To coincide with the Natural Environment White Paper The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature (the NEWP) one-year-on event which is taking place on 17 July 2012, the Ecosystem Markets Task Force (EMTF) – a key commitment from the NEWP – has published an update on the first, evidence gathering, phase of its work. 

The Ecosystem Markets Task Force brings together ten industry leaders and experts from a wide range of sectors – from banking and biodiversity, conservation to beauty – to look at how ecosystem markets can provide opportunities for UK business to flourish and grow, while at the same time helping value and protect nature.

The philosophy behind it is that markets can, in some areas, be good for the both business and the environment, not least because we are often trying to correct market failure.

Since it started its work in November 2011, the Task Force has developed its approach and methodology, commissioned and completed a significant research report with the Valuing Nature Network, been briefed by Professor Ian Bateman on the UK National Ecosystem Assessment and its implications for business opportunities, undertaken a Call for Evidence, and completed a literature and evidence scan.

This update draws together these various outputs and sets out the next steps. 

• You can find the main update paper here
• The VNN report and annexes is found here
• The Evidence Review paper is here
• The Call for Evidence is here
• Ian Bateman’s update is here

The immediate challenge for the Task Force is to identify the key areas from the initial evidence gathering work, and to decide what are the most promising business opportunities that warrant further work.  This will be followed by an interim report this Autumn, and the Task Force will publish its final report by March 2013.

Notes

1. The Ecosystem Markets Task Force was a key commitment of the Natural Environment White Paper, which is celebrating its successes one year after publication. See http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/one-year-on/ for more details.

Contact details

Defra Ecosystem Markets Task Force Secretariat:

Email: EcosystemMarketsTaskForce@Defra.gsi.gov.uk

Tel: 0207 238 1266