N4C Weekly Brief | World risks up to $39 trillion in economic losses from vanishing wetlands, report say

Dear Readers,

The N4C Weekly Briefing will pause from July 17th through August 13th for a summer holiday. We thank all of our readers for your support and look forward to resuming new editions of the briefing later in August.

Cheers,

Lucy Almond (Chair, Nature4Climate)

📰 Top Nature News:

• World risks up to $39 trillion in economic losses from vanishing wetlands, report says - Reuters

• Brazil’s Moment to Lead on Forest Conservation [Commentary]- Project Syndicate

• How companies can support Indigenous communities in carbon markets - Trellis

• Recurrent wildfires across the Mediterranean region are changing its landscape - France 24

• Indonesia says EU deforestation law is still unworkable - Financial Times

• Liberia Enters Carbon Market - Daily Observer

📰 Good News:

Indigenous Amazonians win landmark ruling against mercury pollution in Colombia

Colombia’s Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of 30 Indigenous communities in the Amazon, ordering protection measures due to mercury contamination from gold mining that threatens their health, food security and cultural survival. The contamination affects key rivers and fish consumed by the communities, with mercury levels found up to 17 times above safe limits, putting traditional knowledge systems, recognized by UNESCO, at serious risk. The court mandated regular monitoring and inclusive implementation, with biannual hearings and Indigenous participation, marking a judicial precedent for Indigenous-led environmental justice and the protection of ancestral knowledge.

👀SPOTLIGHTS - Road to Belém Video Series

Nature4Climate interviewed nature-based solutions experts to hear about their hopes for COP30. The UN Climate Conference in Brazil presents an opportunity to leverage the host's role as a bridge builder to bring financial resources and political alignment, ensuring we maximize nature's contribution to tackling climate change.Learn what could be on the table for nature in Belém this November and how you can support nature-positive outcomes by watching our short interviews using the link below. 

👉SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE AT COP30

UK Efforts to Save Nature

The UK government’s Unlocking Benefits for People, Nature and Climate report outlines a coordinated strategy to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss across England by integrating actions across clean energy, rural economies, marine restoration, and green finance. It reaffirms the UK’s 2035 goals under its updated Nationally Determined Contribution and Biodiversity Strategy, emphasizing nature-based solutions that deliver health, economic, and environmental benefits. The report also highlights streamlined processes—such as faster accreditation for local projects and joint ministerial leadership—to scale up impactful, nature-smart climate action.

👉THE FUTURE OF NATURE IN THE UK 

NCS IN THE REAL WORLD - Chocó-Darién Conservation Corridor REDD+

🗺️WHERE: COLOMBIA ➡️TYPE OF NCS SOLUTION: PROTECT 👉 READ MORE

This is the first REDD+ project in a collectively and communally owned territory and protects 13,500 hectares of tropical rainforest in the Darién region.

🎯Colombia has the opportunity to mitigate approximately 7.6 MtCO2e/yr by 2050 if it meets its potential for avoided forest conversion. 

See more details on the potential for natural climate solutions on N4C's naturebase platform and find examples of real projects using the N4C case study map.

🗒️ For Your Information:

BirdLife International reports that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is concerned about the continued decline of wetlands and wintering waterbird populations in Doñana National Park, Spain and requests an updated conservation report by February 2026. 

Food and Land Use Coalition explains the design and rollout of the National Productive Forests Program, a major new public programme aimed at scaling regenerative practices among family farmers in Brazil.   

IUCN announces that UNESCO World Heritage recognition has been given to seven new areas, highlighting new conservation priorities.  

The Nature Conservancy explores how aligning corporate sustainability efforts with landscape-scale initiatives can strengthen the connection between business operations and the ecosystems they depend on. 

UNDP publishes the latest report in its NDC Insights Series, sharing timely analysis, critical insights and thematic trends in the 2025 submission cycle.  

UNEP announces Madagascar's new $7 million initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience by restoring critical coastal ecosystems and improving livelihoods across vulnerable regions.  

WBCSD publishes a new report showcasing various approaches for addressing uncertainties in preparing and disclosing sustainability information, using more than 25 real-world examples from member companies. 

World Resources Institute shares that eight African nations adopted the Yaoundé Declaration, committing to sustainably manage 100% of ocean areas under their national jurisdiction by 2030.

🗓️ Highlighted Events

A Confident Carbon Market: Business Perspectives

Date: 23 July Host: Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Initiative Location: Virtual

Building Bridges 2025

Date: 30 September - 2 October Host: Building Bridges Location: Geneva, Switzerland

👉 CHECK MORE NATURE-RELATED EVENTS HERE.

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