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China puts the eco back in economy | Jonathan Watts

Published on May 25, 2010 by Editor   ·   No Comments

 

As biodiversity declines, China recalculates the value of its forests and other natural resources

Amid all the doom and gloom during the past week about the global loss of biodiversity, there have been a couple of potentially positive steps forward by the usual villain of the piece: China.

For the first time, the government in Beijing has put a hefty value on its forest ecosystems and began drafting new regulations that would oblige rich urban coastal regions to pay compensation fees to unspoiled inland areas that provide carbon sequestration and other environmental services.

These steps suggest China is moving in tandem with United Nation recommendations that environmental costs should be factored into the global economy.

A degree of scepticism is warranted. China has some of the world's most enlightened environmental laws and policies, but all too often they are ignored by local officials and businessmen who won't let anything get in the way of making a fast yuan.

But a marriage of the environment and the economy might provide a new set of financial incentives for maintaining eco-systems that would otherwise be seen merely as obstacles to development.

Serious money is involved. The State Forestry Administration estimated last week that forest ecosystems contribute 10 trillion yuan, or about a third of China's gross domestic product.

This figure – which takes into account carbon sequestration, water conservation, biodiversity protection and biomass production – suggests the administration is seeking not just a new set of values, but a new role for itself now that the nation's forests are logged out and 2,000 species reportedly threatened with extinction.

More intriguing still are reports that the government is drafting an ecological compensation scheme, which would expand and strengthen existing measures such as payment for wildlife reserves, environmental levies imposed on mines, compensation from upstream river polluters to downstream users and economic redistribution schemes that aim to close the income gap between manufacturing hubs on the east coast and rural hinterland.

Depending on how it is written and enforced, this could be either a boon or a menace to the environment. Set the value of conservation high and establish an effective mechanism for compensation transfers and this policy could help to correct the market's failure to protect the commons and recognise the long-term value of biodiversity.

On the other hand, if the price of nature is set too low and regulation is too weak – both currently the case – then this policy could accelerate the unsustainable extraction of resources.
The ministry of environmental protection – arguably the most idealistic but weakest branch of the government – has a tough task ahead in calculating regional ecological accounts.

But, at the very least, such an eco-accounting ought to stimulate a new way of thinking about environmental values.

China surges to No 1 U.S. farm export market: Vilsack

By Charles Abbott and Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China bought more than $10 billion of U.S. farm exports in the first six months of the fiscal year to become the country's No. 1 buyer, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Thursday.

During an interview with Reuters, Vilsack said U.S. farm exports during the first half of fiscal 2010 totaled $59 billion, "the best six months ag trade has had." With the strong start, the Agriculture Department probably will raise its forecast of sales for the year, he added.

The forecast now is $100 billion for total U.S. agriculture exports for the fiscal year ending on September 30, up from the recession-hit $98 billion tallied in 2009 and second to the record $115 billion in 2008. USDA will update its export forecast on May 27.

"One of the factors is that China is our top market in the first six months, well over $10 billion," said Vilsack. A USDA official said the exact figure was $10.6 billion.

China is the world's largest importer of cotton and soybeans. It roiled grain markets with a purchase of 369,000 tonnes of U.S. corn on May 13, its largest purchase since 2001, creating hopes of steady, large sales to Beijing.

On Thursday, an official of state-owned COFCO Co Ltd said it bought an additional two cargoes of U.S. corn, boosting Chinese purchases since April to about 600,000 tonnes.

Vilsack declined to comment on the likely size of U.S. corn sales to China.

In February, USDA said China would be the No. 3 export customer this year, displacing Japan and trailing Canada and Mexico. Undersecretary Jim Miller said China could become the overall top U.S. customer "in just a few years."

At present, USDA estimates sales of $11.7 billion to China during fiscal 2010.

U.S. farm exports are rising due to economic recovery around the world, said Vilsack. "Our hope is that it will continue," he added.

Exports of cotton and oilseeds such as soybeans have been "very strong," he said, and livestock sales are "up a bit. The only downside is grains."

Happy Birthday Annie

Another WLI Birthday celebration. Happy Birthday to Annie, seen here being treated like a princess in the royal carriage on top of the city wall in China.

Pest Control Supports Putnam

The pest control industry in Florida showed its support for Adam Putnam at a recent meeting in Orlando. The Florida Pest Management Association, the Florida Fumigation Advisory Council, and several industry leaders were present to meet and greet with our next Commissioner. The fundraising went very well within our industry. I am hoping to work with Adam's crew in the future for an event in or around Pinellas county.

Maybe someone could post something sometime on this blog?