December 11, 2014
What is the Socio-Cultural and Economic Value of Mediterranean Mountain Agriculture?
Alberto Bernues
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Traditional agricultural activities have suffered a notorious recession in recent decades in many Euro-Mediterranean regions. This recession originated in changes in the type and intensity of land utilization, such as intensification of the management system, reduction of grazing and abandonment of remote rangeland areas. Consequently, a general process of vegetation encroachme ...
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December 10, 2014
We Cannot Learn from Habitat Restoration without Funding Monitoring
Sacha Jellinek
Center of Excellence for Environmental Decisions
Large-scale land interventions such as habitat restoration and revegetation of previously cleared landscapes are becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. In many cases these initiatives seek to protect and where possible increase biodiversity while maintaining agricultural productivity. There are many positives to these projects, such as engaging landholders in habit ...
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December 3, 2014
Agriculture Can’t Fulfil its Commitment to Nutrition Without Much More Broadly Based Innovation
Michael Loevinsohn
Institute of Development Studies
One might be forgiven for thinking that agriculture—the ultimate source of our food—is at the centre of nutrition. Certainly, that’s how many who make their living in agriculture, understand it. That adequate, quality food underpins health, which makes it possible to produce or purchase adequate, quality food is as clear as the day is long. […] ...
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December 1, 2014
Transforming Lands, Transforming Lives: Hope for Millions Living on the Edge of Mighty Rivers in Bangladesh
AZM Nazmul Islam Chowdhury
Practical Action Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, the mighty rivers of the Ganges and Brahmaputra are both vital and threatening to nearby inhabitants. Monsoon rains cause the rivers to swell, often flooding villages and fields. However, during the other months, drought leaves crops, livestock and communities praying for water. Land is scarce, population density is high and poverty and food […] ...
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October 27, 2014
5 Not-so-tidy Steps to Feed the World
Eva Fillion
EcoAgriculture Partners
A roadmap for feeding the world On October 22nd National Geographic and the FAO co-hosted the 2014 World Food Day discussion Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth. The event, which took place at the National Geographic Headquarters in Washington, DC, brought together global leaders from the food and agriculture sectors to discuss the state […] ...
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October 24, 2014
Yarsagumba Over-Harvesting and the Resource Curse in Nepal
Anju Air
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The tragedy of the (fungal) commons Commons are always being overexploited to maximize individual benefit, which also leads to local extinctions of species in some areas. The yarsagumba (or “summer plant, winter insect” Ophiocordyceps sinensis), an endemic species to the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau, faces this very fate. This unusual and much sought after species starts ...
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October 20, 2014
Systematic Planning for Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture
Priyanie Amerasinghe
International Water Management Institute
Priyanka Nanayakkara
Across villages and cities in India (and around the globe), water plays an undeniably vital role in human survival and resilience. In today’s world, wastewater could possibly be playing an even bigger role, particularly in agriculture development, although this is not well documented due to its informal nature. Urban return flow, or wastewater, constitutes 70-80% […] ...
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October 10, 2014
The Fall and Rise Again of Plantations in Tropical Asia: What it Means for Agricultural Landscapes
Derek Byerlee, Visiting Scholar, Stanford University
Investment in large farms goes against historical trends In 2008, I co-directed the World Development Report on Agriculture for Development, which strongly argued for a development strategy based on small and medium sized family farms—smallholders for short. Since then, I have been following the surge in investor interest in large farms and plantations. Although much [&hellip ...
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October 6, 2014
The True Tradeoff: Continually Rising Human Populations or Healthy Biodiversity and Ecosystems
J. Hal Michael Jr.
Sustainable Fisheries Foundation
Tension between human population growth and natural resources is not sustainable Sustainability in the long term requires explicitly dealing with the conflict between a growing human population and natural resources. I have encountered this throughout my 34-year career in cold water fish research, natural resource management, ecosystem assessment, habitat restoration, and aquac ...
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October 1, 2014
Practical Approaches to Integrating Community Based Adaptation in Local Planning in Northern Ghana
Nikolaj Boutrup Møller, ALP Ghana/CARE Denmark
Integrating community based adaptation activities into local- and district-level plans is considered one of the most effective ways to support vulnerable communities in adapting to the impacts of climate change. However, practical approaches for integration that reflect the realities and priorities of the communities on the ground have always been a challenge. Fighting food in ...
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