Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 51 results  for your search.  View and Refine Your Search Terms

  • Saving and protecting peatlands in Indonesia

    The degradation of peatlands is a public health and climate change issue. Organizations in Indonesia are working to understand these wetlands better by mapping the location of them throughout the country and around the world. By creating a comprehensive picture of peatlands, which contribute up to 10 percent of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, key partners can understand how to prevent carbon emitting from the wetlands into the atmosphere.

    Read More

  • How a trickle of water is breathing life into the parched Colorado River Delta

    A unique partnership between environmental groups and governments in the United States and Mexico has led to the resurrection of wetlands and forests in the long-dry Colorado River Delta. Since the waters were dammed and diverted in the 1900s, estuaries dried up and vegetation was lost. The two nations agreed to rewet the delta via a planned flood. Even though there isn’t enough water available to restore a flowing river, these restoration projects on parts of the delta have shown promise. Challenges, including limited funds and hotter, drier conditions due to climate change, remain for its longterm success.

    Read More

  • Community conservation agreements a lifeline for Uganda's grey crowned cranes

    Working with communities to develop alternative forms of livelihood helps to curb unsustainable practices and land degradation. In Uganda, the destruction of wetland habitat by farmers had had a serious impact on the population of grey crowned cranes in recent decades. The Cranes and Wetlands conservation project provides support to local communities, working to find alternatives to draining wetlands and promoting habitat restoration.

    Read More

  • Free the Floodplains!

    There is a unique, homegrown local flood buyout program in Charlotte, NC that helps homeowners on floodplains relocate safely and with financial security. This came as a result of the city and county of Charlotte forming a joint storm water utility in the 1990's, which generated money by fixing aging pipes and other storm water needs—funding the local “Quick Buy” program. This gets the aid to the homeowners much quicker than FEMA money does and has since relocated 650 families and saved $25 million in losses.

    Read More

  • Grassroots campaign saves major wetland in Montenegro

    Encouraging governments to behave transparently can also assist in environmental conservation efforts. Ulcinj Salina, an important saltwater wetland in Montenegro, faced an uncertain future prior to an international lobbying campaign that resulted in the area’s designation as a Nature Park. The effort included a WeMove campaign, as well as crucial intervention by other members of the European Union, encouraging the Montenegrin government to enact environmental standards.

    Read More

  • Orphaned baby beaver finds comfort with otters at local shelter

    California’s Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue is working hard to rehabilitate a lone beaver – among other wildlife – back to health and into their natural habitat. The species is key to natural ecosystems, making their survival necessary. While they’ve made progress, with the beaver being a rare occurrence, they still face significant challenges.

    Read More

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

    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.

    Read More

  • Coastal Recovery: Bringing a Damaged Wetland Back to Life

    A coastal recovery project in Delaware Bay is using a technique that they call "engineering with nature" to bring back the 4,000 acres of wetlands from the disastrous effects of human interference and climate change. They use a multitude of strategies, such as stabilizing the dunes and replanting native grasses, and although they approach the project as a research study without progress yet, they have already begun to see a return of wildlife including birds, eels, and crabs. Similar efforts to restore wetlands are also taking off across the globe.

    Read More

  • Decades of wise use pay off for a Kabale wetland

    In 1980, the Ugandan government signed an agreement with local communities in the Mugandu–Buramba wetland that gave them the right to own, manage, and conserve their own property. Today, the wetlands are thriving —reducing degradation and improving biodiversity— and creating a livelihood for the 276 people that live there. The government says that since they are using the land responsibly, their agreement will continue.

    Read More

  • Waste to Wealth: How Kenyan farmers are bringing life back to degraded Lake Victoria swamps

    Families living in the wetlands of Lake Victoria in Kisumu, Kenya are working together with a nonprofit called Ecofinder Kenya to protect and conserve the wetlands they live on. The crux of the incentive centers around the Eocfinder toilet, which converts human and animal waste to biogas, but they also work with solar lamps, water pumps, and a "farmer-to-farmer" program in which farmers share environmentally-friendly expertise. The program has been going on for 3 years now, and the wetlands have since seen a return of wildlife and growth, particularly with fish and birds.

    Read More