In his typically lively and thought provoking manner, George Monbiot  of the Guardian, stepped into the fray with his analysis of ecosystem services on Monday. Monbiot says 'The argument in favour of this approach is coherent and plausible. Business currently treats the natural world as if it is worth nothing. Pricing nature and incorporating that price into the cost of goods and services creates an economic incentive for its protection. It certainly appeals to both busines and the self-hating state. The Ecosystems Markets Task Force speaks of ''substantial potential growth in nature-related markets- in the order of billions of pounds globally'.

But he says 'it doesn't end there. Once a resource has been commodified, speculators and traders step in'.

Read the latest bulletin of the Restore Partnership for Ecological River Restoration in Europe. This is the July 2012 edtion.

TRAP - Territories of Rivers Action Plans

From 15 August - 9 September 2012 the exhibition of brilliant artworks created by secondary school pupils from London and other cities around the world within the framework of Rivers of the World 2012 programme will be shown at the gallery@oxo on the South Bank. Rivers of the World is the Mayor's Thames Festival's flagship global art and education project which every year links over 2,000 young people around the world who study their, or their partner city's river as inspiration for producing fantastic artworks for public display.

For more info check the the project page