1. RNC* thinking: missing tool for achieving zero net land degradation (* Restoring Natural Capital ) James Aronson Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) CEFE/CNRS, France, Missouri Bot. Garden, USA Convention on Biological Diversity COP11 – October 15, 2012 Land Degradation Day at the Rio Conventions Pavilion

2. Blignaut et al. 2007: Ecol. Restoration 26:143-150.

3. ER = “the process of assisting the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged or destroyed.” (www.ser.org/Primer, 2004) Mission statement of SER: …to promote ER as a means of sustaining the diversity of life on Earth & reestablishing an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture.

4. Nature conservation & ecological restoration vs. Economic development? A false dichotomy.

5. Restoring Natural Capital (RNC) includes: a) Restoration & rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems, b)Ecological improvements to production systems,

6. RNC also includes: c) Ecol. improvements in extractive & chemical industries, energy, water, transport sectors, etc. & d) Increasing awareness of value of nat. cap. in daily activities, programs and policy.

7. (Renewable) Natural Capital = natural, near-natural & cultivated ecosystems (& indigenous biodiversity)

8. Ecosystem goods and services (EGS) represent the “dividends” (= fluxs ) that flow from “stocks” of Natural Capital (= savings accounts; inheritance, heritage, etc.). Imagine a waterfall, or cascade……

9. Institutions & human Judgments determining (the use of) services Ecosystems & Biodiversity Services Management & restoration for sustained use (Flood control, Crop polli- nation, etc. Feedback between value perception and use of eco- system services Functions (e.g. slow water passage, biomass) (e.g. vegetation cover or Net Primary Productivity Biophysical Structure & processes - - (contribution to health, safety, etc.) Benefits Human wellbeing (sociocultural context) Total economic Value Source: de Groot et al. 2010. TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity): Ecological and Economic Foundations. Pp. 9-40. TEEB « Cascade » Figure

10. Investing in Natural Capital and Economic Development: South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains J.N.Blignaut, J. Aronson, M. Mander & C. Marais 2008. Ecological Restoration 26:143-143-150.

12. Water footprint of Drakensberg Water Catchment. Blignaut et al. 2008. Ecological Restoration 26:143-143-150.

14. Ukhombe case (Northern Drakensberg, South Africa) Net return of one hectare, in Euros (€) €20 €10 €7.5 Return from cattle under conditions of over grazing €5.6 Return from cattle under sustainable management €7.8 Winter water €11.3 Sediment €17 Carbon €24 Tourism (Blignaut et al. 2008, 2009.)

15. TAKE HOME MESSAGES: Restoration and rehabilitation are: a biodiversity conservation tool & an indispensable element of a sustainable local economic development strategy. Natural capital is like other forms of capital from which we receive benefits (EGS) that we value because they contribute to human wellbeing.

16. Restoration and rehabilitation are conduits for Rio 3Cs synergy, helping society transition towards a sustainable and desirable future. You can’t restore natural capital without restoring social capital. Way to go? Top-down and bottom-up combined. TAKE HOME MESSAGES, continued:

17. Blignaut et al. 2007: Ecol. Restoration 26:143-150.