News

“What the world needs (…) is an agricultural system that the consequence of management is to increase biodiversity, not diminish it” – David Marsh, Australian cattle farmer. This month’s video shows us how Marsh and other farmers have adopted regenerative agriculture as a way to restore the land and improve their own lives. Agriculture is a crucial aspect of human existence and this shift is an urgent one. The video and recommended book are strong reminders that we can work to restore many things at once.

What happens if a financial company creates a mobile app where users can get points for behaving in a “good eco-conscious” way and, with enough points, can trade them for a virtual tree which is also linked to a real tree (paid by that financial company)? Is it social conditioning or a contribution for a better world? Maybe both.

Do we need to wait for more, better technology to start acting and make a difference regarding climate change? Not at all.
Project Drawdown gives us a long list of measures that can be implemented today, ranked by their potential impact and economic costs and savings.
Let’s get going, shall we?

It’s in the news everywhere! 900 million ha of forest landscape are available for restoration – today – and can be a major tool to reduce excess CO₂ in the air. But where does this number come from and why does it matter? Listen to the scientists behind the research, in a not “typically boring” science video.

Climate change is one of the leading global issues and reducing global CO₂ levels in the atmosphere is a key concern. With this level of attention and concern, many people have been trying to implement technical solutions. Our video of the month gives an interesting overview of the technical, social and financial aspects that can make – or break – such solutions.

So you want to be a sustainable small-scale coffee farmer in Peru? Where do you start? This video by the Rainforest Alliance, a certification NGO, gives a close-up portrait of such a farmer. Despite the music and promotional tone, it shows nicely the many aspects of an integrated approach where coffee production is only a part of securing a livelihood.

Going from planting coca to growing cocoa. This short video from the PUR Projet shows how a cooperative of small farmers in Peru adopted best-in-class agroforestry principles to make a more permanent transition from coca to cocoa, achieving higher yields and income while safeguarding local resources and biodiversity.

The success of land and forest restoration efforts often depends on its adoption at grassroots level. The work of Toni Rinaudo and Yacouba Sawadogo, awarded the 2018 Right Livelihood Award, gives two inspiring examples of tremendous impact and adoption by local communities.