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Making Wood Without Trees

Brandon Lisy

April 13, 2015 |

Bloomberg |

Video |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Green Island, New York

Using mycelium from mushrooms offers a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to synthetic polymers. Mushrooms produce a natural structure that can be used in building and construction, in lieu of plastics or processed wood products that often contain urea-formaldehyde or other harmful bonding agents. Ecovative Design uses a mushroom-based material to create products ranging from packing to furniture.

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The Battle to Keep Ho Chi Minh City Above Water

Jesse Hardman

January 22, 2015 |

New Orleans Public Radio (WWNO) |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City

Geography and climate change challenge the viability of sea-level cities in Vietnam, but architects, researchers, and urban planners work together to find creative solutions. One architect in Ho Chi Minh City designed green roofs to absorb the rainwater that causes floods.

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Greener Pastures for Cattle Ranching

Lisa Palmer

November 18, 2014 |

Future Food |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Colombia, Cali, Valle del Cauca

In Colombia, traditional cattle pastures have caused soil degradation, deforestation, and desertification. To reconcile this, several thousand acres of land in Latin America have been transformed into a silvo-pastoral system of grazing and raising cattle with agro-forestry. The Colombia-based Center for Research in Sustainable Systems of Agriculture seeks to reduce pasture land by 26 million acres while increasing cattle numbers by 2019.

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In the Pastures of Colombia, Cows, Crops, and Timber Coexist

Lisa Palmer

March 13, 2014 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Colombia, Cali, Valle del Cauca

Colombia’s National Development Plan for cattle ranching seeks to reduce pasture land from 94 million acres to 70 million acres while increasing cattle numbers from 23 million head to 40 million. The program focuses on planting trees on grazing land and the "cut and carry method," whereby farmers grow fields of shrubs and distribute the fresh cuttings to cows in pastures. The result is greater cattle productivity and a more eco-friendly farming system.

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Into the Wildfire

Paul Tullis

September 19, 2013 |

The New York Times Magazine |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

Between climate change and an ever increasing population, wildfires are becoming more and more of an annual challenge to mitigate, with firefighters and policy makers walking a thin edge between the need for natural burns to maintain the healthy, safe growth of forests and the risks of letting fires get too close to developed property and human life. New advances in science and technology are helping scientists and land managers better understand not only how fires burn and spread, but how to contain them while educating the public about their importance.

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Sprouting success in Senegal: trees offer growing solution to Sahel

Cathy Watson

June 11, 2012 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Senegal, Kaffrine

Allowing trees and crops to coexist boosts the resiliency of agricultural land. In Senegal, farmers engaged in Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) prune coppiced trees to help the stumps regrow. The practice is more practical and effective than planting new trees. The coppiced trees retain much of the existing biomass under the soil. And as the trees regrow, they help prevent erosion, retain moisture, and can even increase nitrogen levels in soil.

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In Africa's Vanishing Forests, the Benefits of Bamboo

Tina Rosenberg

March 13, 2012 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Ethiopia, Asosa, Benishangul-Gumuz

In Africa, many people rely on wood from trees to cook food over stoves. The tremendous usage of wood contributes to deforestation and environmental decline. Using bamboo instead of wood is a more profitable and greener solution.

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