The RNC Alliance - restoring natural capital

Last updated July 2010 - see "What's New" below.

What is the restoration of natural capital (RNC)?

The restoration of natural capital (RNC) is any activity that invests in the replenishment of natural capital and thereby improves the flows of ecosystem (natural) goods and services, while enhancing the wellbeing of people. RNC activities restore natural ecosystems and rehabilitate arable land or other production systems in an ecologically sound manner. These activities are intended to enhance the physical, socio-economic, psychological, and cultural aspects of people's quality of life. RNC initiatives include programs to raise awareness of the value of natural capital in people’s daily lives.

What is the RNC Alliance?
The RNC Alliance is an international network of individuals and not-for-profit, non-governmental organisations that offer locally appropriate solutions to resolve environmental and economic development problems simultaneously in under developed countries and industrial countries alike.

Research, demonstration, education and outreach are the basic activities of the Alliance.

2010 - What's new?

New book -
“Restoring Disturbed Landscapes – Putting Principles into Practice”

David Tongway and long time associate Dr John Ludwig, both from Australia, have written this book which is a culmination of many years of research into landscape function. This book is especially for universities and practitioners of ecological restoration. It is being published by Island Press and can be ordered now with expected shipment late 2010 - see Promotional Items to the right. For additional information see Partners/Projects - RNC Pacific.

Master’s degree program

Student papers from the international master’s degree program, “Biodiversity in Tropical Areas and its Conservation"
(www.masterenbiodiversidad.org) have been added in Spanish - see RNC Students 2010.

New Co-ordinators and project assistance for RNC South America

We welcome two new RNC Co-ordinators for the RNC Alliance in South America. Prof. Nikolay Aguirre Mendoza of the National University of Loja, Ecuador, has accepted the position of Regional Co-ordinator. Dr. Pedro H.S. Brancalion of Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Brazil, has accepted the position as RNC Co-ordinator Brazil. New information and articles from these 2 centres are on and will be appearing on this website so keep watching.

We also welcome Jesús Muñoz, who represents the Royal Botanic Garden in Madrid, and the National Research Network (CSIC) of Spain, will be assisting in the Latin American projects as well as running projects in Spain.

We are pleased to announce that the French version of Clewell and Aronson's book "Ecological Restoration" will be available from May 19th 2010. To read the announcement by the French publisher Actes Sud select French and "La restauration écologique" under Promotional Items. This book will be available at the upcoming SER 2010 conference to be held in Avignon, France in August 2010.

From Africa - we have a moving perspective of the FIFA World Cup and a challenge to change to an economically liberated country.

See new articles under Latin America in English looking into aspects of subsistence farming and forest restoration.

See latest article under Pacific:

Greening Australia is undertaking innovative landscape level projects including Whole of Paddock Rehabilitation and regional River Recovery.

See latest article under Madagascar:

Survival and growth of seedlings of 19 native tree and shrub species planted in degraded forest as part of a forest restoration project in Madagascar’s highlands.

See latest article under Africa:
CAP Thicket Restoration -
A unique RNC REDD+ opportunity awaits to be explored and implemented in South Africa's sub-tropical thicket with significant job opportunities and both economic and environmental benefits.

See latest article under New Publications and Books
The Economics of Ecosystems of Biodiversity (TEEB) for Policy Makers Report - especially Chapter 9 - Investing in ecological infrastructure.

2009 - What's new?

A new book (see under books to the right):
"Cork Oak Woodlands on the Edge
Ecology, Adaptive Management, and Restoration"

See latest articles under Africa and Articles in English:

"Restoring natural capital to improve human wellbeing"

"Evolution of a Payments for Ecosystem Services mechanism that addresses both poverty and ecosystem service delivery in South Africa."

"Getting serious about maintaining biodiversity."

"Restoring South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountain Ecosystems and providing Water Catchment Services."

"Investing in water: Evidence from a Water Neutral program in South Africa."

Also the dossier n°7 of the Comité Scientifique Française sur la Désertification on RNC in arid and semi arid regions is now available in French on the Web site of CSFD at the following address :

www.csf-desertification.org/dossier/dossier2_7.php

RNC books now available.
Click on the Promotional Items to the right to read abstracts for our books available from the not-for-profit environmental publisher Island Press (and the latest also from Amazon). Also see the SER Restoration Reader which provides a summary of restoration books published by Island Press in co-operation with the Society of Ecological Restoration.

Show your support for the RNC Alliance by becoming a member.
Simply register by selecting "Register" to the right and complete your contact details and your interests. We will endeavour to keep you informed within your areas of interest of RNC Alliance activities. Also you can use the "add to list" feature to track the articles of most interest to you.

James Aronson receives SER International Award
James was presented with a Communications Award by SER International, at their August 2007 conference. Read more.

For website information or problems joining please contact Bev Debrincat at:
info@iewf.org or info@rncalliance.org