A new report, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), attempts to bring to the world’s attention the truly great economic value of ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the benefits of taking these into account when making policies.

The value of the world’s natural ecosystems and biodiversity is something lacking in most economic analyses. Lack of value for what is truly priceless doesn’t just hurt the environment, however. It is also a sort of economic suicide. This new report, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme and supported by key EU, UK, German, Swedish, Dutch, and Norwegian bodies, attempts to bring all of this to our attention more and show some positive case studies of how taking the environment into consideration can actually save us money.

As the report says: “the failure of markets to adequately consider the value of ecosystem services is of concern not only to environment, development and climate change ministries but also to finance, economics and business ministries.”

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Oceans cover close to 70 percent of the earth’s surface. They divide continents and peoples. They are dangerous, swallowing unwary explorers in their great depths. But the danger of the unknown ocean hasn’t stopped sailors in all ages from exploring the treasures that await across the vast blue expanse. With compass in hand and constellation above as guides, brave seamen would embark, never knowing if they would return alive.

In the modern world, oceans, seas, lakes and other bodies of water are generally mapped. There is less adventure on the high seas than there was during Columbus’ time. Now there are new oceans to be explored, understood, and charted. These oceans are not expanses of water; rather, they are expanses of knowledge, technology, and science. In order to explore the great unknown of these oceans, we sail toward the uncharted and the unknown.

The UN has embarked on such an adventure. The treasure buried at the edge of the known world is not gold, silver or precious stones but climate neutrality. And aboard the UN ship are six universities from around the world.

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The last few months at mokugift have been a great learning experience.  Last year we received some great feedback from our users.  In October we were building a new version that enabled people to choose which country their trees are planted in.  We also changed the art from a cartoon style to a 3D graphic model style.  The impact was interesting.  When mokugift first launched, people thought it was targeted to kids.  With the new art and features we were being considered for general gifting.  This improvement also changed the number of trees sent per gift.

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While we’re on the topic of biodiversity studies, take a look at what Sustainable Table has to say.  It covers global food and farming issues and presents some interesting resources from around the world, to read and reach out to, for your family, community, schools and businesses:

• United Nations Environment Programme, World Conservation Monitoring Centre
  Provides a good general overview of the concept of biodiversity.
• Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Heritage
  Discusses the principles and values of genetic, species, and the importance of ecosystem diversity.
• The ARK USA
  Brought to you by Slow Food, The ARK is a project designed to preserve foods that are at risk of becoming ‘extinct’ – including rare varieties of fruits and vegetables, heritage breeds of animals, and foods created using increasingly uncommon methods of production.
• The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation
  From the American Museum of Natural History, the Center integrates scientific research, education, and outreach so that people, themselves major catalysts in the rapid loss of biodiversity, will become participants in its conservation.

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