World Wildlife Fund - Annual Report 2007 - (Page 27)

My WWF colleague Dr. Neil Burgess and I are working with international researchers, local experts and decision makers to calculate the forest’s economic value to local, national, and global populations. With funding from the Packard Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust, we’re creating maps that plot the value of ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, water purification, flood control, crop pollination, and harvested forest products. Only a few months into a five-year project, we’ve hit the ground running. Teams are in the field collecting data on water purification, carbon sequestration and timber. By the time you read this, we’ll have met with leading decision makers to ensure our research is as useful as possible. In early 2008 we’ll use the data and software we’re now developing to publish our first maps. We already see clear political support and interest in using our products: The Tanzanian government has commissioned a task force on ecosystem services, based in part on the technical advice Neil has provided them for years. The Natural Capital Project is simply the most exciting initiative I’ve been involved with at WWF. Combining powerful research with strong and immediate application, we aim to break new intellectual ground and achieve big conservation results. It is experimental, with all the uncertainties that go along with any experiment. But we have the right partners, wonderful support from our leaders, and a powerful idea: making conservation economically attractive. ■ Dr. Taylor Ricketts is cofounder of the Natural Capital Project and director of WWF’s Conservation Science program. His team drives innovations in conservation through research and application of ecology, hydrology, social science, computer mapping and satellite imaging. ■ Over 60 percent of Tanzania’s electricity is generated by water from the Udzungwa rain forest. The payment-for-ecosystems-services approach we are testing today could mean continued protection for the forest and power for the people. worldwildlife.org 27 http://worldwildlife.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Wildlife Fund - Annual Report 2007

WWF - Annual Report 2007 Contents The Landscapes of People's Lives The President’s Report Africa, Land of the Soul Building Prosperity from Africa’s Natural Wealth A Namibian Odyssey Natural Capital: Putting a Price on Nature Investing in Fish and Fishermen Wildlife in the Balance Africans on the Move WWF Results Across the Globe A Different Kind of Fieldwork A River Dammed Pooling Efforts in the World’s Aquarium More Than Just the Daily Catch All Along the Equator A Partnership for Freshwater Funding and Financial Overview Statement of Activities Ways to Give Staff National Council Board of Directors

World Wildlife Fund - Annual Report 2007

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