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For a Warming World, A New Strategy for Protecting Watersheds

Jacques Leslie

February 19, 2019 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Santa Fe, New Mexico

As climate change alters environments across the United States, it has become increasingly important to manage watersheds as a preventative measure to wildfires. Amid responses across the country, one private-public partnership, the Rio Grande Water Fund, is leading the way, demonstrating enough success that the model has become federal policy. The Fund brings together government agencies, NGOs, businesses, and residents to fund watershed restoration which, in turn, creates jobs and build more resilient ecosystems.

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Citizen Science Comes of Age

Alastair Bland

February 19, 2019 |

Hakai Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Australia, Tasmania

As climate change accelerates, there is a growing need for scientific data to track and respond to the changes in our environment. Unburdened by the stress of academia or funding, volunteer citizen scientists are stepping in to fill the gaps. A citizen science group in Australia called Reef Life Survey says that trained volunteers help set a baseline of information on things such as water temperature that can be referred back to later. They also have many eyes gathering data over a long period of time, allowing more minute data to be recorded as well as getting data from the edges of studied territories.

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The secret to a town's perfect potatoes? Its well-preserved forest.

Jorge Rodríguez

February 11, 2019 |

Mongabay |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Guatemala, Concepción Chiquirichapa

Concepción Chiquirichapa, Guatemala, is known for its potatoes. The produce is especially good because of a consistent supply of high quality water from its forests, as well as the use of leaf litter as organic fertilizer. Forest protections from decades ago are showing results in sustaining high quality produce, but as the population increases and potato farming expands, the city is working to preserve the natural resources that have contributed to its success.

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How To Get Meat Eaters To Eat More Plant-Based Foods? Make Their Mouths Water

Maria Godoy

February 10, 2019 |

NPR |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

Red meat consumption requires a great deal of water and land resources to produce and is even responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gases. To combat this, the Better Buying Lab is experimenting with marketing strategies to get people to buy more vegetarian and vegan items. After rebranding food with sensory descriptors like "Cuban" or "grilled", sales increased 13% in California and 76% in the UK. Influential brands like Panera are now increasing their efforts to continue this trend.

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New Mexicans Use Rain Gauges to Help Scientists Map Precipitation Levels

Michael Hernandez

February 09, 2019 |

KRWG-PBS |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Las Cruces, New Mexico

When it comes to meteorology, citizen science can be a powerful resource. In New Mexico and neighboring states, volunteers are collecting data that helps researchers and state agencies map rainfall patterns. Through CoCoRaHS, an online network, that information is reaching diverse stakeholders, from farmers to insurers.

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Nepalese Rice Farmers Boost Yields By Sowing Fewer Plants And Cutting Water

Danielle Preiss

January 30, 2019 |

NPR |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Nepal

Using a somewhat counter-intuitive process, rice farmers in Nepal are seeing higher yields practicing the system of rice intensification (SRI), a method which calls for planting fewer seedlings, planting them younger and using less water. Some farmers have reported a 100% increase in crop yields, which can triple incomes with an added environmental benefit.

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Western Water Managers Bet On Cloud Seeding, Despite Gaps In Science

Luke Runyon

January 29, 2019 |

KUNC |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Wolcott, Colorado

In the American Southwest, state water managers have been investing for decades in weather modification programs, otherwise known as "cloud seeding." Colorado River Basin states recently agreed to expand that effort, hoping to build crucial snowpack. But some scientists are skeptical that cloud seeding can produce reliable supplies, citing huge data gaps.

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What a project in Wisconsin can teach others about working with farmers to reduce phosphorus runoff

Stephanie Hemphill

January 23, 2019 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Green Bay, Wisconsin

In Green Bay, Wisconsin, farmers are experimenting with BMPs, or best management practices, to farm their land in a way that protects the environment and decrease algae in the water. Five years into the pilot program, early results show some progress - and as more farmers adopt BMPs, the bigger the impact on the waterways will be.

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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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Beet juice, molasses and mag: Colorado's search for the right highway de-icing mixture

Pam Boyd

January 19, 2019 |

Sky-Hi News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

As Colorado searches for the most effective and efficient de-icer for its winter weather, the state weighs the pros and cons of using agricultural by-products like beet juice and molasses as base ingredients. The quest for finding the perfect de-icer comes up against environmental concerns – especially considering the robust outdoors of Colorado – as well as budget limitations and effectiveness.

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