How do you feed a mega-city encrusted in the middle of the Amazon forest without resorting to deforestation? The inescapable answer is agriculture. But the challenge doesn’t end there. The capital city of the Amazonas state, Manaus, finds itself isolated from the major agricultural producing centers of Brazil. As a result, it must rely heavily on smallholder, rural producers … [Read more...] about One farmer at a time: how a digital land registry will improve food, land security and forest protection in rural Amazonas
Location, Location, Location: Where we put infrastructure impacts habitats and biodiversity
This past March, two high profile articles were published that make somber reading for those interested in the natural world. The first, in Current Biology, was led by Bill Laurance and described the risks of rapid infrastructure expansion for habitats and biodiversity and the second, in Science, was led by Nick Haddad and described the pernicious, and now global, effects of … [Read more...] about Location, Location, Location: Where we put infrastructure impacts habitats and biodiversity
Five Steps to Building Sustainable Housing: The Case of Guyana’s Hinterland
Donald and Gloria are leaders of the Indigenous Community of Kwatamang, located in Region 9 of southeastern Guyana. It is not easy to get to Katwamang: first you have to take a 90 minute flight in a small plane from Georgetown, the country's capital, and then you have a short (and a little bit bumpy) drive on rural roads, running through virgin rainforest. Kwatamang, much like … [Read more...] about Five Steps to Building Sustainable Housing: The Case of Guyana’s Hinterland
COP21: From Agreement to Action
From the point of view of someone who has worked on climate change for over two decades, the political momentum demonstrated at the Paris COP21 was incredible to witness. From heads of Government, to mayors, to leaders of business and the investment community, there was a clarion call – bold action was urgently needed to avoid dangerous levels of climate change. Leading up … [Read more...] about COP21: From Agreement to Action
Haiti: Little by little the bird builds its nest
It has been a couple of days since the approval of the historic climate agreement in Paris. Weary but hopeful negotiators are returning to their countries and may already have started de-briefing their respective governments. Pundits, critics, supporters and deniers will all at this point be poring over every detail and iota of the text of the agreement and will be … [Read more...] about Haiti: Little by little the bird builds its nest