Aquavita Limited’s Post

## Strengthening Thailand's Forest Protection with Innovative Fiscal Policies With 124.375 million rai of lush forests 🌳🌲🌴🌿 hanging in the balance, Thailand faces a critical decision. Within these emerald realms reside myriad species and essential ecosystems, yet they confront escalating challenges, including deforestation. To prevent further loss, Thailand's Royal Forest Department has taken significant steps to emphasize forest restoration. Through legislation and action, the government aims to reserve existing forest land for conservation while promoting tree plantations to contribute to overall forest cover. 🌳🌱🌲 Thailand's strength lies in unity. Community participation and ecotourism play essential roles in sustainable forest conservation. By engaging local communities, Thailand can create economic incentives for protecting natural environments. 🌳🌿🌲🌴 Additionally, Thailand has explored environmental commodity taxation to encourage forest conservation and land use change. Ecological fiscal transfers allocate funds to local governments based on forest preservation efforts, rewarding local communities for their conservation actions and promoting sustainable practices. 💰💸💶💷 #ThailandForestProtection #InnovativeFiscalPolicies #DeforestationChallenges #ForestRestoration #CommunityEngagement #EcotourismInitiatives #EcologicalFiscalTransfers #SustainableLandUse #PublicPrivatePartnerships #PeatlandConservation #SustainableCoffeeCultivation #EcoFishery #EduEcoTourism #FosterTreeProgram #ASEANSustainability #CombatingDeforestation #FinancialIncentives #CommunityDrivenInitiatives #ForestManagement #EmissionsReduction #SoilFertility 🌳🌿🌲🌴🌱

People ask me: how can we combine health and environment with a growing macro-economy? Well, that's called nature-based solutions nowadays. Restore nature and make it healthily productive for a local/regional economy and get extra income streams from exporting knowledge and recipes. Economy of scope. Interconnections with tourism, travel, and spreading out the pressure of mass over time and place. It's what we do with our project Peloponnese Living in Greece. And no, dear Greek officials, it's NOT about giving Dubai the license to explode fish farms everywhere along the coast and pollute the water with formaldehyde and copper. It's all about restoration and HEALTHY production. And because tourism is an important source of income for areas of natural beauty, we focus on spreading the mass pressure by redesigning the area and the economies. This article came to me via Tom De Block and Belinda Bramley. #water #fire #earth #wind #restoration #economy #finance

𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 Over the past four years, rainfall in Sicily has been below the necessary and expected levels to sustain the entire supply chain. In the past year, we have not even reached 50% of the required quota, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency for the potable water crisis until December 31, 2024. Agriculture is facing a severe crisis, and farmers have scarce water resources for their livestocks. Discussions are ongoing with AMAP (Palermo Municipal Water Company) about possible measures for water containment and rationalization. Several municipalities are no longer self-sufficient. A request for 130 million euros has been made to combat the water crisis through the restoration of existing wells and springs, the creation of new wells, the purchase and organization of water trucks for the most affected areas, and the repair of distribution networks to reduce losses. Other measures include purchasing forage for animals and securing potable water supplies, as well as the future reactivation of three desalination plants in Trapani, Gela, and Porto Empedocle. However, only 20 million euros have been allocated so far. In this tense situation, with parts of the region running dry, some foreign media outlets are publishing harsh headlines about Sicily. For example, the New York Times wrote, “𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐒𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦, 𝐓𝐨𝐨.” These articles serve as a warning to institutions and a push to do something to salvage what can be saved before investing in the improvement of water infrastructure. However, they are also causing many cancellations in hotels that assure they have enough water to keep guests unaware of the situation. Efforts are being made to save at least the tourist season in Sicily, but the sensationalism of some international headlines is impacting this sector, regardless of the actual facts. I have been working in tourism for over 20 years. I have always worked in this sector and strongly believe in the common saying that "Sicily could live on tourism alone." But then we have to face reality. A land full of contradictions, almost with a pleasure for self-inflicted wounds, where those who do not live here lightly sprinkle salt on them. #SicilyTourism #WaterCrisis #TourismImpact #SaveSicily #MediaImpact #Infrastructure #HospitalityIndustry #ClimateChange #VisitSicily

Did you know that coastal development can impact sea turtles? #SeaTurtleWeek 🏖️ Habitat loss: Building on nesting sites can cause erosion and leaves turtles with fewer places to lay their eggs. 💡 Artificial Lighting: Bright lights confuse hatchlings, leading them away from the ocean and towards danger. 🗑️ Pollution: Increased debris and chemical runoff from developed areas can threaten sea turtles' health. 🚤 Human Disturbance: More boats and beachgoers mean more risks for turtles, from boat strikes to harmful noise pollution. There is good news! Together we can mitigate the impact of coastal development by: ✅ Reducing the use of outdoor lights at night ✅ Protect nesting beaches from pollution though beach cleans ✅ Be mindful of surroundings when boating and driving ✅ Advocating for MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) 📸: Nha Trang, Vietnam | Vinh Dao

Join the Movement to Restore Indonesia’s Mangroves! 🌱 Indonesia is home to 23% of the world’s mangroves, yet over 40% have been lost. These crucial ecosystems are essential for protecting our coasts, maintaining climate balance, and supporting local livelihoods. We encourage your organization to make a lasting impact by investing in mangrove restoration. Here’s how you can help: ✅ Safeguard coastal areas ✅ Sequester up to 10x more carbon than terrestrial forests ✅ Support local fisheries, ecotourism, and entrepreneurship Every one of us has the power to make a difference. Let’s work together to inspire a ripple of positive change through mangrove restoration. 🌍 Collaborate with us to restore Indonesia’s mangroves: https://lnkd.in/gYsPjdFJ #ClimateAction #Sustainability #MangroveRestoration #CSR #PositiveImpact

🚨Protected Areas are not protected anymore in Albania! Last week, the Albanian Parliament made changes to the ‘Protected Areas Law’. It now grants the National Territory Council the power to greenlight the construction of luxury resorts within biodiversity hotspots. 😱 These changes are clearly undermining the very purpose of the law: to protect Albania's natural treasures! The government made this decision without consulting the very communities and experts who have a better understanding of the importance of the diverse ecosystems Albania boasts. What makes it worse is that a recent investigation exposed that plans to transform the entirety of Divjake-Karavasta National Park, which is famous for the rare Dalmatian Pelican that nests there, into a high-end holiday destination are already on the table. It is obvious the Albanian government does not care about preserving the country's natural heritage for the generations to come. They will allow building amenities only accessible to the privileged few it the places that belong to all citizens. 🎥 Snippet from ‘Stop the airport’, a documentary by Artan Rama. Link in the comments to watch! The documentary sheds light on the short-sighted plans of the Albanian government to construct an illegal airport in the protected area of Vjosa Narta. They started construction works in 2021 without valid construction permit. A first move that marked the end of Protected Areas in Albania. The lagoon is a safe haven for thousands of migratory birds on the Adriatic Flyway. But our local partner PPNEA continues fighting to stop the airport and keep protected areas protected! This is not over. #ProtectNature #NoAirportinVjosaNarta #ProtectedAreas

Litter and garbage must be one of the most obvious and avoidable menaces of the environment. Filth has become synonymous with the South African landscape, most conspicuously in Durban (aka Dirtbin) of late owing to municipal strikes. How much worse must it get for action to be taken against the litter and garbage that is destroying urban and peri-urban environments? Strikes can have complex causes, and must be resolved by local municipalities as a matter of urgency. However, simply throwing trash out of a car / truck window is absolutely disgusting, as is dumping rubbish on roadsides or in parks, forests, etc. These should be strictly punishable offences with immediate spot fines, as it the case in clean Asian countries, which have higher population densities. Please be a decent citizen - take your waste with you and dispose of it properly, preferably by recycling most of it ♻️ #southafrica #garbage #litter #durban #tourism #urbandecay #environment #recycling

Long tailed nightjar is one of the birds that spends a lot of time on land to rest or sleep. This bird, which is distributed in Southeast Asia and Australia, is often found in low forest areas and feeds on small insects. #gaiaindonesia #gaiekodayabuana #naturebasedsolutions #ecosystemservices #environmentalservices #climatechange #carbon

Agrigento, #Sicily: A Paradise in Peril #Agrigento, with its stunning Valley of the Temples and ancient aqueducts, is facing a severe #watercrisis due to relentless drought and outdated infrastructure. 🏛️🚰 Hotels and guesthouses are struggling to provide essential amenities, turning away tourists. 😓 Over a million people in 93 communities face water rationing, with some areas cutting consumption by up to 45%. 🌿🚱 Tourism and agriculture, crucial for Sicily's economy, are heavily impacted. 🌾 Local B&Bs like Le Cinque Novelle are implementing water-saving measures, but guests remain frustrated. The Sicilian government is seeking financial aid and solutions, but the situation remains dire. We must acknowledge and act on the climate challenges impacting beautiful destinations like Agrigento. 🌱💧 Read more about the crisis and its impact on tourism and agriculture in Sicily: https://lnkd.in/e3bcgEUf #ClimateChange #SustainableTourism #tourism #climatecrisis #drought #environment

🌍 Did you know the #sunbear is the smallest bear #species in the world? They are named for the distinctive, crescent-shaped yellow to white patch on their chest, which resembles a rising sun. 🐻 Origin and habitat: Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) are primarily found in Southeast Asia, inhabiting tropical rainforests in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar. They prefer dense, humid forests, often occupying areas near fruiting trees. 🐻 Food: As omnivores, sun bears feed on fruits, insects, honey and small vertebrates. Their long tongues, up to 25 cm long, allow them to extract honey and insects from tree trunks. 🐻 Defence mechanisms: When threatened, sun bears will use their sharp claws to climb trees and escape danger. They can also exhibit aggressive behaviour, using their strong jaws and teeth to defend themselves against predators. 🐻 Social behaviour: Primarily solitary animals, sun bear may occasionally be seen foraging together or engaging in playful interactions. They communicate through vocalisations, scent markings, and physical displays, especially during the mating season. 🐻 Ecological importance: As foragers, sun bear help with seed dispersal, helping maintain the health and diversity of their forest ecosystems. Their feeding habits contribute to pollination and the growth of various plant species, making them vital for ecological balance. The survival of sun bear is threatened due to habitat loss, poaching and illegal wildlife trade. By supporting conservation efforts and raising awareness, we can help ensure they continue to thrive in their natural habitats. Earthly works with the the Sumatra Merang Peatland Project that is bringing degraded peatlands back to life by protecting and rewetting 22,900 ha of peatland rainforest. This project has improved the biodiversity region that is home to over 10 critically endangered species and 19 vulnerable species, including the sun bear. Learn more about the project and its impact here: https://lnkd.in/dVkf5Ypu #naturebasedsolutions #biodiversity #conservation #climatechange #sustainability #conservation #climatechange #climatechange #biodiversity #investinnature #sustainablebusiness #sustainabilitystrategy #ESG #Earthly #projectEarthly