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 8, 2014
Hope for Human-Altered Landscapes in Southern Bangladesh
Md. Abdullah Al Mamun, REEP Green Solutions
Flood control measures do more harm than good for local fishers Bangladesh is a watershed-based country with dynamic ecosystems—including floodplains and wetlands—that are experiencing biodiversity losses and degradation. Since the 1970s, the government of Bangladesh has encouraged the draining of wetlands and established embankments to protect farmlands and houses from dev ...
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September 3, 2014
Integrated Waterscape Management in Vietnam’s Central Highlands
Southeast Asia probably isn’t the first place you think of when it comes to coffee production, but trade liberalization has made Vietnam the world’s second largest exporter of our favorite morning pick-me-up. Along with pepper and (increasingly) cocoa, this commodity is contributing to the country’s economic development. Unfortunately, harmful agricultural practices and ...
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