Whales and ecotourism in Panama

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes is working with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute to assess the physiological impacts that whale watching may be having on humpback whales and the socio-economic impacts of the industry on the local community in Panama.

Arizona State University researchers working on this Center for Biodiversity Outcomes sponsored project collaborate with Conservation International to advance research on the contribution of natural capital to global conservation development objectives and ways to mainstream these contributions in policy and practice.

In summer 2017, a group from ASU traveled to South Africa to launch the development of a visualization and data technology project to prevent poaching in game reserves. In addition to visiting project co-partner the University of Johannesburg, they traveled to Kruger National Park and adjacent private reserves.

The Natural Capital Protocol for the Oceans will be a framework to help businesses answer questions such as: How does your business depend upon ocean resources? How is this ocean natural capital changing and what risks and opportunities does this present? Which resources, information or expertise do you need?

Business impacts and depends on biodiversity, either directly through its operations or indirectly through supply chains. Measuring and valuing these impacts and dependencies can help to understand and uncover some potentially unseen business risks and opportunities. The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes is leading a project to develop a biodiversity supplement for the Natural Capital Protocol.

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes has participated in a number of workshops aimed at improving the development and use of monitoring indicators for businesses interested in biodiversity.

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes partnered with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, or IPBES, an independent intergovernmental body established in 2012 by the United Nations’ over 130 member States. Its goal is to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services, for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.

Arizona State University faculty and student researchers and citizen scientists took part in a study investigating the health implications of eating fish from stock ponds around the Phoenix metropolitan area. According to the research, fish from these sources contained contaminants such as pesticides, arsenic, aluminum, mercury and other chemicals exceeding levels recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes is developing a decision-making tool to enable the Electric Power Research Institute to estimate the range of potential operational, reputational, legal and regulatory risks associated with compliance with the U. S. Endangered Species Act.

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes and Earth Genome have developed a decision-support tool called the Green Infrastructure Support Tool. GIST has been designed to assist corporate decision-making about sustainable water use.