Podcast appearances and mentions of mike korchinsky

In this episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, we dive into the dynamic intersection of conservation, climate finance, and community-driven solutions with Mike Korchinsky, the founder and president of Wildlife Works. Our conversation explores how market-based mechanisms such as carbon credits and REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) are revolutionizing the way we approach wildlife conservation, forest protection, and sustainable development.Understanding the Role of Carbon Credits in ConservationOver the last few years, there has been a growing global interest in financing climate solutions through mechanisms like biodiversity credits and carbon credits. These financial instruments incentivize forest communities and landowners to preserve ecosystems by providing an economic value to keeping forests intact. Wildlife Works is at the forefront of this movement, pioneering economic models that directly benefit local communities while safeguarding biodiversity.But how do carbon credits work?Mike breaks down the fundamental principles of carbon credits, explaining how they are measured, issued, and traded in the voluntary carbon market. He highlights that one of Wildlife Works' major successes is its ability to convert conservation into a sustainable livelihood for communities that would otherwise be forced to engage in activities like logging or slash-and-burn agriculture.Wildlife Works: A Market-Based Conservation ModelMike takes us through his personal journey into conservation, tracing his early fascination with wildlife, particularly elephants, and how his first visit to Africa in the mid-1990s exposed him to the pressing conflict between human development and wildlife protection. Recognizing that traditional conservation models were insufficient, he founded Wildlife Works in 1998 with the belief that economic incentives could be a game-changer in protecting endangered ecosystems.One of the most remarkable aspects of Wildlife Works' approach is its focus on empowering communities. Unlike conventional conservation projects that might impose restrictions on local populations, Wildlife Works ensures that indigenous and rural communities are active participants in shaping conservation solutions that also serve their long-term social and economic interests.The REDD+ Framework and Its ImpactThe REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) framework, developed by the United Nations, is a key mechanism in global conservation efforts. REDD+ projects aim to reduce carbon emissions by offering financial incentives to governments, communities, and private sector actors who take action to preserve forests.Wildlife Works has been a pioneering force in REDD+ implementation, with projects spanning Africa, South America, and Asia. Their Kenyan project, launched in 2011, was the first of its kind to be issued carbon credits under the VERRA standard. From there, Wildlife Works expanded into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Colombia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, and more—focusing on regions with high biodiversity and intense deforestation pressures.But what does a REDD+ project look like on the ground?According to Mike, a successful REDD+ project integrates:* Community consultation and governance, ensuring that local people benefit from conservation efforts.* Biodiversity monitoring, safeguarding endangered species.* Sustainable livelihoods, such as eco-businesses, agroforestry, and handicrafts that reduce dependence on forest destruction.* Infrastructure development, including schools, healthcare facilities, and renewable energy projects.Addressing Criticism of Carbon CreditsDespite their potential, carbon credits and REDD+ projects have faced criticism. Some argue that carbon markets allow corporations to "greenwash" their emissions rather than actively reducing them. Others worry about the transparency and legitimacy of carbon credit verification.Mike acknowledges these concerns and explains how Wildlife Works ensures high-integrity projects by:* Adhering to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles, ensuring that indigenous communities voluntarily agree to projects.* Implementing safeguards to prevent "leakage", where deforestation might simply shift to another location.* Prioritizing permanence, making sure that conservation gains last for decades, not just a few years.* Working with independent third-party verifiers to validate carbon reductions.He also highlights that while bad actors have existed in the carbon market, the majority of REDD+ projects—especially those focused on nature-based solutions—are genuine, impactful, and community-driven.Wildlife Works' Global ImpactWith over two decades of experience, Wildlife Works has expanded its footprint across multiple continents, targeting some of the world's most at-risk forests. Their projects are currently active in:* Kenya: The birthplace of Wildlife Works' conservation model, protecting vital wildlife corridors.* Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Home to the second-largest tropical rainforest on Earth.* Colombia: Partnering with indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities to conserve Amazonian and coastal forests.* Indonesia & Cambodia: Addressing deforestation from palm oil plantations and illegal logging.* Brazil: Protecting the Amazon, which remains the largest and most endangered rainforest globally.* Solomon Islands: Providing sustainable alternatives to illegal timber logging.Each of these projects is tailored to the local socio-economic and ecological context, ensuring that conservation solutions are equitable and effective.The Role of Eco-Businesses in ConservationBeyond carbon credits, Wildlife Works also supports eco-business ventures that offer alternative livelihoods to local communities. This includes:* Handicrafts and sustainable fashion, where traditional artisans can sell their products to global markets.* Agroforestry and regenerative farming, ensuring that agricultural practices do not harm the surrounding ecosystems.* Renewable energy initiatives, reducing reliance on deforestation-driven fuel sources.These initiatives ensure that conservation efforts are not just about preserving trees but also about empowering people to create self-sustaining economies.Challenges and the Future of Conservation FinanceMike reflects on the major challenges faced in the conservation sector:* Instability in the carbon market, with fluctuating prices affecting long-term project planning.* Misinformation and skepticism about carbon credits, often fueled by ideological opposition to market-driven solutions.* The need for greater corporate engagement, as voluntary carbon markets remain underutilized by businesses.* Competing conservation agendas, where NGOs and activists sometimes work against each other rather than collaborating for the greater good.Despite these challenges, the urgency of deforestation and biodiversity loss means that market-based solutions must scale rapidly. Mike emphasizes that the next decade is critical in turning the tide against environmental destruction.How Individuals Can Support Wildlife WorksFor listeners wondering how they can make an impact, Mike suggests:* Purchasing carbon credits from Wildlife Works, offsetting personal emissions while supporting conservation.* Buying eco-friendly products from Wildlife Works-affiliated businesses.* Spreading awareness about the benefits of nature-based solutions and REDD+ projects.* Advocating for stronger corporate commitments to conservation finance.As we wrap up the episode, it's clear that carbon credits and conservation finance are more than just buzzwords—they are essential tools in the fight to protect our planet's most precious ecosystems.For more information, visit Wildlife Works' website and explore their various conservation and eco-business initiatives. Let's take action to support climate-positive solutions and ensure a sustainable future for forests, wildlife, and communities worldwide.Subscribe to The Think Wildlife Podcast for more insightful discussions on conservation, sustainability, and environmental innovation. See you next Monday!Meet the HostAnish Banerjee: https://x.com/anishwildlifeThink Wildlife Foundation: https://thinkwildlifefoundation.com/Meet the GuestsMike Korchinsky: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-korchinsky-4b1242Wildlife Works: https://www.wildlifeworks.com/Recommended Wildlife Conservation BooksWildlife Conservation in India by HS Pabla: https://amzn.to/3Ypx9ZhIndian Mammals: A Field Guide by Vivek Menon: https://amzn.to/4fhMiCLAt the Feet of Living Things by Aparajita Datta: https://amzn.to/3BZmtsN Get full access to The Think Wildlife Podcast at anishbanerjee.substack.com/subscribe

This week: Mike Korchinsky, founder and CEO of Wildlife Works, talks about how to use market mechanisms to develop effective forest conservation projects utilising climate finance and the voluntary carbon market. He argues why successful projects should community centred as well as biodiversity-driven and ecosystem based. And, Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar gives an update on the Future of Food event, coming up from the 10th-12th May. Plus: insurance pay-outs for crop loss in the US impacted by climate change; global resource use hit all-time high in 2021, says Circle Economy; UK animal welfare legislation in doubt; and, Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index highlights human rights and forced labour hotspots, in the news digest.   Host: Ian Welsh

Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) is an international, investor-focused not-for-profit, the only organisation working solely on mobilising the $100 trillion bond market for climate change solutions. A new podcast with Sean Kidney, CEO and co-founder of the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to Investing in Regenerative Agriculture. Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and exclusive benefits here: https://gumroad.com/investinginregenag Other ways to support my work: - Share the podcast - Give a 5-star rating - Or buy me a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture --------------------------------------------- I had the great pleasure to interview Sean Kidney, chief executive and co-founder of the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI). Climate Bonds Initiative https://climatebonds.net Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) https://www.ipcc.ch/ Interview with Mike Korchinsky https://soundcloud.com/investinginregenerativeagriculture/interview-with-mike-korchinsky Main Take aways: - We can't afford a niche market here. We have to be able to engage the mainstream portfolio managers around the world. So these bonds walk and talk like an ordinary bond similar yield similar coupon. - In Europe agriculture is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, for example working with the agricultural sector is a vital thing now. - we have to look at the Economic Development of the society around the natural capital assets and how do we make those richer and have a different economic path than destruction of capital assets. - Preservation of the national capital is critically important as well as the increase in sequestration of soils and the regrowth of forests and changing of practices to reduce emissions at farm level. - We need to work on our global ecosystems to make them more resilient by improving their biodiversity and their ability to be able to respond to extreme climatic shocks or weather shocks. - The lending to the green sector will be materially cheaper than lending to non green sectors --------------------------------------------- If you want to discover more visit www.investinginregenerativeagriculture.com If you want to receive an email when I upload a new episode, subscribe here eepurl.com/cxU33P The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.

10 min Summary of the interview with Harrie, Arnout and Koen of Land Life Company You can find the FULL interview here: https://soundcloud.com/investinginregenerativeagriculture/episode-49-interview-harrie-arnout-koen You can find the TEXT Summary (6min) here: http://investinginregenerativeagriculture.com/2019/04/30/summary-harrie-arnout-koen/ -------------------------------- Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and exclusive benefits here: https://gumroad.com/investinginregenag Other ways to support my work: - Share the podcast - Give a 5-star rating on your podcasts app - Or buy me a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture I interviewed Harrie Lovenstein, Arnout Asjes and Koen Kramer of Land Life Company. An ecosystem restoration company working to reforest hundreds of thousands of hectares. We discussed the technologies they are developing to drawdown as much co2 as possible! And their changing business model, from selling a tree planting tech to offering end to end reforestation services. Key points of the interview: - Koen: trees are really fascinating organisms standing on a single place for centuries and having to cope with anything that goes by. - Koen: It is really necessary to use trees to use forests to sequester carbon to to protect biodiversity to protect areas and soils and to hand them over in a better state to the next generation. - Koen: I mean the science and the government are not going to do this. That is a too lengthy too inefficient kind of process. - Arnout: we really went from a product oriented company to an end to end reforestation company - Arnout: now our clients pay us for either for per hectare or per ton CO2 sequestered - Arnout: we are engaging in a process called data driven planting where we want to plant as much trees as possible in a planting season we want to do it at the lowest cost possible and at the lowest impact to nature. - Arnout: these areas are very much of interest to us because there is a lot of erosion going on and nature is not coming back unaided. - Koen: Scale is really important because you have to really build in a forest. So tens and hundreds of hectares are good at the end of the day you really need to restorate landscapes catchments. - Koen (where trees don’t have value) the value of the tree is the value of the match - Arnout: Spain is actually the first European country that really has to deal with desertification - Harrie: you can eat CO2 credits - Arnout: each tree we have a G.P.S. lock so lat long which is unique for a tree. - Harrie followed up after the podcast, in Spain 10M hectares roughly the size of Portugal or Iceland, is degraded - Koen: diversity it is a kind of risk management approach - Arnout: I don't think the public can imagine what the impact is - Arnout: I think this (restoration) is becoming an industry Land Life Company www.landlifecompany.com Technology developed by Land Life company: landlifecompany.com/technology/ Their project with Lease Plan: https://landlifecompany.com/case/turning-carbon-into-forests-with-leaseplan/ We covered REDD+ with Mike Korchinsky https://soundcloud.com/investinginregenerativeagriculture/interview-with-mike-korchinsky Holm Oak en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_ilex Project Drawdown www.drawdown.org/solutions/land-use/afforestation Deforestation Haiti vs Dominican republic https://blog.kulikulifoods.com/2015/11/05/deforestation-in-haiti/ Why cities plant trees https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/why-we-need-trees-our-cities/1100050/ If you want to receive an email when I upload a new episode, subscribe here eepurl.com/cxU33P The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.

A deep dive into the tech and business models to plant billions of trees on degraded land. Welcome to Investing in Regenerative Agriculture. Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and exclusive benefits here: https://gumroad.com/investinginregenag Other ways to support my work: - Share the podcast - Give a 5-star rating (if you podcast app allows it) - Or buy me a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture I interviewed Harrie Lovenstein, Arnout Asjes and Koen Kramer of Land Life Company. An ecosystem restoration company working to reforest hundreds of thousands of hectares. Technologies they are developing to drawdown as much co2 as possible! And their changing business model, from selling a tree planting tech to offering end to end reforestation services. Interview with CEO Jurriaan Ruys (1st episode) https://soundcloud.com/investinginregenerativeagriculture/interview-with-jurriaan-ruys Key points of the interview: - Harrie: you see trees which are spenders you have trees which has savers and those are same traits you see in human people when they are facing risk environmental risks. - Koen: trees are really fascinating organisms standing on a single place for centuries and having to cope with anything that goes by. - Koen: It is really necessary to use trees to use forests to sequester carbon to to protect biodiversity to protect areas and soils and to hand them over in a better state to the next generation. - Koen: I mean the science and the government are not going to do this. That is a too lengthy too inefficient kind of process. - Arnout: we really went from a product oriented company to an end to end reforestation company - Arnout: now our clients pay us for either for per hectare or per ton CO2 sequestered - Arnout: we are engaging in a process called data driven planting where we want to plant as much trees as possible in a planting season we want to do it at the lowest cost possible and at the lowest impact to nature. - Arnout: these areas are very much of interest to us because there is a lot of erosion going on and nature is not coming back unaided. - Koen: Scale is really important because you have to really build in a forest. So tens and hundreds of hectares are good at the end of the day you really need to restorate landscapes catchments. - Koen (where trees don’t have value) the value of the tree is the value of the match - Arnout: Spain is actually the first European country that really has to deal with desertification - Harrie: you can eat CO2 credits - Arnout: each tree we have a G.P.S. lock so lat long which is unique for a tree. - Harrie followed up after the podcast, in Spain 10M hectares roughly the size of Portugal or Iceland, is degraded - Koen: diversity it is a kind of risk management approach - Arnout: I don't think the public can imagine what the impact is - Arnout: I think this (restoration) is becoming an industry Land Life Company https://landlifecompany.com Technology developed by Land Life company: https://landlifecompany.com/technology/ Their project with Lease Plan: https://landlifecompany.com/case/turning-carbon-into-forests-with-leaseplan/ We covered REDD+ with Mike Korchinsky https://soundcloud.com/investinginregenerativeagriculture/interview-with-mike-korchinsky Holm Oak https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_ilex Project Drawdown https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/land-use/afforestation Deforestation Haiti vs Dominican republic https://blog.kulikulifoods.com/2015/11/05/deforestation-in-haiti/ Why cities plant trees https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/why-we-need-trees-our-cities/1100050/ If you want to receive an email when I upload a new episode, subscribe here eepurl.com/cxU33P The above references an opinion and is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.

I've produced 19 episodes of Bionic Planet since the election of Donald Trump, mostly focused on the work of people trying to fix the climate mess -- and in today's episode I look back on some of the ones that seemed to resonate most with listeners. Today's guests include: Mike Korchinsky, who runs the private conservation group Wildlife Works Former UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer Anthony Hobley of the Carbon Tracker Initiative Christian Christian de Valle of Althelia Ecosphere Toby Gardner of the Stockholm Environment Institute Michael Mathres of Zaluvida Bertrand Piccard of Solar Impulse Andrew Mitchell of the Global Canopy Programme Noelle-Claire LeCann and Richard Fronapfel of AlphaSource Advisors Genevieve Bennett and Brian Schaap of Forest Trends Marco Albani of Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 Charlotte Streck of Climate Focus Mark Buckley of Staples Danna Smith of the Dogwood Alliance Ally Bahroudi of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility

Founder of Wildlife works on investing in community based forestry and agriculture projects in Kenya and Congo. ---------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food. Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and exclusive benefits here: https://gumroad.com/investinginregenag Other ways to support my work: - Share the podcast - Give a 5-star rating - Or buy me a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture ----------------------------------------------------------- A few months ago I interviewed Mike Korchinsky, founder and CEO of WildlifeWorks www.wildlifeworks.com, active in Kenya and Congo working with local communities to protect their forests. Find the full interview here> https://soundcloud.com/investinginregenerativeagriculture/interview-with-mike-korchinsky We had the time (55 min) to discuss many things, from how Mike got into the space, what co2 credits mean for his company etc. Only during the last 15 minutes we discussed the role of Impact Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Forestry. Listening to it again I felt that these 15 minutes offer a lot of great insights as a standalone interview, so with permission of Mike, I'm sharing them here. Enjoy! Koen Feedback, comments? Please share via: www.twitter.com/koenvanseijen If you want to receive an email when a new episode is online, subscribe here eepurl.com/cxU33P The above references an opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.

Ecosystem restoration together with local communities in Kenya and Congo ---------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food. Join our Gumroad community, discover the tiers and exclusive benefits here: https://gumroad.com/investinginregenag Other ways to support my work: - Share the podcast - Give a 5-star rating - Or buy me a coffee… or a meal! www.Ko-fi.com/regenerativeagriculture ----------------------------------------------------------- This time I had the pleasure to interview Mike Korchinsky, founder and CEO of WildlifeWorks www.wildlifeworks.com, active in Kenya and Congo working with local communities to protect their forests. It all started with elephants and initially producing t-shirts locally to support community development. Now they are mostly active in the market of co2 credits and large scale ecosystem restoration. Still with a very strong focus on Community Development. I asked about Mike's ideas and tips for the impact investing community and how to get involved in this often very difficult work and luckily he shared them with me. Enjoy! The last 15 min we discussed Impact Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and I decided to share this as a separate podcast, you can find it here: https://soundcloud.com/investinginregenerativeagriculture/short-interview-mike-korchinsky-on-impact-investing Feedback, comments? Please share via: www.twitter.com/koenvanseijen If you want to receive an email when a new episode is online, subscribe here eepurl.com/cxU33P

“I wish more companies would come out of the closet, so to speak, and talk about what they’re doing,” said Sissel Waage, director of biodiversity and ecosystem services at Business for Social Responsibility. Climate change is happening and carbon-emitting businesses need to hold themselves accountable, she said. Some companies are getting on board by investing in forests and their communities. "It's the least expensive way for us to reduce emissions today," said Mike Korchinsky, project developer for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation), and founder and CEO of Wildlife Works. Microsoft made a pledge to be carbon neutral in July 2012 and "the organization got behind it very quickly," said TJ DiCaprio, senior director of environmental sustainability at Microsoft Corporation. "We're driving efficiency." This discussion looks at how some business leaders are overcoming risks to take a stand for the trees. Mike Korchinsky, Project Developer, REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation); Founder and CEO, Wildlife Works TJ DiCaprio, Senior Director, Environmental Sustainability, Microsoft Corporation Sissel Waage, Director of Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services, Business for Social Responsibility This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California on December 4, 2013