Projects in Africa

Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Landscape Assessment (BELA) Initiative, Global

The BELA initiative integrated natural capital and ecosystem service approaches into the World Bank’s operations – from inception to planning to implementation. The BELA work in 11 countries influenced nearly a billion dollars in development finance.

Livestock & Wildlife Management, Kenya

Assessing the benefits and trade-offs of integrated systems for livestock performance, wildlife health, tick-borne disease risk, and related impacts to livelihoods through livestock and tourism income.

Optimizing Forest & Landscape Restoration

Identified reforestation areas based on ecosystem services and their benefits to people.

Valuing Water Investments, Upper Tana Watershed, Kenya

Developing a business case and return-on-investment analysis for investing in watershed services, securing clean water and hydropower for the city of Nairobi while improving local farmers' livelihoods.

Forest Landscape Restoration Tool, Uganda

Developed a tool to prioritize investments in forest landscape restoration (ROOT).

Ecosystem Service Mapping for Oil Exploration, Rwanda

Using ecosystem service maps as baseline data for Strategic Environmental Assessment for proposed oil exploration within the Virunga World Heritage Site.

Designing Payments for Ecosystem Services, Upper Tana Watershed, Kenya

Improving methods for targeting and optimizing water fund investments, while accounting for uncertainties and trade-offs.

Dams and disease: accounting for schistosomiasis risk in infrastructure planning and management

We are working with the De Leo lab at Stanford University to develop an easy-to-use tool for quantifying and mapping schistosomiasis risk associated with dam construction and reservoir management.

Country Development Plan, Mozambique

Helped to create a spatial plan for the Primeras et Segundas marine reserve, as well as to integrate natural capital in its national planning system and national accounts.

Agriculture & Ecosystem Services, Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund, Kenya

Developing an approach for optimizing land use planning by accounting for trade-offs among food production and other ecosystem services