December 8, 2014
How can we manage ecosystem services for development outcomes? The case of the Cañete River Basin
Marcela Quintero
International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Sarah Jones
Earlier this month, the CGIAR research program on Water, Land and Ecosystems published an Ecosystem Service and Resilience (ESR) Framework presenting an approach for using ecosystem service and resilience concepts to create multi-functional landscapes that sustain production, livelihoods, and human well-being. What does this mean for communities living in rural landscapes? The ...
Read the Whole Story
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. […] ...
Read the Whole Story
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 […] ...
Read the Whole Story
November 26, 2014
Analog Forestry: Creating Productive Landscapes by Imitating Forest Structure
Adam Kabir Dickinson
International Analog Forestry Network
As we look toward the 2014 Global Landscapes Forum, one of the key challenges we are faced with is to find a way for agricultural landscapes to contribute to ecosystem integrity and safeguard biodiversity. If one were asked to come up with a defining question or challenge for contemporary landscape restoration, it might go something […] ...
Read the Whole Story
November 25, 2014
Making Large Land Initiatives in Africa Work: Policy Reforms that Support Ecosystem-Based Approaches
Robert Mgendi
UN Environment
Richard Munang
This post is part of an online discussion on large-scale land interventions that runs through December 14th. Can these initiatives fulfill their promises? Comment below or send a max 800 word response to a.waldorf@cgiar.org. Nearly 240 million people, or 1 in every 4 persons, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) lack adequate food. Record food ...
Read the Whole Story
November 19, 2014
Innovation in Family Farming for Food Security and Poverty Alleviation
Sarah Lowder
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Terri Raney
Jakob Skoet
In recognition of the International Year of Family Farming, the recently published 2014 edition of FAO’s annual flagship publication The State of Food and Agriculture focuses on how to promote innovation among family farms to achieve sustainable food security and poverty alleviation. Family farms are key to ensuring long-term global food security. Defining & estimating s ...
Read the Whole Story
November 11, 2014
New Curriculum: Monitoring & Evaluation for Sustainable Land Management
EcoAgriculture Partners, along with Cornell University, the Environmental Resources Management Center for Sustainable Development and TerrAfrica, has recently released a new curriculum for a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) course for sustainable land management practitioners. This curriculum, entitled A Landscape Perspective on Monitoring & Evaluation for Sustainable L ...
Read the Whole Story
November 10, 2014
Climate-Smart Agricultural Landscapes: A Closer Look at Shinyanga, Tanzania
Sarina Katz
EcoAgriculture Partners
The United Nations’ 2014 Climate Summit engaged nations and leaders from government, finance, business and civil society in meaningful discussions around the imminent threat of climate change and possibilities for mitigating and adapting to its devastating effects. Because it is estimated that farmers will need to feed 9 billion people by 2050, food security and agricultur ...
Read the Whole Story
November 5, 2014
Sustainable Food and Agriculture Expert Urges Us to Stop Treating Soil Like Dirt
Editor’s note: Since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, humans have been inching further and further away from their connection to the farm and, more importantly, the soil. Increased yield, pest-resistant crops, and bigger machines have ignited concerns surrounding the protection of the land we cultivate. John Buchanan of Conservation International addresses the thr ...
Read the Whole Story
October 31, 2014
Lessons Learned from the National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation
Eva Fillion
EcoAgriculture Partners
The Landscapes for People, Food and Nature initiative tends to focus primarily on projects taking place in developing countries, but it is important to remember that creating a healthy and resilient food system requires challenging efforts and innovation in the global North as well. Last week’s National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation was the perfect […] ...
Read the Whole Story
