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 263 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon-style app aims to save Indonesia's forests

Michael Taylor

February 10, 2020 |

The Jakarta Post |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Indonesia

A Pokemon Go-style app encourages residents in Indonesia to help map land to fight deforestation. The technology offers visitors of umapped areas surveys that they complete, which fills in the data, and motivates users with gamified statuses from “volunteer” to “warrior.” Now over 600 students across the country have participated in this application, and several international environmental organizations have supported its use.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Is Plastic Getting Into Hawaii's Soil?

Claire Caulfield

February 10, 2020 |

Honolulu Civil Beat |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Hawaii

Hawaiian farmers are increasingly concerned about the amount of plastic they’re finding in their compost, which can have long-term effects on their crop growth. Hawaii Earth Recycling, the island’s largest compost provider, turns more than 140,000 tons of yard clippings and food scraps into compost and mulch that farmers can use for plants and crops. However, changes in where people can drop off their green waste and a lack of education among residents about proper plastic waste management have resulted in microplastics ending up in the organic soil.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Return of indigenous crops helps reduce farm distress and restore ecosystems

Basudev Mahapatra

February 10, 2020 |

Mongabay |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Odisha

By returning to indigenous varieties of crops, farmers can increase ecological diversity and reliance to climate change. In India, hundreds of farmers in the state of Odisha have been returning to indigenous crops, like millet, vegetables, and tubers. In contrast to the high yield varieties of seeds provided by the government, heritage crops prove more resilient to changes in climate, water shortages, and local pests. Using heritage crops also reduces the need for pesticides, helping to restore ecological balance in the region.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How to restore a rainforest with a nursery, science and some bat poop

Rishika Pardikar

February 05, 2020 |

ThePrint |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Tamil Nadu

The Nature Conservation Foundation is working to restore patches of rainforests in India that were degraded due to the expansion of plantations in the region. As the climate crisis continues, rainforests can play a key role in offsetting carbon dioxide emissions. By partnering with plantation companies, conservationists have been able to collect seeds from diverse rainforest tree species to grow in a nursery before planting the saplings in the degraded patches of land. However, the organization cautions against using restoration "as a crutch."

Read More
Go to Original Story
The divers rescuing a drowning island

Kamala Thiagarajan

February 02, 2020 |

BBC |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Vaan Island

Vaan Island, off the coast of Indian in the Gulf of Mannar, is rapidly sinking. But scientists are working to prevent that erosion by replanting seagrass, which is an important plant in a marine ecosystem. Despite fishermen pulling up the seagrass with their nets, so far, nine acres of seagrass have been rehabilitated in the area.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Making a home for fish in the desert takes a little help – and a lot of PVC

Dylan Simard

January 31, 2020 |

Planet Forward |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Rio Verde, Arizona

Volunteers in Arizona are building plastic cube structures to create a fish habitat in some of the state’s lakes. Since many of the lakes are in the desert, the shoreline is often not very hospitable for fish. These “fish cities,” made out of PVC pipe, plastic tubes, and glue, create an ecosystem in the lake. The Arizona Game & Fish Department dropped 500 cubes in Bartlett Lake and received positive feedback from anglers. They would like to implement the cubes in other lakes, but the project has been suspended because of limited funds.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Young farmers apply ancient agroforestry practices in the heart of Sardinia

Monica Pelliccia

January 29, 2020 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Italy, Desulo, Sardinia

Sardinia's vast forests are seeing the comeback of an ancient farming practice known as silvopasture which has potential as a climate solution. The ancient technique combines trees with forage plants and livestock and even results in uniquely flavored cheese. The technique has also kept people from leaving the countryside in search of jobs, allowing the next generation to carry on the family business while simultaneously combatting climate change.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Battle to Protect Forests Unfolds in Central Africa

Jack Losh

January 28, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Central African Republic, Moloukou

In Central African Republic, the first community forest was created with the hope of reversing the area’s deforestation and empowering the Indigenous communities living in the forests. By placing the community forest inside a logging zone, local inhabitants can explore alternatives to timber production that are more eco-friendly. While the future of the country’s community forest depends on government negotiations, the model can provide a road map for other Indigenous communities throughout the region.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Mending Coastal Marshes

Kerry Rose Graning

January 20, 2020 |

Hakai Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisiana

Martin Ecosystems uses recycled plastic bottles to manufacture artificial islands and shorelines, allowing native vegetation to grow and preventing land erosion, which has restored Louisiana’s wetlands and barrier islands. Plastic mats are layered, injected with Coast Guard approved foam for buoyancy, and planted with native vegetation. Once anchored in rows of up to 20 or more, they act as breakwaters reducing wave height by up to 80% and minimizing erosion. The mats also provide cover for nesting birds and a complex ecosystem for aquatic life. They have withstood years of hurricanes and tropical storms.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Saving Florida's Oranges Starts With Soil

Monica Humphries

December 31, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Sarasota, Florida

Healthy soil promotes plant growth and sequesters carbon from the atmosphere. To help the declining citrus industry in Florida, Locus Agricultural Solutions developed a combination of microbes to promote plant growth. The microbial additive, Rhizolizer, while originally intended to combat citrus greening, also provides benefits in terms of carbon absorption.

Read More
Go to Original Story