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Will More Logging Ease Wildfires? Canada Holds Answers

Nate Hegyi

September 20, 2018 |

NPR |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Canada

As regions look for solutions to fight wildfires in the midst of climate change, some call for logging companies to take greater responsibility. While the argument is not new that less trees means less fires, it's the smaller logging companies that are taking the biggest actions focusing their efforts on removing smaller logs despite potential impact to profits.

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Lango women find wealth in shea tree

Bill Oketch

September 19, 2018 |

Daily Monitor |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Otuke

In a town in Uganda, women are taking control of their financial stability by joining together to market shea butter. Through a team effort, the women are able to make and sell lotion, bathing soap, edible oil and jelly from the shea butter they harvest from the local forest. This has allowed the women to both educate and provide housing for their families.

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Slingshots in hand, Kenyans work to replant vanishing forests

Dominic Kirui

September 10, 2018 |

Thomson Reuters Foundation |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Kisaju

To tackle deforestation in Kenya, locals scatter charcoal-coated seeds in their communities to grow forests in the country. The charcoal deters birds and insects from eating the seeds before they can germinate; once the charcoal has been weathered away, the seed can begin to grow. Community members use slingshots, hot air balloons, and other create methods to scatter the resilient seeds.

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As the West burns, a town fields its own amateur firefighters

Carl Segerstrom

September 05, 2018 |

High Country News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dufur, Oregon

In the town of Dufur, Oregon, local residents have been acting as firefighters to protect their fields and homes, using farming equipment to bury dry vegetation and tanks of water to put out the flames. While this has been the norm for years – because of the length of time it takes professional firefighters to arrive – the recent increase in wildfires is calling into question the safety of this informal fire fighting and figuring out how to work together with professionals.

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Fighting Fire with Fire: California Turns to Prescribed Burning

Jane Braxton Little

September 05, 2018 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Shaver Lake, California

In California’s wildfire-prone Sierras, forest managers are turning to an ancient, if not quite intuitive, tool: more fire. In 2019, the Forest Service will manage 250,000 acres with controlled burns and “mechanical thinning,” using equipment to take out small trees. Though such plans face some hurdles, states across the country are adopting them, reducing wildfire severity while often benefiting ecosystems.

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Why Farmers Are Ditching Industrial Methods For This Practice

Carrie Budge

September 05, 2018 |

The Huffington Post |

Video |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: Kenya

During the Industrial Revolution, farmers began harvesting monoculture crops which produced promising profits but proved harmful to the soil and weakened the immune capabilities of native plants. Lately, however, permaculture practices have been on the rise amongst farmers to better diversify their yields and reduce reliance on chemicals.

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Farmers see promise and profit for agroforestry in southern Kenya

Kagondu David Njagi

August 31, 2018 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Kerita

Climate change coupled with an increasing human population is reducing the amount of land that Kenya farmers are able to use for profitable crops. To get the most out of what's left of the arid land, many are turning to agroforestry projects and are seeing results in the form of healthier land and increased profits.

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This makeup company is using its supply chain to revitalize the rainforest

Eillie Anzilotti

August 21, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Guatemala

Much of Guatemala's lands have been degraded due to a consistently burgeoning industrial market for palm oil and cattle farming. As a company that makes makeup using a variety of plants, beauty corporation Lush has committed to investing in natural plant production by buying land that would otherwise be at threat of deforestation. The Sustainable Lush Fund then works with on-the-ground organizations and farmers to sustainably utilize the land and increase the diversity of crops all while supporting local agriculture.

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The great African regreening: millions of 'magical' new trees bring renewal

Ruth Maclean

August 16, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Niger

With climate change altering the realities of farming, small-scale farmers in Niger are doing their part to nurture the growth of local gao trees. As a tree that sheds its leaves in the rainy season and naturally fertilizes the soil due to its nitrogen intake, this specific tree is positively transforming the African landscape.

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Nature Conservancy sees an opportunity to fight climate change – using Maine's woodlands

Kevin Miller

August 12, 2018 |

Portland Press Herald |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Maine

Maine has 17 million acres of forestland making it the ideal region for implementing a carbon regulatory program. As governments in both the United States and Canada look to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the advantage of Maine's vase forestland offers an opportunity to buy into a program that will not only offset carbon footprints but also yield higher-quality lumber,

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