Earth Economics

06/01/2026

It was once understood that it took a century or more for deforested areas in the tropics to be naturally restored.

New research in Ecuador has found that under the right conditions, it can happen much sooner.

Using a technique called chronosequencing, scientists assessed recovery by comparing forests of different ages. They found that most biodiversity could be restored after just three decades, though soil biomes may not fully recover.

Scientists long believed it would take more than a century for animals to return to deforested land. New research shows that’s not always the case.

05/29/2026

If you're considering applying for disaster mitigation funding through FEMA, you'll need a Benefit-Cost Analysis of your project—and we can help! We specialize in quantifying the many benefits that nature-based solutions provide and can help you prove the cost-effectiveness of projects that mitigate disasters before they happen.

It's never too early to get started on your application for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program through FEMA. BRIC is distributing $1 billion this year, and we anticipate the funding opportunity will continue next year.

Learn more about available funding and how we can help you put together a strong application.

https://ow.ly/Ay4B50Z5xCw

05/28/2026

The Ohio River Basin spans over 200K square miles across 15 states, and provides drinking water for 5M people. Last summer, with support from the Kresge Foundation, we found that ecosystems throughout the basin provide over $50B in benefits each year.

The Ohio River Basin Alliance is advocating for a $350M annual federal investment to establish an EPA office dedicated to restoring the basin. Bills in both the House and Senate have been introduced.

The Ohio River Basin is home to about 10% of the U.S. population. But unlike other major watersheds, it doesn’t have a dedicated EPA office. Proposed federal legislation could change that.

05/26/2026

South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources has developed the Aquatic Planning Tool, a web-based model of land use and climate change impacts on freshwater fish.

It allows users to adjust urban and forest extents in watersheds, and then see how they affect downstream species through the year 2100.

South Carolina’s Aquatic Planning Tool maps and models impacts on freshwater species, aiding proactive conservation and climate adaptation.

05/20/2026

Economic analysis is a powerful tool when making the case for a project or illustrating its impact. You’re able to show the benefits vs. costs—and how the local economy benefits from nature-based solutions. Good data leads to good decisions.

That’s why we put the metrics, analysis, maps, and messaging tools in the hands of people doing on-the-ground work of addressing environmental justice, climate resilience, and disaster mitigation.

Apply to be our next recipient of the Ingrid Rasch Legacy Fund. Applications close June 12! https://www.eartheconomics.org/ingrid-rasch-legacy-fund

05/18/2026

TNC and the World Health Organization have published a policy brief on relationships between nature-based solutions, biodiversity loss, climate change, and public health.

They emphasize that integrating human health concerns into NBS policies and investments can limit disease while improving health and well-being.

https://ow.ly/b4a950YYcFX

05/15/2026

The 6,000 members of the Quapaw Nation, whose territory was once the site of lead and zinc mining, have successfully remediated one of the most contaminated areas in the county, the Tar Creek Superfund site.

After decades of effort, the Tribe has removed lead and cadmium tailings from hundreds of acres of grasslands, restoring soils to support productive farming. Grounds not suitable for agriculture have been set aside for wildlife. The Quapaw are the first tribal nation to manage a Superfund cleanup.

Still, decades of work remains. The Tribe hopes to expand agriculture and buffalo grazing to achieve full food sovereignty.

The Quapaw Nation is the only US Native community to carry out a cleanup of one of the country’s worst sites of environmental contamination

05/12/2026

The South-Central Puget Sound region is famous for rain. But increasingly, it's defined by wildfire smoke and record heat.

The Climate Resilient Communities Accelerator, led by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), spent 2025 exploring solutions to these hazards. More than 90 leaders from 72 organizations (including Earth Economics) across the region came together to build a shared Regional Action Roadmap for extreme heat and wildfire smoke resilience.

Six action areas. Eleven high-priority strategies. One regional vision.

This is what collaborative climate leadership looks like.

www.c2es.org/document/puget-sound-action-roadmap

The Regional Action Roadmap for Extreme Heat and Wildfire Smoke […]

05/11/2026

Last year, Mexico’s Supreme Court established the right of “any inhabitant or user of an ecosystem” to file a legal injunction for its protection, whether or not they are harmed directly. The decision has been widely interpreted to expand environmental protections across Mexico, shifting the burden of proof to project proponents, and strengthening the precautionary principal.

The court’s finding is considered a watershed for environmental justice efforts in Mexico, reinforcing the constitutional right to a healthy environment.

On February 24, 2025, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) set a key precedent by recognizing that any inhabitant or user of an ecosystem can

05/08/2026

The Chehalis River is one of the last free-flowing rivers on the West Coast. A 2007 flood damaged 3,000 homes and submerged I-5 under 14 feet of water.

The Chehalis River Basin Flood Reduction Project is proposing a “perforated dam,” allowing water (and salmon) to flow through except during floods, when gates would be closed to divert floodwaters into a reservoir. The retained waters would then be gradually released back into the river, reducing flood impacts.

Critics argue that the dam (and its construction) would fundamentally alter habitat for salmon and other wildlife.

https://ow.ly/HX6c50YWtmA