Imagine a world where we saw nature for what its worth where we would recognize the life around us for more than just its beauty because almost half of the worlds economy 44 trillion depends on Natural Services like pollinating, capturing carbon, and purifying water. These are all valuable to our economy, but they arent valued in our economy. Nature like this is being left out of the equation. Its easy to tell when a living thing is valuable. Like with this tree. Its actually huge. Its old and gorgeous and sits in one of berlins most beloved parks. But its hard to translate that into a price. How much do you think that this tree should be worth . Worth . No idea. No price . Not enough information to value it . It shouldnt cost anything, its a tree several ks. Several ks. Definitely several ks. A lot . I think there is no worth. Like, in a good way. Most people have no idea how valuable a living tree is. And why should they . Nature usually doesnt have a price until its dead. This is often a huge problem. Why we should put a price tag on nature lets say that a logging Company Wants to come in and cut down these trees for timber. We know super well how much money these trees cost once theyre cut. So we have 200 oak trees worth of timber on one side, and basically a huge question mark on the other. We dont know the cost of chopping down a forest, or how much value weve lost. Thats because there is so much at play. Forests are unbelievably complex ecosystems. One way to estimate a trees value is to add up what good it does for the environment. This website from the us does that. We need to put in the diameter of the trunk, where its located, and what kind of tree it isexcept i dont know what kind of tree it is. The value is calculated based on how much Carbon Dioxide the tree captures common oak tree how much storm water runoff it stops. Tree conditionid say it looks pretty excellent. As well as how many pollutants, like ozone and carbon monoxide, it removes from the air. We gotta measurei feel super weird doing this. Its estimatingstill estimating. This tree, this year, is worth 109. Over the next 20 years its worth 2,270. It doesnt seem like that much for such a beautiful tree. The values are really conservative though, because theyre based on things like Carbon Pricing, Wastewater Treatment pricing, and improved human health outcomes. So 200 logged trees, would mean 454,000 dollars in Ecosystem Services lost over the next 20 years. A lot of the trees value isnt included in that calculation, so it isnt perfect. But it does put nature into the equation. And it applies far beyond logging. Green economists like ralph chami think pricing nature is absolutely necessary in the fight against climate change. Its not enough to sing songs about the whales and hold hands and sing kumbaya and write one more poem about whales. He led a team at the International Monetary fund who were the first to put a price tag on a blue whale. Whales are dying. And if you spoke to a whale, she would say, hey ralph, stop crying about me. Leave me alone. Go in peace, man. And by the way, you owe me money because im saving your butt. The imf team valued a blue whale at 2 million dollars, based on its activities in the ocean that capture carbon. Whales poop at the surface, and whale poop contains exactly what phytoplankton need to grow. Phytoplankton in turn produce at least half of the worlds oxygen. No whales, no phytoplankton, no oxygen. One way to repay the whales and the other nature is using their price tag to know the benefit of conserving them. This is already happening, in the form of carbon credits that individuals or companies can buy to protect an area. Heres how it often goes lets say an island wants to profit from protecting its seagrass. Someone like ralph chami goes there, and calculates a value for the seagrass, similarly to how i calculated a value for that tree. Based on that value, a government or company sets up a carbon scheme, through which those looking to offset their emissions can pay to conserve the seagrass. And valuations are starting to include more aspects than just carbon. In the future we could also see credits based on how much biodiversity the seagrass supports. Putting a price tag on nature can also help underserved communities. Its estimated that indigenous communities manage nearly 1 billion hectares of land globally, and nearly 80 of the worlds biodiversity. That Living Nature and intact biodiversity are worth money thats ignored in the global economy. The people who conserve them are working for free. One way to change that is through payment for Ecosystem Services. We are living in some of the most poverty stricken areas and we shouldnt, you know, we shouldnt romanticize it, that we should be left alone to live that way because thats also not fair. Minnie degawan is kankanaeyigorot, a people indigenous to the philippines. She is working on ways to make Carbon Markets more equitable. Many communities are struggling, and they need an alternative source of income. Instead of paying a Carbon Offset to a company or government, payments are made to local communities preserving their local ecosystems. So hold on this all sounds pretty good. But theres one huge thing we havent talked about. The idea of putting a monetary value on a tree is justweird . Do you think we should put a price tag on nature . No no, absolutely not. Its sad that we have to. Thats the problem. Theres an ethical dilemma for communities to say that we will get monetary benefits from standing forests when we have always looked at the forest as a living ecosystem. How do you put a value, for instance, on the fact that these forests are the resting grounds of our ancestors . That definitely wouldnt make it into a price tag. In fact, most of the price tag is based on the price of carbon. So all the benefits from valuing nature basically rely on global Carbon Markets. This website takes Scientific Data and multiplies it by the price of carbon to determine the value. The websites from the us, where the price of carbon is cheaper. If the website were from the eu, this tree would actually be more expensive. This is one massive hole in Carbon Pricing it can be different everywhere and changes over time. Carbon markets also make it easy for companies to continue business as usual. Selling carbon can also reinforce inequalities. In order to put a price on a protected area, remember that someone like ralph chami usually comes in to do the valuation. This can be a problem. Landowners are incentivized to plant nonnative plant species, instead of indigenous species, because it creates a new type of landscape that could bank carbon faster. June rubis researches Nature Conservation from an indigenous perspective. Critics have used terms like carbon colonialism to describe this new wave of capture and closure of nature by capital. Indigenous and local communities can end up being told how to manage their own land. And often, benefits go to governments or the companies, with just a small percentage reaching the actual communities themselves. One thing thats never going to go away is the discomfort and wrongness of putting a monetary value on something a majestic as this tree. Or a blue whale. For now, many Decision Makers only speak in the language of money, not majesticness. Until that changes, valuing nature could make it more visible to them. So should we put a price on nature . In many places, we already have. But just how depends on the circumstance. When we know the value of Living Nature, its easier to protect it. And if it is destroyed, fines are way easier to calculate. When it comes to carbon credits, or paying people for taking care of ecosystems, we need to carefully examine who is doing the valuation, and where the money ends up. Because in the end, were still relying on Market Mechanisms which are exactly what got us into this mess in the first place. What do users on our social media platforms have to say . Well, a lot of people feel closely connected to nature and forests even if theres not much primeval forest left in europe, at least. Finland recently hosted the tree hugging world championships. Participants got to show their love for trees with some public displays of affection and the winner was a tree hugger from, guess what, germany our expedition gets off to a muddy start. The boats are being loaded with provisions for the next five days. Barefoot or wearing the flimsiest of footwear, the locals are still more surefooted than we are in our rubber boots. Were accompanying Christof Schenck, head of the Frankfurt Zoological Society, to one of the most remote places in the world. The Manu National park. The German Organization has been working to help protect the rainforest for decades. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Park a good time to see how its faring. The river changes color effectively signposting the way from the mighty Madre De Dios into the browner, nutrientrich waters of the manu. After five hours we reach a backwater where were greeted by these giant river otters. As a young man, biologist Christof Schenck spent three years living here and researching these rare, endangered creatures once driven to near extinction by poaching. They used to be hunted for their fur around 1000 pelts traded a year came from peru. Then they were put under protectionbut only a few populations were left in the most remote corners of the rainforests and headwaters such as here. The fact they survived here is an indicator that its a completely intact habitat. Here in these river basins, the presence of the giant otters shows that all is still well with the world. 1030 bird species, a vast variety of insects the manu landscape is considered one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Thats why the Frankfurt Zoological Society supports it. The rainforest is home to few large mammals. Even the monkeys are small the soils thin humus layer is unsuitable for agriculture. How do the people who live here get by . The indigenous ethnic groups are incredibly adapted to this system; theyre highly specialized. Theyre huntergatherers, so they fish, and they also have a vast knowledge of where they can find fruits and roots. They know whats edible and whats not. Theyre also seminomadic. After a days journey upstream, we meet the Indigenous People of the machiguenga tribe. Lila chiqueti fishes with the simplest of methods. Shes 37, and a mother of six. While her husband goes hunting, she catches fish, washes her familys clothes and cooks their meals. I wouldnt know how else to live. In the city no one gives you money to buy food. Here i can can catch fish, cultivate yucca this is our land. But locals live in poverty, and the village of tayacome is struggling. Its littered with plastic, while Still Holding on to many centuriesold traditions. Napoleon is fixing his palm thatch roof. The people here havent been seminomadic for a long time. In the 1950s, after the arrival of a missionary organization, they became mainly sedentary and their population began to grow. Today some 270 people live here. Thats too many. Christof schenck and his team are here to find out how theyre doing. The young people have no work, they complain. Its just one of their problems. Germany provides Financial Support for ambulance transport, a garden for schoolchildren and teaching materials. The peruvian state finances one meal a day for the children. Many of them show signs of malnutrition. Christof schenck doesnt like the look of the packet soup theyre eating today it doesnt have enough calcium in it. Jesus is a hunter. He imitates the cry of a spider monkey. Monkey meat is a vital source of protein for the machiguenga. But because theyre in a National Park, the two men can only hunt with a bow and arrow. Now that the Indigenous People here are sedentary, there are hardly any monkeys left in the area around the village. Theyve all been hunted. We have to inform the Frankfurt Zoological Society project when and where we kill anything. When we get home, well pass on that information. The conservationists keep a close eye on the machiguengas hunting zone. The more the population grows, the more animals are hunted and the more rainforest is cleared for agriculture. Its an environmental dilemma. Its a major challenge the magnet effect. If Living Conditions improve which is obviously a good idea and theres also an obligation to make this happen then the location becomes more attractive. And that means more people stay here, some even move here from outside. But that exacerbates the problem. Were in the heart of one of the most important biodiversity areas in the world. And more people always means a reduction in biodiversity. The inevitable outcome is all too apparent just outside the National Park. Boca colorado is a gold mining town. Signs that read buy gold line the streets. Gold prospecting is a lucrative industry. But gold mines are devouring the rainforest. 18 percent of the amazon rainforest has been cleared. Once 20 to 25 percent is lost, its ecosystem will be in jeopardy the rainforest water cycle will no longer function. If this enormous deforestation underway in the amazon continues, then we will reach this tipping point. The amazon rainforest will disappear on a large scaleand therell be a global impact. There is probably no place on earth that wont be affected. What we already know for sure is that well see desertification stretching from argentina to the american midwest. The Frankfurt Zoological Society invests some 700,000 euros a year of its own funds and German Government funds in the Manu National park. Its helped subsidize a boarding school for machiguenga children in boca manu on the southeastern edge of the park. The children look cheerful and wellfed. Education will improve their prospects and broaden their horizons including raising their awareness of the environment. If we didnt get the help from frankfurt, all wed have to eat would be carbohydrates. We wouldnt have workshops, the buildings wouldnt be properly maintained. The peruvian government doesnt give us a cent. Today tents are being pitched in the classroom. Mosquito protection and some people got to take a shower. Over spaghetti made by the expedition chef, the Group Discusses further ways to help the National Park and the people who live in it. Its early in the morning on our last day. The air is thick with humidity which will turn into rain later. The Frankfurt Zoological Society would like to see funding for the Manu National park secured for good with the help of the German Government. The world simply cannot afford to lose this unique ecosystem. Rhinos are still a popular target for poachers. In the first 6 months of this year, 231 were killed in south africa alone. And its not just rhinos elephants, buffalo, hippos and even giraffes are also hunted, because of the huge demand for rhino horn, ivory, as well as other body parts used for example in jewelry and medicines. Tracking down the killers is challenging this is an all too common sight on south africas reserves. A rhino killed by poachers is cut open to find the object that killed him. Thats often the first clue to help catch the culprits. But this work requires a lot of knowhow, and experts are in short supply. Greg simpson is taking on the poachers who are butchering local wildlife. Since most of these crimes are never prosecuted, simpson has founded an academy that helps train rangers and other First Responders to Wildlife Crime scenes in criminal forensics. We felt there was a great need and that training rangers and First Responders, or even professionals that come across a scene like when an animal is poached or theres another illegal activity. If they have some forensics skills it means that investigation is more likely to end up being prosecuted in court. At this facility, the Wildlife Forensic Academy simulates different Wildlife Crime scenes based on realworld examples, including a snared giraffe, a killed lion, and a rhino poached for his horn. Students are trained in forensic techniques in order to preserve and collect vital evidence which can be used by the authorities to move forward with court cases. Thats what weve tried to create in this academy. Multiple scenarios that really drum in what they meant to learn, so when they go back in the real world and much better at tackling Wildlife Crime. One major challenge when it comes to Wildlife Crimes is that they generally occur in remote places, which makes them very difficult to prove. South africas vast scrubland offers plentiful cover to poachers who ambush their prey. The issue with Wildlife Crime is often there arent any witnesses. There is no one else around. Maybe someone heard a gun shot, but thats all you have. If you actually can link someone to a crime through Something Like a footprint or a cellphone, a weapon or dna even, that is really powerful in court. Rangers are often the ones who first discover the carcasses of poached animals. Their initial response is critical, to reduce the risk of evidence being contaminated or destroyed by wind or rain. Those details can make or break a cases chances in court. I think it should be for hands on the ground like field rangers as well, because theyre often the ones who do come across the scenes before we do. So yes, i do think its something valuable for all rangers in south africa, and throughout the african continent as well. Students at the academy also take part in mock trials where they have to defend the evidence theyve collected. The participants in this simulated Court Proceeding include former prosecutors, judges and Law Enforcement officials. Collecting evidence is only the first step in a long legal process. In realworld cases, ensuring what theyve gathered can hold up in court is vital. Training for First Responders and others to understand their roles will definitely have an impact in fighting Wildlife Crime, in the sense that it will then lead to credible evidence which the prosecution can use in proving the elements of the offence against the perpetrators. Poaching is a billion dollar business. In asia, one kilo of rhino horn sells for tens of thousands of us dollars. The financial incentive is huge. Rhinos, elephants, rare reptiles and even certain plants all pay the price for consumer trends. The loss of life has profound impacts on the environment. These large megafauna like elephants and hippos have a really Important Role to play in an ecosystem. As plant eaters and as large animals they have a major role in shaping the environment and the habitat around them. They play a role in seed dispersal and nutrient cycling, and by removing the animals it can lead to biodiversity loss and changes and transformations of whole landscapes. Last year south africa lost 448 rhino to poaching, but there were also over 130 arrests and a number of convictions, including one that resulted in the poachers being sentenced to 60 years in prison. Despite the stringent penalties, Wildlife Crimes continue. Training in dealing with them will become increasingly important to ensure that the countrys biodiversity is protected. To meet this weeks global teen, we head to venezuela hello my name is mathias zambrano i live in caracas, venezuela my mother is working in a School Administration and my father is a lawyer. Yes, because i learn a lot and hang out with my friends in my free time i play trumpet i love Classical Music and my favorite piece is francesca da rimini by tschaikovsky. I would like to be a Symphony Orchestra conductor. Well, in this generation we have more opportunities, but in the old days there was a better quality of life. The biggest problems in the world in my opinion are drugs and violence. Anchor this is dw news. 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