Changing lives and landscapes
Many sustainable agricultural practices can complement land regeneration techniques such as FMNR. This was the conclusion by experts at a parallel discussion session that was held during the Beating Famine conference. I had the pleasure of attending a group whose theme was carbon sequestration, water and energy for land regeneration. Chairing the discussion was Stephen [...]
When the pioneer of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), Tony Rinaudo held a workshop in Kijabe, Kenya, the invited participants from the Beating Famine conference were baffled by the simplicity of what they heard and saw. During the FMNR tour, the message was clear and simple.
By Mieke Bourne and Yvonne Otieno Environmental degradation can only be reversed by addressing direct and indirect drivers of change. The said drivers of change include public participation in decision-making, cultural factors and technological change. Collectively these factors influence the level of production and consumption of ecosystem services and sustainability of the production base. This [...]
The most common type of “social protection” that farmers have access to either provides relief from deprivation through cash transfers or through weather indexed insurance.
One of the biggest challenges scientists face is defining terminology. The buzzword and terminology being discussed at the Planet under Pressure(PuP) conference taking place in London at the moment is “green economy”. Based on some of the sessions I have attended, I have put together a list of possible definitions as to what “green economy” could mean [...]
Today Tuesday 27 March 2012, the CGIAR has taken a bold step towards addressing the global issue of food security. It has launched a 10-year research program on water, land and ecosystems. The project, led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), will seek to radically transform the way land, water and natural systems are [...]
The key to poverty alleviation and food security is integrated land management says Kwesi Atta-Krah from Bioversity International. Kwesi and around 150 other experts have gathered in Kenya for the first international conference of Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative taking place at the World Agroforestry Centre 6-9 March 2012. The conference has been [...]
Climate Change will have an impact on every person in the world. It is well documented that it will impact smallholder farmers the most because of the effect on their crops. On the other hand, the effects of climatic change on trees within landscapes are often not considered. However, a recently released book by World [...]
Agriculture has not been getting a fair hearing at major climate talks. So it is refreshing to see that a Policy Forum article has been released in the 20 January edition of the Science Magazine. The article, “What next for agriculture after Durban?,” explores the obstacles and outcomes for agriculture at COP-17 and outlines strategies [...]
Post written by Godfrey Mwaloma, Pro-Poor Rewards for Environmental Services in Africa, ICRAF Payments or rewards for environmental services is a concept bringing together the rural poor, governments, the private sector and international organizations. How does it work? Think of forests and wetlands as providers of services. They provide clean water that is used downstream [...]
