TEEB: protecting nature is profitable

This video is being released to coincide with the publishing of the G8’s Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) final report on 13 November 2009 in Brussels. Commissioned by EU Environment Ministers in 2007, the TEEB report will demonstrate the concrete benefits of ecological awareness in the political, economic and social fields. This new awareness of the need to protect ecosystems and the services they provide will serve the long-term economic and ecological interests of society as a whole.

For the world as a whole, the loss of natural areas over the period 2000 to 2050 is projected to be 7.5 million square kilometres, i.e. the size of Australia. These natural ecosystems are expected to undergo human-dominated land-use change in the next few decades.

(Quote from the TEEB Report)

Biodiversity and ecosystems are currently so badly threatened that the damage they face can rapidly become irreversible. The consequences of this devastation are dramatic not only environmentally, but also economically. For nature supplies the main resources that are essential for man, and it does this for free. And when the economic value of these services is measured, it becomes clear that investing in the protection of ecosystems, and notably in protected areas, can prove to be very profitable, even in the short term

To illustrate the issue we have chosen one of the most basic services that nature offers humans: the provision of drinking water. Whilst making this report we visited New York and Paris to see how these huge cities manage to supply their citizens with drinking water, and the economic impact of the solutions they choose.

We also met the main author of a new report that is dedicated to the economic impact of losing ecosystems and biodiversity: Pavan Sukhdev. He argues that the global economy should finally start to take into account the environmental impact of all production processes.

- New York City water supply system saves billions with

  protected areas

New York is one of the most densely populated cities on the planet. The nine million residents of the city and its surrounding areas receive most of their drinking water supply from the rural Catskill and Delaware reservoirs. This water is pure thanks to the ecosystems surrounding the lakes, which function as an immense natural purification system. The preservation of these ecosystems, for a total investment of 1.5 billion dollars over 10 years, has made it possible to save the 6 to 8 billion dollars that would have been required for an “industrial” solution: the construction of a specialised water treatment plant.

- “Eau de Paris” (Parisian water supply company) tries to establish protected areas to lower cost of producing drinking water

Paris’s water supply is currently provided by a mixed system. Half of the water supplying Paris is purified in treatment works, whilst the other half comes from natural underground sources. These are found within a radius of 100 – 150km of Paris, to the South East and West of the capital.

In this area surface water and subterranean water often come into contact with each other. This makes the underground sources of water vulnerable to any pollution that is produced on the surface. However, many of the basins feeding these resources are in predominantly agricultural areas. To enable these water sources to remain more profitable and environmentally respectful “Eau de Paris”, the Parisian water supply company, has been working for several years with the farmers of the region to limit the pollution that is associated with their activities.

Locations

Manhattan, New York, USA

We speak to Kathryn Garcia, Assistant Commissioner at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP has full responsibility for the whole water supply process.

Pepacton Reservoir, Delaware County, New York, USA

We meet Tara Collins, Communications Director at the Watershed Agricultural Council.

DeLancey, New York, USA

Tom Hutson, farmer and descendant of 7 generations of farmers. He was one of the first farmers of the region who was ready to adopt agricultural practices that respect the environment. He explains to us the impact that the new practices are having.

Paris and the surrounding area, France

Claude Vignaud, director of SENS Centre (one of the main underground water sources for Paris) explains the natural water filtration process.

Christophe Parisot, with a butterfly net in his hand, shows us one of the protected areas that was recently created to improve the soil quality in the region, and hence also the quality of the water filtration that the soil provides. In this area we also meet several endangered species.

Anne Prûvot, an engineer from “Eau de Paris” Parisian water supply company, explains to us the economic and ecological interests for producing water naturally.

Hubert Van Steenkiste, farmer, explains to us why he is hesitant about switching to organic farming methods.

André Lefevre compares the profitability of organic farming with conventional farming methods.

The video includes interviews with (Language spoken in brackets):

• Pavan Sukhdev, TEEB Study Leader (ENGLISH)

• Kathryn Garcia, Assistant Commissioner NYC Department of Environmental Protection (ENGLISH)

• Tara Collins, Communications Director, Watershed Agricultural Council (ENGLISH)

• Tom Hutson, Farmer in the Catskills (ENGLISH)

• Claude Vignaud, Manager, “Eau de Paris”, Sens (ENGLISH)

• Christophe Parisot, Director ANVL, Association of Naturalists of the Loing Valley and Fontainebleau Range. (FRENCH)

• Anne Pruvôt, Engineer, “Eau de Paris” (FRENCH)

• Hubert Van Steenkiste, Farmer, Arces, France (FRENCH)

• André Lefevre, Director, Sedarb (FRENCH)