Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 342 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Making Gum in the Mayan Rainforest

Martha Pskowski

January 11, 2018 |

Sierra Club |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Tres Garantías, Quintana Roo

Despite the Yucatan Peninsula being known as a hotspot for deforestation, the Tres Garantías cooperative has found a way to source sap from the forest's trees that doesn’t permanently damage the tree. The sap is used to create organic gum – the only of its kind – and is then shipped out around the world. This practice is not only sustainable for the rainforest, but it also sustains the livelihoods of the indigenous communities that are doing the work.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Turtle Liberation in El Salvador

Jimmy Tobias

December 22, 2017 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: El Salvador, Isla Montecristo

In a setting constantly threatened by natural disaster, El Salvador communities are showing that small grassroots movements can have a big impact on the health of the environment. On this particular occasion, as part of the nonprofit known as the Mangrove Association, sea turtles are directly benefiting from a reforestation and protection effort executed by the local communities.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Reclaiming Appalachia: A Push to Bring Back Native Forests to Coal Country

Elizabeth McGowan

December 14, 2017 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, West Virginia

Tearing down trees to save a forest? While that may not sound like a solution, it could in fact be the key to restoring the former forest that inhabited the Appalachian region in the Eastern United States. “Ripping so deep might seem extreme, but it’s the only way to give these native trees a chance,” says Chris Barton, co-founder of non-profit Green Forests Works and a professor specializing in forest hydrology and watershed management, by means of explaining the ongoing effort he and other researchers, scientists and non-profits are making to reclaim native forests in this region.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Ancestral Pueblo logging practices could save New Mexico pinelands

Maya L. Kapoor

December 11, 2017 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Santa Fe, New Mexico

As wildfires become increasingly more prevalent and powerful, researchers in New Mexico are turning their attention to mitigation successes from ancestral generations. By implementing some of these methods such as selective logging, the hope is that intentional thinning of forests will lead to similar results.

Read More
Go to Original Story
As hundreds of golf courses close, nature gets a chance to make a comeback

Travis Wood

November 08, 2017 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

More golf courses are closing than are opening, allowing the rare opportunity to have open space in an urban environment. Restorations are becoming popular to allow wildlife and humans to make use of the natural space through the encouragement of different animals and plants to inhabit the same area as well as the development of parks and bike paths to foster human use.

Read More
Go to Original Story
China's Crazy Plan to Keep Sand From Swallowing the World

Vince Beiser

October 01, 2017 |

Mother Jones |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Mongolia, Duolun

Overfarming, over-grazing, climate change and population growth are all to blame for turning Duolun County in China's Inner Mongolia region into a bigger desert than it was to begin with. With 87 percent of the area turned into desert, sandstorms began to be the norm and would often engulf the neighboring region of Beijing. The Duolun project attempts to stop this by embarking on a tree-planting mission. Not without it's limitations and criticisms, this solution is by no means perfect, but it's somewhat of a start that has seen Duolun reportedly increase to 31 percent forested land.

Read More
Go to Original Story
In Africa's Oldest Park, Seeking Solutions to a Destructive Charcoal Trade

Amy Yee

September 14, 2017 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Central African Republic

The deforestation of Virunga National Park has lead to erosion, landslides and loss of wildlife habitat. The trees are often used for charcoal which is seen as an essential commodity in the region. To save the forest, and the wildlife that require it to thrive, both local and international groups are testing out alternative methods to get the people the charcoal they need while saving what is left of Africa's oldest park.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Science of Fighting Wildfires Gets a Satellite Boost

Megan Molteni

September 11, 2017 |

Wired |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada

Climate change is only worsening the frequency and ferocity of forest fires. Projects such as researching what makes trees more susceptible to fires, and having satellites send images of fires as they happen, in order to help forest services react most effectively, are new ideas being researched and implemented.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Pueblo of Santa Ana Works To Restore Habitat & Bring Back Wildlife

Laura Paskus

September 07, 2017 |

KNME-PBS |

Broadcast TV Programs |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico

The local tribe in the Pueblo of Santa Ana in New Mexico has been working on restoring their land for some time in order to maintain the health of the ecosystem and their culture. They've since expanded through collaboration efforts with state and local government that have helped reintroduce species and further restore the area.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Humans are damaging the fragile Galapagos ecosystem. Maybe coffee can help save it.

Deepa Fernandes

August 23, 2017 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Ecuador, Galápagos

Scalesia, is a species of tree native to the Galapagos Islands that is quickly disappearing thanks to human activity. With much of the island's wildlife dependent on this tree, the ecosystem is threatened with the tree's extinction. Conservationists have taken action, however, by planting thousands of the trees as part of a shade-grown coffee operation.

Read More
Go to Original Story