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Land restoration

Land restoration or rehabilitation is the process of ecological restoration of a site to a natural landscape and habitat, safe for humans, wildlife, and plant communities

Advantages / Benefits
Maintain biodiversity
Increases soil productivity
Creates jobs
Food supplies are enhanced
Disadvantages
Some ecosystems require long time to restore
Small fraction of land continue to be degraded in restored ecosystems
Hard for the community to commit to land restoration
Information sources
https://goodlifepermaculture.com.au/land-regeneration-in-action/
Evidence of success
Excellent Development and its partner in southeast Kenya, the Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF), work closely with community self-help groups over a number of years to build sand dams and other rainwater harvesting systems (https://www.excellentdevelopment.com/news/how-sand-dams-are-changing-the-quality-of-life-in-rural-drylands)
Feasibility
In areas with degraded land

Promotion of farm waste recycling and re-use

Increases the recycling of water and nutrients, through the sustainable use of agricultural waste. Agricultural waste can also come from harvest and therefore transformed into biogas.

Advantages / Benefits
Significant reduction of harmful wastes disposed in the environment
Recycling of elements and water in agriculture which in turn, will reduce production cost and contribute to the increase in products competiveness and profits
Protection of renewable and non-renewable resources (soil, aquatic bodies, phosphoric minerals) through elements recycling
Disadvantages
Lack of interest from stakeholders
lack of detailed regulations on agricultural waste management for human health and environmental protection
lack of incentives for investing into agricultural waste management
Who involved
MoFA, NGOs, rural communities, food retailers, waste management companies, water companies, farmers, agricultural manufacturers, distributors and merchants
Costs
Vary
Information sources
https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/recycling-on-semisubsistence-farms-hous…
http://www.wseas.us/e-library/conferences/2012/Zlin/ENAGROBIO/ENAGROBIO-36.pdf
Evidence of success
A study on the value of women's indigenous knowledge in food processing and preservation for achieving household food security in rural Sudan (http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jfr/article/view/14714)
Feasibility
Where cultivated land suffers from desertification, mainly due to intensive agriculture, climatic conditions, wildfires, increased soil salinity, and water shortages. Drought damaged crops are the main sorce of farm waste.

Innovative indigenous and gender-balanced knowledge for agriculture

Women are often responsible for food processing and storage, collecting of water and firewood and for generating incomes for subsistence, managing available resources by using indigenous knowledge to secure food supplies for their households.

Advantages / Benefits
Rural women as local level experts manage to achieve sustainable food security at household levels, with practical, efficient and economic solutions based on indigenous knowledge
Disadvantages
Lack of policies that promote the role of women as holders of traditional knowledge that can help achieve food security
Who involved
Rural women, policymakers
Information sources
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282705113_Women%27s_Role_in_Household_…
Evidence of success
In Madagascar, innovative solutions such as digital microfinance and agricultural micro-insurance are being developed to support farmers. They include digital microfinance or agricultural micro-insurance based on meteorological data (https://ideas4development.org/en/madagascar-agricultural-microcredit-digital-microfinance)
Feasibility
In rural areas where women represent the majority of the rural population (especially where migration has left them as head of households) and are extensively involved in agricultural activities as are the dominant livelihood feature, the indigenous and gender-balanced knowledge is particularly important during seasonal food shortage or major stress periods such as droughts

Groundwater management and conservation

Groundwater management means management of groundwater sub-basins to provide for multiple long-term benefits without resulting in or aggravating conditions that cause significant economic, social, or environmental impacts, such as long-term overdraft, land subsidence, or damage to ecosystems

Advantages / Benefits
Ground water generally does not get polluted Since bore well is closed, no risk of getting contaminated
Since it is closed no danger of children or animals falling into it
Temperature of deep water remains stable
It feels cool in summer and warm in winter
Since bore wells are deep, chances of water remaining available in summer are higher
Disadvantages
Managing groundwater requires a lot of effort
Polluted rainwater
Who involved
Local water councils
Farmers
Non-governmental organization (NGOs)s
Farmers
Information sources
http://re.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/Indigenous%20water%20conservation…
Evidence of success
The small-scale irrigation project in Colombia financed by the World Bak will provide supplementary irrigation for about 43,000 farmers over a six-year period by establishing about 850 small irrigation schemes (http://projects.worldbank.org/P006860/small-scale-irrigation-project?lang=en)
Feasibility
In all water-stressed semi-arid areas with limited yearly rainfall supply and lack of perennial streams

Promotion of water-saving technologies in irrigation

Improved water-saving technologies include sprinkler systems, micro and drip irrigation, flood irrigation andf urrow-basinirrigation. Small-scale irrigation is most successful when managed and controlled by farmers who have access to independent water sources, it is best suited for small-scale farmers seeking to optimize production by minimizing inputs and risks

Advantages / Benefits
Saves water
lowers inputs and risks
Energy savings by using less energy for heating, pumping, and treating water
Financial savings result from decreased water use and service costs
Various environmental benefits include increased water availability for local streams, wetlands and their natural inhabitants, and fewer water projects
Positive publicity stemming from environmental protection efforts
Disadvantages
Lack of technical knowledge among farmers
water saving is not always a priority for farmers
the cost of development may be prohibitive
technologies and equipment best suited for small-scal farms not always available
lack of access to maintenance and spare parts
lack of training for farmers
Who involved
Local businesses (design and manufacture), farmers, government, financing institutions
Costs
Vary
Information sources
http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7314e/w7314e0p.htm
Feasibility
Successful when farmers' requirements are accessed participatively and then a technology which suits those requirements is proposed

Assessing drought damage and vulnerability

Consists in assessing the vulnerability of a society to drought which can depend on several factors such as population, technology, policy, social behavior, land use patterns, water use, economic development and diversity of economic base and cultural composition.The Disaster Risk Profiles are representations of information regarding a population, place or system’s exposure, sensitivity and resilience to given hazards that can be applied to DRM strategies in a district

Advantages / Benefits
Precise data on people who are vulnerable to drought
Support decision making
Disadvantages
Costly
Contacting local populations is not always easy
Who involved
NGOs
International Organizations
Governments
Information sources
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/cs-risk-reduction-pla…
Evidence of success
Wereda Disaster Risk Profiling Programme (WDRP), Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management commission.
300 Weredas (administrative divisions) out of 670 have completed vulnerability profiles. These profiles rely on data sets which include: meteorological information, demographic information, access to health facilities, and frequency of disaster occurrence. Each Wereda profile is presented in a short summarized report accessible to stakeholders through a digital library (https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/cs-risk-reduction-planning-ethiopia-150714-en.pdf)
Feasibility
Systems are established in areas with no vulnerability profiles

Drought proof drought prone villages (India)

Rain water use and storage. Eco friendly sustainable agriculture. Develop waste land, sloppy land and forest land (control of erosion loss Kitchen gardens for nutritional security testing of SRI and mixed cropping). Soil conservation, land shaping, pasture development, vegetative bunding

Advantages / Benefits
Any region with such traditional knowledge and techniques can replicate this approach with small local technological and social additions/adaptability approaches
These villages have been champions of forest protection traditionally, therefore, when the project talked about forest protection and management as one of the important components to arrest desertification, the people easily agreed to it and got organized
Who involved
Local water councils
Farmers
Non-governmental organization (NGOs)s
Farmers
Information sources
https://qcat.wocat.net/en/unccd/view/unccd_236/
Feasibility
The continuous drought condition in an area where drought was not seen before had already made people so much vulnerable that they were looking for some direction to fight this situation.  This became the first condition for achieving success in this model. 

SLM examples from [term:name]

Sustainable land management (SLM) refers to practices and technologies that aim to integrate the management of land, water, biodiversity, and other environmental resources to meet human needs while ensuring the long-term sustainability of ecosystem services and livelihoods. Implementing Sustainable Land Management options can contribute to reducing drought risk.

You can find examples from [term:name] in the WOCAT database.

Advantages / Benefits
Food security
Maintenance of dams and irrigation structures
Soil carbon sequestration
Climate change mitigation
Information sources
Concrete examples in the WOCAT database

Monitoring and Early Warning

Drought monitoring and early warning systems typically aim to track, assess and deliver relevant information concerning climatic, hydrologic and water supply conditions and trends.

Freely available data for drought assessments

As part of the UNCCD Drought Toolbox in partnership with UNEP-DHI, a  system is available with nearly real-time freely available data for drought monitoring to facilitate the generation of custom reports. Click on the blue-button now. For more information on how to use the tool click here. 

The Drought Resilience, Adaptation and Management Policy (DRAMP) Framework and the Handbook of Drought Indicators and Indices and database provide an overview of possible indicators and indices for drought monitoring.

Vulnerability and Risk Assessment

In order to calculate the drought risk accurately, you need to take into account various geographic, climatic, social and economic factors. The Drought Resilience, Adaptation and Management Policy (DRAMP) Framework, and its guidelines and background documents provide an overview of possible approaches to assess risk and vulnerability:

Drought risk = Vulnerability x Hazard x Exposure  

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The methodology and the solutions displayed in this tool were compiled and based on expert knowledge.

This pillar is supported by The Joint Research Center of the European Commission.

 

PhD in Sustainability Science

Doctoral
Country
Japan
Application date
2019-04-19
Language

English

Organization
United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability

The PhD programme in Sustainability Science is a three-year programme that aims to produce scholars who will become key researchers in the field of sustainability science.

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A scholarship you might be interested in!

Doctoral
Grants & scholarships
Research
Country
Japan
Application date
2019-04-19
Language

English

Organization
The United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability

The United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) is offering scholarships for developing Countries based in Tokyo, Japan. These scholarships are offered for pursuing PhD programme in Sustainability Science. The PhD programme in Sustainability Science aims to produce scholars who will become key researchers in the field of sustainability science. The key eligibility criteria: Applicants must be from…

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The FAO has a job for you!

Professional
Consultant
Country
Italy
Application date
2019-04-18
Language

English

French

Spanish

Arabic

Chinese, Simplified

Russian

Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The Land and Water Division (CBL) of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations invites eligible soil specialists based in Rome, Italy to support the development, quality control and effective implementation of FAO’s soil portfolio including the Global Soil Partnership work plan through the provision of expertise in relevant technical areas including project formulation and implementation to support member countries. The purpose of…

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Learn Environmental Science with at Summer School in Paris!

University Programs
Courses
Training
Country
France
Start date
End date
Language

English

Organization
The American University of Paris

The American University of Paris offers the Environmental Science course in its Summer School. This course is intended to introduce non-scientists to key concepts and approaches in the study of the environment. With a focus on the scientific method, we learn about natural systems using case studies of disruptions caused by human activity. Topics include global warming, deforestation, waste production and recycling, water pollution, environmental…

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The Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19)‘Stop soil erosion, Save our future’ will be held  from 15-17 May 2019

Library highlights
17-04-2019

The Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19), ‘Stop soil erosion, Save our future’ will be held from 15-17 May 2019, at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Headquarters in Rome, Italy. This science-policy meeting is co-organized by the UN FAO and its Global Soil Partnership (GSP), the…

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UNCCD meets with Ambassador of India in Chile to plan advocacy and promotion for COP14

UNCCD Content
News

Santiago, Chile – The UNCCD coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Mr. Jose Miguel Torrico met with India's Ambassador in Chile Ms. Anita Nayar on 16 April to discuss the upcoming UNCCD COP14 that will take place in New Delhi from 2 to 13 September 2019. The meeting focused on the…

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Extreme heat is growing threat to harvests

Library highlights
17-04-2019

A warmer world means more chance of extreme heat in more than one continent at the same time, and a rising threat to global food security.

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You are invited to the Global Symposium on Soil Erosion

Events
Country
Italy
Start date
End date
Language

English

Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19), ‘Stop soil erosion, Save our future’ will be held from 15-17 May 2019, at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Headquarters in Rome, Italy. This science-policy meeting is co-organized by the UN FAO and its Global Soil Partnership (GSP), the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS), together with the Science-Policy Interface (SPI) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification…

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Win a 2019 Green Talents Award!

Events
Country
Germany
Application date
2019-05-22
Language

English

Organization
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Every year, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) hosts the prestigious ”Green Talents – International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development” to promote the international exchange of innovative green ideas. The award, under the patronage of Minister Anja Karliczek, honors young researchers each year. The winners come from numerous countries and scientific disciplines and are recognized for their outstanding…

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Online Course on Grading, Drainage and Erosion Control

Courses
Start date
End date
Organization
Ingeoexpert

The course covers grading and drainage techniques from basics to complex designs for who is in the field of Civil Engineering and/or Land Development. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to identify and apply grading, drainage, and erosion control techniques and methods on real-life projects. It focuses on developing grading and drainage design skills to complete simple or complex projects starting from existing topography to a finalized…

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Specialty Vegetable Production Manager

Job vacancies
Country
United States of America
Language

English

Spanish

Organization
Duncan Family Farms

The Duncan Family Farms has as the primary responsibility, to produce clean, healthy, life-giving food. They are also committed to making a strong contribution to an improved environment and giving back to the community. Duncan Family Farms is based in Goodyear, Arizona, and has ranches in multiple states across the United States. The company is looking for a Herb & Specialty Vegetable Production Manager, that will perform vital functions of the…

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Responsable d’agence de La Réunion – OCEAN INDIEN

Job vacancies
Country
France
Language

French

English

Organization
BIOTOPE

Le groupe Biotope recherche un responsable d'agence de la Reunion. Le Groupe Biotope est en France l'un des grands acteurs privé de l’ingénierie écologique et de la conservation de la nature. Cette position de responsable d'agence s'adresse aux personnes ayant une solide base technique sur les métiers de l’ingénierie écologique et environnementale. Ce poste fait appel aux responsabilités telque: Développer et garantir le succès commercial du…

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New issue of Soil Use and Management journal - OPEN ACCESS

Library highlights
16-04-2019

Soil Use and Management publishes research papers, reviews, short communications and informed comment on the wide range of applications of soil science and provides an international forum for those applying scientific prinicples to understand and solve important soil problems as they affect crop…

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