Naturalpath

The Iwokrama Reserve in Guyana. While we have to be pleased at the fact that global markets are beginning to understand the value of the (free) services provided by the planet's ecosystems, we have to wonder about this one. This is not an April Fools' joke: first the first time ever, a private equity firm has signed a contract for "rights to the ecosystem services produced by a rainforest reserve." These services are defined by London law firm Stevenson Harwood, who drew up the deal, as "the proven ability of rainforests to generate rainfall, cool the atmosphere, store carbon, moderate weather conditions and sustain biodiversity." The deal was announced late last w...