Water is life. Knowledge is power.
In 2017, Jorge welcomed me to the headquarters of Costa Rica’s underground water agency. His supervisor had asked him to show me “the model” at work. After many years of fieldwork on water issues, I had already been introduced to many models: the mathematical model to calculate extraction rates, two different pieces of software that model aquifer flow, the regulatory model Costa Rica’s agency follows, and sponges as a preferred … [more…]
Near or far, forests — like this one at the edge of Hong Kong — affect the movement, quality and availability of water in cities. Photo by Florian Wehde/Unsplash
Water is essential to human health and well-being. In cities, leaders strive to provide secure access to clean, safe and affordable water. In rural areas, farmers hope for adequate rain and healthy rivers to produce healthy crops. The coronavirus pandemic reminds … [more…]
Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is a low-cost land restoration technique used to combat poverty and hunger amongst poor subsistence farmers by increasing food and timber production and resilience to climate extremes. Started in 1983 in Niger, FMNR is a form of coppicing and pollarding, drawing on traditional practices and sensitive to local variations.
… [more…]In FMNR systems, farmers protect and manage the growth of trees and shrubs that regenerate
Sediment is being removed from the rivers like the Mekong faster than it can be naturally replenished, increasing the risk of riverbank collapse. This photo was taken in Cái Bè, Vietnam. [Credit: Corryn Wetzel | CC BY-SA 4.0]
Good sand is surprisingly hard to find, and some of the best — the kind used … [more…]
What do you do when 6,000 acres of your favorite place disappear?! When the lake you love becomes an endless expanse of floating green ferns? Fear not: with the power of community and a few underappreciated insect superheroes, not all hope is lost!
Strap in! On this edition of Saturdays Around the World , we’re headed out for a wild ride to investigate the happenings of Caddo Lake in Texas. … [more…]