feasibility of climate compatible development (CCD) by analyzing whether policies can deliver 'triple wins' without generating negative side effects. Using four coastal country case studies, the authors find that while 'no-regrets' triple wins exist—particularly through soft environmental engineering like mangrove restoration—many policies involve trade-offs. Hard-engineering solutions often result in 'regrets' such as habitat destruction or social inequity. The paper concludes that the governance context is critical and warns that a narrow focus on triple wins might divert funding from essential development projects that only offer double wins.

The report examines biochar—charcoal produced from biomass to store carbon—as a method for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. While biochar could theoretically sequester carbon for thousands of years and improve soil fertility, a review of 212 peer-reviewed references indicates that current data are insufficient to accurately estimate its long-term stability. Consequently, the report concludes it is premature to rely on biochar as an effective climate mitigation tool or to allocate public resources for its deployment.

The document serves as a technical and strategic manual for Nepal's delegation to the UNFCCC. It explains the institutional structure of the climate regime, analyzes Nepal's high vulnerability to climate change—particularly in the Himalayas—and outlines national policies like the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). It details Nepal's engagement with mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and REDD+, while advocating for a 1.5°C global warming limit and increased, direct climate finance for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and mountain nations.

The policy brief highlights the significant potential of Africa's coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal marshes, to act as carbon sinks. It argues that these 'Blue Carbon' sources are currently undervalued and under-accounted for in international frameworks like the UNFCCC. The author recommends that African nations advocate for the expansion of IPCC guidelines and the integration of coastal sinks into REDD+ and NAMA frameworks to attract conservation financing and meet national emission targets.

The study estimates that the Natura 2000 network stored approximately 9.6 billion tonnes of carbon in 2010, with a monetary value between €607 billion and €1,130 billion. Forest habitats are identified as the most significant carbon sinks. The authors compare a 'Policy ON' scenario (improving conservation status and expanding protected areas) against a 'Policy OFF' scenario (inaction), finding that active policy interventions could generate economic gains of 1.71% to 2.86% by 2020. Specifically, increasing protected forest area by 10% is projected to provide €16 to 23 billion more in immediate benefits than focusing solely on qualitative site improvement.

The report critiques the concept of 'sustainable intensification,' asserting that it serves as a cover for conventional intensive agriculture and the expansion of genetically modified (GM) crops. It highlights how funding from entities like the Gates Foundation and the UK government prioritizes biotechnology over agro-ecological methods. The document argues that GM crops have not delivered promised yield increases or affordable climate adaptation, and instead increase seed costs and chemical dependency. It contrasts this approach with agro-ecology and 'food sovereignty,' which emphasize small-scale farmers' knowledge and traditional practices as more sustainable and productive alternatives.

The document examines Australia's carbon pricing scheme, which began on July 1, 2012, targeting the largest emitters to achieve a 5 per cent emissions reduction below 2000 levels by 2020. It details the transition from a fixed-price period to a flexible cap-and-trade system, the role of the Clean Energy Regulator, and extensive compensation packages for trade-exposed industries and households. The brief highlights the importance of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS) as a foundation for implementation and warns against locking in fixed prices during volatile international market conditions.