The Stream, July 3: Tanzania Lures Residents From Floodplain With Free Land

The Global Rundown

A large sum of money has been set aside to keep invasive Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes ecosystem. A group of scientists have published guidelines for ecosystem service payments. The government of Tanzania is giving its citizens free land to move out of flood-prone areas.

“This is not the first time the flood waters have gotten into my house, but I think this time it was too much…I had better hear the government’s call and get out of danger.” – Flood victim in Tanzania who has accepted the government’s offer of free land if he moves his family to higher ground. (Reuters)

By The Numbers

$US 60 million – Cost of implementing the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee‘s 2015 strategy, released Tuesday. The money will be spent on monitoring the invasive fish and improving defenses at entry points to the Great Lakes. CBS Minnesota

Science, Studies, And Reports

The first ever scientific guidelines on payments for ecosystem services have been published in the journal Science. Payments for ecosystem services, or PES, is a system where those who benefit from ecosystem services (i.e. water filtration via wetlands, etc.) pay for protection of the ecosystem. Mongabay

On The Radar

After years of trying to convince poor residents to move out of flood-prone areas, the Tanzanian government has resorted to offering up free land for flood victims. Thousands have been left homeless after months of flooding in Dar es Salaam. Hundreds of families have already accepted the offer to move to higher ground. Reuters