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An (Even More) Inconvenient Truth: Why Carbon Credits For Forest Preservation May Be Worse Than Nothing

Lisa Song

May 22, 2019 |

ProPublica |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Brazil, Rio Branco, Acre

This story examines the well-publicized climate-change strategy of carbon credits: the idea that a CO₂-emitting company could offset its emissions by funding anti-logging efforts, effectively "saving" the equivalent amount of carbon. However, as it turns out, despite its popularity, most carbon credit programs do not actually work or, worse, may do more harm than good. This article details the shortcomings of this attempted solution to the effects of global warming.

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Can Humans Help Trees Outrun Climate Change?

Moises Velasquez-Manoff

April 25, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Scituate, Rhode Island

A dark synergy of extreme weather and emboldened pests could imperil vast stretches of woodland. Foresters are only starting to wrestle with solutions.

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Make America Graze Again

Margaret Renkl

April 22, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Nashville, Tennessee

In Nashville, a city better known for its music than its wildlife, a flock of sheep has become a tool for environmental preservation. It’s a way to “manage invasive vegetation in a safe, ecologically sensitive and cost-effective way.” Part of a movement known as “targeted grazing,” this method of preserving wildlife without chemicals has spread across America and Europe.

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A women's squad in Odisha defends its forest for 20 years

Sahana Ghosh

March 21, 2019 |

Mongabay |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Gundalba, Odisha

Biodiversity and forest cover in Gundalba rebounded after a women-led group started using whistles and rotational patrols to scare away timber smugglers and woodcutters. The group also helped neighboring villages coordinate fuelwood gathering and avoid conflicts.

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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.

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The Economics Of Managing Healthier Forests

Bryce Oates

December 12, 2018 |

The Daily Yonder |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Weaverville, Washington

In the western United States, a couple nonprofits are working to kill two birds with one stone: reducing catastrophic wildfires while creating a profitable (yet sustainable) market for harvested wood. Yet these management techniques have yet to prove economically viable.

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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.

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Kenya's Government Is Evicting Indigenous People. Tech Helps Them Fight Back.

Dan Nosowitz

October 04, 2018 |

New York Magazine |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

Kenya's indigenous communities are fighting the government's attempts to seize the land they live on using an app called This is My Backyard, or TIMBY. The app helps users to securely encrypt videos and pictures that can then be used for legal and publicity purposes, allowing community members to gather evidence and hold leaders accountable.

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Why Farmers Are Ditching Industrial Methods For This Practice

Carrie Budge

September 05, 2018 |

The Huffington Post |

Video |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: Kenya

During the Industrial Revolution, farmers began harvesting monoculture crops which produced promising profits but proved harmful to the soil and weakened the immune capabilities of native plants. Lately, however, permaculture practices have been on the rise amongst farmers to better diversify their yields and reduce reliance on chemicals.

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Farmers see promise and profit for agroforestry in southern Kenya

Kagondu David Njagi

August 31, 2018 |

Mongabay |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Kerita

Climate change coupled with an increasing human population is reducing the amount of land that Kenya farmers are able to use for profitable crops. To get the most out of what's left of the arid land, many are turning to agroforestry projects and are seeing results in the form of healthier land and increased profits.

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