In need of a little more inspiration this week? Check out these stories of resilience and restoration!
A Miami program prepares women of color for climate resilience leadership
A six-month course run by the CLEO Institute – a Miami-based, women-led organization dedicated to climate education and advocacy – empowers women of color to prepare for the challenges climate change will bring to South Florida. The most recent cohort included women ages 22 to 79, teaching everything from hurricane and financial preparedness to urban gardening and civic engagement.
New forestry project aims to generate forestry experts grounded in forest protection
The Registry of Forest Protection Foresters (RFPF) is a new project launched this month from some of America’s most transformative leaders in old growth forest protection. The just-started effort aims to bring cross-disciplinary pro-tree science to academia to ensure the growing of future old growth forests as well as protecting existing old growth. RFPF aims to shift decision-making to a new generation of forestry experts grounded in non-destructive management techniques and knowledge, old and new, about why not cutting down trees is a benefit to our planet. Climate forests are a major focus of the group.
Collaborative effort restores Florida river’s natural ecology, reverses canal damage
A variety of local, state, and federal partners are working together to restore the natural curves and meandering floodplains of the Kissimmee River in Florida that were diverted into a straight canal a half century ago. The project is undoing the canal’s harmful impacts, seeing the return of animals and the successful use of water storage to prevent flooding.
Cities leading the emerging field of rooftop agrivoltaics
A new building at Colorado State University in Denver is combining the benefits of agrivoltaics with those of green roofs in urban areas. A similar rooftop solar-plus-farming project at the University of Arizona is prioritizing native desert perennials and annuals. The growing interest and implementation of solar-powered rooftop microfarms can help feed cities, increase energy efficiency, enhance biodiversity, cool off buildings, and prevent storm runoff.
- Related: Amsterdam has scaled up the planting of self-watering residential rooftop gardens that mitigate flooding and lower temperatures.
- Related: A community farmer in Tkaronto (Toronto) says connecting rooftop projects with Black and Indigenous farmers is a key step in addressing historical barriers to food security & land access.
Women & youth 2X as able to convince farmers to try out new sustainable techniques
A study in a cacao farming community on Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island found that women and younger farmers were more than twice as influential as older men deemed “opinion leaders” in persuading peers to adopt new technologies and practices. The findings could have significant implications for groups trying to implement regenerative agriculture programs within communities.
Let us know what else is sparking new energy, ideas, and collaborations in your climate efforts.
Yay! I love all of these, but I especially love that we can highlight the launch of the Registry of Forest Protection Foresters, our friend Deane’s project! Go RFPF! And folks who are here, check out RFPF’s blog – it’s full of really moving and informative forest science posts from a regenerative eco-centric perspective. It’s delightful and I’ve been sharing it with everyone I can.
Lots of inspiring projects this week though!