Restoring Degraded Landscapes blog posts | Water, Land and Ecosystems

Blog Post
Blog Post
August 28, 2020
How contour bunding and other technologies can reduce soil erosion and raise productivity in African watersheds
The six year project demonstrated immediate results of contour bunding and benefitted more than 2,500 farmers across the two study sites.
Blog Post
Blog Post
July 24, 2020
Semantics and words matter for analyzing gender and social inclusivity in development projects
The WLE FG5 team aims to use text mining as an effective means of drawing attention to progress as well as identifying critical gaps, as in the case of gender based issues.
Blog Post
Blog Post
December 03, 2019
Diagnosing soil health can treat hunger and ailing landscapes
New technology can help us quickly and cheaply diagnose soil health troubles – where, what and why – and set us on the path toward successful treatment.
- Ermias Betemariam
- Marianne Gadeberg
Blog Post
Blog Post
September 19, 2019
Benefits of interconnectedness: How addressing climate change can foster sustainable land and food security
While climate change action is the need of the hour, it’s also important to pay close attention to the trade-offs in each of those action. The recent IPCC 6th assessment report on Climate Change and Land suggests that some responses may have benefits beyond reducing carbon footprints, and result in zero or limited tradeoffs.
- Ephraim Nkonya
Blog Post
Blog Post
July 29, 2019
Investing in soil health key to closing the yield gaps
Even without climate change, there is an enormous challenge to meet the growing demand for food with the current status of soil health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Closing this yield gap is possible - with the right technology and best practices - but represents a herculean task.
- Leigh Ann Winowiecki
Blog Post
Blog Post
July 26, 2019
Can cheap loans nudge milk and meat production back within the limits of the Amazon – and the Earth?
This year, Earth Overshoot Day falls on July 29, the earliest date yet, which tells us that we have prematurely exhausted Earth's resources beyond what can be regenerated. To move back the date, we are working with farmers to test new practices to halt environmental degradation and make food production more sustainable.
- Marcela Quintero
- Miguel Romero Sánchez
Blog Post
Blog Post
June 04, 2019
Business models from the edge: Finding the green in sunshine, soil and sludge
This month marks World Environment Day and the Stockholm EAT Food Forum, as we search for solutions on how to better manage our food systems and natural resources. Some of the best solutions will involve science, government, and business working together through cutting edge business models.
- Adam Hunt
EAT Stockholm Food Forum 2019
Blog Post
Blog Post
May 23, 2019
Possible pathways for development in Africa: What's missing?
Africa is rapidly developing, but this growth is uneven and has come at great cost to critical ecosystems and social stability. If African nations are going to reach their SDG targets by 2030 and their African Union Agenda by 2063, what has to change to ensure more ecologically sound, equitable development?
- Fred Kizito
- Mia Signs
Blog Post
Blog Post
March 23, 2019
Fixing forests: how Decision Analysis is working on the ground in East Africa
How can decision analysis help save biodiversity hot spots while improving the livelihoods of people in East Africa? Thrive talks to two researchers from ICRAF to find out.
- Mia Signs
Blog Post
Blog Post
January 08, 2019
“Green manure” cover crops – why they deserve a second chance
Green manure cover crops have many benefits - they keep the soil moist, fix nitrogen, and provide important nutrients when composted back into the soil, just to name a few. So why aren't they more widely used?
- Birthe Paul
- Rolf Sommer
Blog Post
Blog Post
November 22, 2018
Conservation agriculture pays in the end
As young people leave rural farming communities in Africa and land degradation takes its toll, agricultural practices must be adjusted. Conservation agriculture offers a possible solution.
Blog Post
Blog Post
October 09, 2018
Erosion is eating away at African farms. Here’s why measuring the damage is so important
For International Day of Rural Women, Thrive contemplates how women farmers are coping with today’s agricultural challenges. Researchers are finding that the right interventions can benefit not only struggling farmers but also women specifically as well.
- Adam Hunt