GRID-Arendal

This report is a contribution to the UN's International Year of Biodiversity and is a complement to the UNEP-hosted Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) which is bringing visibility to the wealth of the world's natural capital. It documents over 30 successful case studies referencing thousands of restoration projects ranging from deserts and rainforests to rivers and coasts.

The African elephant, the largest remaining land mammal on the planet, is facing the greatest crisis in decades. Reports of mass elephant killings in the media vividly illustrate the situation across many African elephant range states. This publication provides an overview of the current state of the African elephant alongside recommendations for action to ensure its protection.

Over the last few years, two key environmental issues, closely related, have been on the top of the environmental agenda: climate change and deforestation. Forest is a subject for these two concerns. Deforestation, estimated at above 13 millions hectares a year, or an area roughly equivalent to the size of Greece, has immediate consequence in terms detraction of livelihoods for people, increased carbon emissions, and loss of biological diversity to mention few.

Out of all the biological carbon (or green carbon) captured in the world, over half is captured by marine living organisms --- hence it is called "blue carbon". Although emissions reductions are currently at the centre of the climate change debate, the critical role that oceans and ocean ecosystems play has been vastly overlooked.