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In wealthy Silicon Valley, a $500 million plan to save threatened farmland

Johnny Magdaleno

August 08, 2019 |

Reuters |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Martin, California

In Santa Clara County, California, the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation program is funding an effort to prevent development and bolster agriculture on local farmland. The County, home to Silicon Valley, purchases land at market prices to protect it from development, incentivize agriculture, and prevent sprawl. While still in the beginning stages, the county looking long-term to see how this program will be financially sustainable.

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Refugees and host community gang up to fight climate change

Noah Omuya

August 02, 2019 |

Things That Work Uganda |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Bidibidi

The Bidibidi refugee settlement in Uganda, the largest such settlement in the world, is working with a number of agencies including the UNHCR and The Office of the Prime Minister to address environmental issues in their ever-growing settlement. They are strategizing about a number of initiatives to improve life and conditions where they live with topics like Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Education, Health, or Infrastructure. Current solutions include planting over 470,000 trees, local communities donating land for settlers to build their own crops, and environmental education in the local schools.

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The rise of wildfire-resilient communities

Liz Weber

June 17, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Sisters, Oregon

Coordination and planning can prove to be the best defensive measures against wildfires. Funded by the US Forest Service, the Community Planning Assistance for Wild Program (CPAW) promotes community fire adaptation, including measures like prescribed burns. Policymakers and city planners enrolled in CPAW benefit from teaming up with foresters, economists, and other experts to model risk and mitigate the impact of fires.

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People Are Helping Animals Cross Highways — That's Great for Humans, Too

Monica Humphries

June 10, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Gainesville, Florida

Across the United States, cities are designing ways for wildlife to cross major roadways. Whether they’re overpasses crossing highways or tunnels under freeways, these helpful pathways are strategically placed to help save the most wildlife. Seeing huge successes, including a casualty rate decline of close to 94% – conservationists are calling for more legislation to help protect and maintain such efforts.

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Why you want oysters and a salt marsh between you and a hurricane

Anne N. Connor

June 03, 2019 |

Vox |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Beaufort, North Carolina

Instead of building hard seawalls to protect communities from hurricanes, some are turning to “living shorelines.” These are made out of crushed rock or oyster shells that are placed offshore in front of a wetland. There are more than 120 of these types of habitats — including in Beaufort, North Carolina — and they have shown that they can absorb 50 percent of wave energy, which can reduce the risk of loss of human life and property from flooding. This might not work for all coastal communities, but living shorelines are cheaper than the traditional seawalls.

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Message scent: Douglas fir beetles detoured from Ouray forest by pheromone packets

Erin McIntyre

May 27, 2019 |

The Colorado Sun |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ouray, Colorado

By combining biomimicry with biodiversity, Colorado’s forests have kept damaging fir beetles at bay. The city of Ouray, Colorado, and the Colorado State Forest Service have been working with the help of volunteers to apply chemical pheromones to protect Douglas firs from the damaging beetles. The pheromones mimic a warning produced by the beetles, discouraging them from settling on the tree. The pheromones are applied by hand, requiring teams of trained volunteers.

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How a new diet for gassy cows is helping the environment

Daniel Gordon

May 20, 2019 |

BBC |

Video |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Colombia, Bogotá

Growing flowers and plants in fields where cows graze leads to a healthier diet, larger cows, more enriched soil, and less methane emitted into the atmosphere. About 4,000 farmers have received funding to transform their farms away from traditional grazing, moving towards a system that is healthier for the animals and the environment.

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The Crisis Called for Goats

Paige Williams

May 20, 2019 |

The New Yorker |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

It turns out goats may be the answer to addressing invasive species. In Manhattan’s Riverside Park, a herd of goats were hired to to eat weeds, ivy, and nonnative species in an attempt to restore the balance of the ecosystem. The herd of goats, owned by Larry and Ann Cihanek, have been trained to do this specific type of work across the northeast.

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Bok choy and bread fruit: How traditional crops fit a food secure future

Audrey Cleo Yap

May 16, 2019 |

NBC News |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Maui, Hawaii

Organizations like Ho’oulu ka ‘Ulu are reintroducing small-scale farmers to breadfruit — a traditional Hawaiian starchy fruit that fell out of style following the rise of plantation farming and colonialism. Growers are taught how to cultivate and sell the fruit, and their network of now 200 farmers are helping to keep part of their culture alive. Similarly, in California a Food Roots program connects farmers growing traditional Asian produce like bok choy to local businesses and markets to provide accessibility to culturally relevant fresh produce.

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On the island of Java, a social forestry scheme creates jobs at home

Nuswantoro Nusawantoro

May 15, 2019 |

Mongabay |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Indonesia, Kalibiru

In Indonesia, transferring land management rights to local residents is slow-going, but one community is setting an example for what can happen when the residents are in charge. Mandiri farmers formed a cooperative and began replacing hillsides; now, tourism to the area has increased and attitudes towards the land and community have changed.

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