2022 Annual Report

I am delighted to share with you the progress and achievements we have made in 2022 in our mission to quantify and value the benefits nature provides. 

In this 2022 annual report, we showcase the wide range of projects that involve providing economic expertise to support environmental strategies. Throughout the year, we have conducted groundbreaking assessments, quantifying the economic and environmental value of various ecosystems. We developed the Urban Heat Mitigation Mapping tool with support from The Kresge Foundation, as part of a platform integrating our efforts to identify and map the ability of green infrastructure—trees, shrubs, grasses, and other urban open space—to improve health outcomes while providing local employment opportunities. We used the outputs of these models to inform our work with Accelerate Resilience Los Angeles (ARLA) and efforts to promote green schoolyards in Los Angeles County. We worked with FEMA to add standardized values for green infrastructure to its benefit-cost analysis toolkit. This continued nearly a decade of collaboration to ensure that the value of nature-based solutions is included in FEMA decision making processes. FEMA is the federal government’s primary agency for implementing climate change policies, as they address the real-world impacts while promoting forward-thinking mitigation measures, including nature-based solutions. With our expertise in green infrastructure and innovative tools, such as the Urban Heat Mitigation Mapping tool, we continue to lead the way in understanding and promoting the economic and environmental significance of our natural world.  

From evaluating outdoor recreation on state lands in Washington to mapping values at risk in national forests, our work has provided invaluable insights into the importance of preserving and protecting our natural resources. We have also made significant contributions to the cultivation of cultural and environmental value, defended biodiversity, and showcased the economic benefits of sustainable solutions. For example, Earth Economics was present at Ecuador’s Imburran Provincial Court of Justice to provide an amicus brief for a lawsuit over mining concessions in the country’s Intag region, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. The continued relevance of our original 2011 report continues, as the case is headed to Ecuador’s Supreme Court, where it is likely to establish a key precedent for the fate of other cloud forests in the country. 

I am in awe of the work Earth Economics has accomplished in 2022. We may be a small organization, but our impact is mighty. Together, we will continue to pursue practical, informed, and sustainable solutions where communities, nature, and industry all thrive together. 

Thank you, our supporters, for your unwavering dedication to Earth Economics.  

Onwards and upwards, 

Maya Kocian, Executive Director 

Now more than ever, we stand by our vision of a future where communities, nature, and industry all thrive together. By continuing to educate, provide robust natural capital analysis, and identify policy solutions that work with nature, together we can shape a better future.

Thank you for your continued support.