This week is a big one for high-level world-wide “Ecosystem Services” confabs. The larger one — Katoomba — is in Vietnam. No, your correspondent was not fortunate enough to join the gang in Hanoi, because the other conference is in….Raleigh!  Yep, the 3rd annual Ecosystems Markets Conference is being held this year in the Raleigh bedroom community of Cary (where I once slept).

I will try to update you on the Raleigh conference where I will be a presenter tomorrow.  Crispy fish — or no crispy fish.

Apologies for the high level of background noise.  We couldn’t resist shooting the interview on the 20th floor of the Sofitel in Hanoi…  The views, as you will see, are fantastic (and it’s open access so if you are attending Katoomba go grab a drink there!).

Here the UN REDD team, Elspeth, Nina and Tim, outline the UN REDD programme – in particular it’s work to develop a framework for the implementation of FPIC, Free, Prior and Informed Consent into REDD.

The three day workshop was challenging at times but ultimately rewarding in that progress was made in the development of guidelines for the FPIC within REDD.

Check out the video below (again – apologies for the background noise, think of it as original Hanoi ambiance) or click through to the UN REDD website to find out more

From:  http://live.katoombagroup.org/

CONFERENCE SUMMARY

Using markets to protect and restore ecosystems – and the many services they provide – is gradually becoming a reality. But what are the critical elements for success? What progress has been made? What still needs to be done? What are the remaining challenges?

At this 3rd annual national conference, presented by the American Forest Foundation and World Resources Institute, you will hear from national and regional experts, innovators, and hands-on users of these evolving market models in a dialogue about:

– Recent progress in developing markets
– What transactions can be done now
– Strategies for scaling markets
– How these markets will affect family forests and other landowners
– How state and regional efforts can merge into a common model
From Third Annual Ecosystem Markets Conference