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  • Egypt's farmers tap new tech to save water and boost crops

    February 10, 2021 |

    Thomson Reuters Foundation |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Egypt, Samalout

    A new government pilot program in Egypt is allowing farmers to use technology to tell them when their soil is dry and how much water it needs, which can aid the country as it navigates its water crisis. Sensors buried in the soil measure the ground’s moisture levels and sends the data to the user through a mobile app. The government has given 200 devices away for free, but some experts question the cost and if farmers will be comfortable with the technology. Still, one farmer says that because of the new system, she has been using 20 percent less water and her labor costs have also decreased.

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  • Preserve, revive, restore: Indian ponds spring back to life

    March 08, 2021 |

    Thomson Reuters Foundation |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: India, Saligao, Goa

    Through a government funding program, several communities are working on initiatives to improve their access to clean drinking water. In India, one community formed a citizen’s group, cleaned up a local pond, and restored its natural water flow. Another initiative involved more than 1,000 women from 21 villages to build rainwater harvesting structures. These projects are seen as models for water conservation efforts as climate change exacerbates the country’s ongoing water crisis.

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  • Aquarium Fish, Hold the Cyanide

    August 13, 2020 |

    Hakai Magazine |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Indonesia, Bali

    LINI for Reef to Aquarium, works with local villagers to implement sustainable fishing practices and restore reef habitats damaged by neurotoxins used to catch fish for the saltwater aquarium fish trade. LINI, with the community’s help, installed cement domes to provide refuges for ornamental fish in 2008. These alternative spots for collecting fish effectively removed pressure from natural reefs and by 2011, live coral cover had increased by 35% and continues to do well today. Villagers also started a land-based breeding program to take pressure off of the coral reefs.

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  • Towards a greener construction with fly ash bricks

    February 19, 2021 |

    Climate Tracker |

    Text |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: India

    Fly ash bricks help reduce construction waste by utilizing the powdery by-product of burning coal. They are a green replacement for red clay bricks, which contribute to 5-15% of India’s emissions. They also utilize waste from coal-based thermal plants, which often gets disposed of by being dumped in water bodies and on roadsides. In comparison to red clay bricks, fly ash bricks are less expensive and the production process doesn’t emit smoke or use the more fertile top soil. Their use has been mandated by some regions and about 150 small fly ash enterprises have emerged.

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  • Meet Mr. Trash Wheel: Baltimore Harbor's Googly Eyed Garbage Gobbler

    April 16, 2019 |

    WBUR |

    Radio |

    5-15 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

    A trash interceptor floats along a tributary of the Baltimore Harbor removing trash from the water before it can reach the ocean. Known to the community as Mr. Trash Wheel, the machine is powered by the river’s current and collects floating debris that moves along a conveyor belt and ends up in a dumpster. While it doesn’t solve the problem of how trash gets into the water in the first place, it has collected 1,100 tons of trash and one million Styrofoam containers since it started 2014.

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  • This Thai village created a tiny fish reserve years ago. Today, it's thriving. Audio icon

    January 12, 2021 |

    National Geographic |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Thailand, Na Doi

    By setting aside an area of the Ngao River to be off limits for fishing, several villages in Thailand have seen a revitalization of large barb and carp in their waters. Compared to non-protected stretches of the river, reserves saw more than twice the total number of fish, and catches outside of that protected area have also significantly increased. “These small, community-based reserves can be a really effective management strategy for sustaining their own resources and conserving fish,” says a researcher at the Global Water Center.

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  • Bright Lights and Dark Nights: The Challenge Facing Sea Turtles in the City

    July 30, 2020 |

    Hakai Magazine |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Florida

    Sea turtle preservation efforts along the Florida coast seek to replace artificial bright lights, which are a deadly hazard that can lead sea turtles astray. Activists launched change.org petitions that successfully pressured two beach towns to correct public lights along the beach and require turtle-friendly lighting in new buildings. Volunteer groups patrol beach front areas to find and report those in violation of the ordinances, who can face a fine. A $10 million settlement from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion helps fund a grant that provides lights and fixtures to about 200 properties.

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  • How Banana Waste Is Turned Into Rugs, Fabric, And Hair Extensions

    February 19, 2021 |

    Business Insider |

    Video |

    5-15 Minutes

    Response Location: Uganda, Kampala

    A Ugandan company called TEXFAD is taking the stems from banana trees that would normally go to waste and is turning them into new textiles like rugs, place mats, and hair extensions. Over its eight year existence, TEXFAD has grown to also employ 23 people, many of whom started in their internship program for students. While the cost to make these products can be expensive, the textiles are biodegradable and use less water and land to produce.

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  • Going ‘Deep Green,' Office Buildings Give Back to the Planet

    July 14, 2020 |

    The New York Times |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

    More and more commercial real estate projects are popping up around the United States that are focused on “deep green” building. This movement suggests that it’s not enough to just make a building out of renewable materials, but they can also be self-sustaining. For example, the Watershed, an office building in Seattle, has a slanted roof that collects rainwater that is then used in toilets. These types of projects can be more complicated and expensive to build, but developers can save money in the long run with the improvements.

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  • Pakistan pins big hopes on small dams to help farmers beat drought

    January 25, 2021 |

    Thomson Reuters Foundation |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Pakistan, Nagarparkar, Sindh

    A government scheme in Pakistan involves the construction of water-harvesting dams in areas that experience droughts, which allows farmers in the region to use the irrigation water from the dams for their crops. One farmer is growing onions and wheat and because of the access to water, his income has increased more than 60 percent. There are concerns about how helpful the water from the dams will ultimately be in the arid region, but there are plans to build more dams in the next few years.

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