Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 112 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

The Feat in Hojancha, the Town that Lost its Forest

Noelia Esquivel

January 21, 2019 |

La Voz de Guanacaste |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Costa Rica, Hojancha, Guanacaste

In 1976, the Costa Rican city Hojancha preserved only 2% of its land as forest, and as a result their water supply (the Río Nosara river basin) dried up from the lack of vegetation. Sixteen years into the crisis, two friends conceived and ran an initiative to reforest the land by asking every family in the city to donate ¢1,000 a month until they could buy back the land in full from the ranchers who owned it. Now, the land is thriving again, though the project of regrowing the forest continues still today.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Brazilian photographer and the 20-year reforestation project of over 2.7 million trees

Fino Menezes

January 17, 2019 |

BrightVibes |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Brazil, Aimorés, Minas Gerais

A Brazilian photographer and his wife set out to restore devastated land in the late 1990s by replanting the forest, which would in turn bring back the wildlife. To date the pair and their organization, Instituto Terra, have replanted more than 2 million trees, seen the return of over 500 different species of birds, mammals, amphibians, and flora, and brought back to life the 8 natural springs on the land. There only remains 10% of the land to restore, and at the same time they've also developed more than 700 educational projects that reach over 65,000 people across the nation.

Read More
Go to Original Story
In India's Fast-Growing Cities, a Grassroots Effort to Save the Trees

Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar

January 08, 2019 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Mumbai

In booming cities across India, residents and nonprofits are fighting to save trees from rampant development. One protest in Delhi brought 1,500 citizens out, stalling a proposal to fell 14,000 trees in the city. And the Center for Environmental Research and Education in Mumbai plant's new trees with an unusually high survival rate of 90 percent. But to stem destruction, these groups must help city planners and politicians understand the many benefits that urban trees provide.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Learning from the past: Japan's tree-planting efforts provide lessons for other countries

Nithin Coca

December 06, 2018 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Japan

Nishiawakura, a village in Japan, was once the site of complete forest devastation due to the need for timber during and after World War II. Through trial and error, the country has learned what does and doesn't work when it comes to reforestation efforts. Now, their lessons are acting as a model for China, Pakistan and India as they turn their focus to reforestation.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Agroforestry saves soil and boosts livelihoods in Tajikistan

Daniyar Serikov

November 13, 2018 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Tajikistan, Faizobod

To restore degraded lands in Tajikistan, farmers are turning to agroforestry, a traditional cropping method that more closely mimics natural systems. An estimated 45 gigatons of carbon is sequestered by agroforestry systems globally. Add that to the benefits of reforestation, erosion control, and the return of wildlife habitat.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How plants and animals are teaching scientists to fight climate change

James Rainey

October 28, 2018 |

NBC News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Brazil

Biomimicry is defined as finding "solutions to man-made problems with designs inspired by the natural world," and some scientists think it could be at least part of the solution to climate change problems. From recycling carbon dioxide to helping reforestation efforts in Brazil, piloting efforts are currently taking place worldwide.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A new leaf: the hardy trees reforesting the Amazon

Dan Collyns

October 18, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Peru

Years of illegal gold mining have left much of Peru's forests desolate and the lands poisoned. However, scientists have recently come across one species of tree that is thriving despite the harsh realities of the land. In a piloted attempt to restore the forest, these scientists are experimenting with a variety of tree species to see which will continue to grow.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Slingshots in hand, Kenyans work to replant vanishing forests

Dominic Kirui

September 10, 2018 |

Thomson Reuters Foundation |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Kisaju

To tackle deforestation in Kenya, locals scatter charcoal-coated seeds in their communities to grow forests in the country. The charcoal deters birds and insects from eating the seeds before they can germinate; once the charcoal has been weathered away, the seed can begin to grow. Community members use slingshots, hot air balloons, and other create methods to scatter the resilient seeds.

Read More
Go to Original Story
This makeup company is using its supply chain to revitalize the rainforest

Eillie Anzilotti

August 21, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Guatemala

Much of Guatemala's lands have been degraded due to a consistently burgeoning industrial market for palm oil and cattle farming. As a company that makes makeup using a variety of plants, beauty corporation Lush has committed to investing in natural plant production by buying land that would otherwise be at threat of deforestation. The Sustainable Lush Fund then works with on-the-ground organizations and farmers to sustainably utilize the land and increase the diversity of crops all while supporting local agriculture.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Nepali women's bid to use international carbon money to rejuvenate land, water and economy

Abhaya Raj Joshi

July 29, 2018 |

OnlineKhabar |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nepal, Rantapur

As big cities attract the able-bodied residents of rural areas in Nepal, a new initiative provides a chance to stay and earn an income by planting and caring for trees as part of a carbon offset program. It started as part of a program that would allow Europeans to pay off the cost of their monthly carbon emissions through tree planting in Nepal. An added benefit is preventing soil erosion, but it remains to be seen if there is an effective way to scale the program.

Read More
Go to Original Story