According to Project Drawdown, 424 million acres -- or close to half of the deserted farmland around the world -- could be restored or converted to carbon-friendly farming systems by the year 2050, dramatically reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. With the potential to sequester carbon and protect forests from deforestation, farmland restoration is an important strategy to fight climate change. According to a study by the Center for Behavior and the Environment, tending carbon-sequestering soil is among the seven most impactful actions that individuals and households in the United States can take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The stories in this collection (see below) feature a number of restoration strategies already underway. In Ethiopia, "re-greening" techniques are turning previously unproductive land into productive, sustainable agricultural land. In Oaxaca, Mexico, indigenous farmers follow ancient customs to regenerate land, conserve resources, and promote community health. A newly developed perennial grain could restore soil nutrients and trap carbon, offering a low-maintenance alternative to farmers. And in the aftermath of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, community farmers used the opportunity to reimagine their agricultural system and increase productivity. This solution is one of the Drawdown Ecochallenge actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM STORY COLLECTIONS RELATED TO PROJECT DRAWDOWN. 

Coming in early 2021.

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