Blog for People, Food and Nature

This past April, a team of ecosystem management practitioners came together in Nairobi, Kenya. Their mission? To put the Ecosystem Management of Productive Landscapes project on the map. Demand for food, energy, and fiber is projected to increase 40-60%, a strain on industry and agriculture that will also be exacer…

In some of the most biodiverse regions of the world, people have farmed for centuries, shaping magnificent agricultural landscapes. Multifunctionality recognizes agriculture as a multi-output activity producing not only private (market) goods such as food, feed, or fibre, but also public (nonmarket, non-excludable, no…

The iroko (Milicia excelsa) is one of West Africa’s most iconic trees. It is a sacred tree in many of the areas where it occurs. In Benin, people call Him “the king of the forest” and hence address Him with respect. [caption id="attachment_9775" align="alignnone" width="804"] A traditional healer asks the king o…

You can have a great idea, but it goes nowhere without someone on the ground to put it into practice. In the case of sustainable land management that means motivated farmers. At the landscape level that means producer movements with the capacity to engage in dialogue and action to integrate agriculture, rural developm…

In an effort to combat 'silo thinking', stakeholders in Rwanda create a multifaceted approach targeting governance, research, investment and ground-level activities. The concept of Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) is gaining popularity across East Africa. Policy makers, development partners and field practitio…

Coffee is a golden bean that awakens drinkers and economies around the world. However, like all good things, its production comes at a cost much more profound, and lasting, than the depths of our pocketbooks. We all love coffee. Even if you don’t drink it, I’m sure you’re well aware of its power to make your fri…