Biodiversity works!
The opportunity of biodiversity for farmers
2009-07-01 / John Van Duursen interviewed by Jasmijn Besorak / Amsterdam, NL
Smallholders often have a fine relation to biodiversity. Especially related to hunting, and intercropping on a well thought through way with other species. This can generate a multiple source of income. For example coco needs shade, the trees that take care of the shade can also be a source of fruits, carbon or people can make a medicine out of the bark. There are lots of benefits but you often need knowledge. Most of the time farmers are on the end of the information chain. They are not very well connected to this knowledge. Therefore this remains a big challenge.
Women in War torn Northern Uganda fight back to promote biodiversity
2009-07-01 / Bernie Hewett / Lira District in Northern Uganda
Whilst they have understood the value of protecting the natural environment, the return of numerous impoverished people who left the area because of the war, there is a new threat to the forest which they depend upon for part of their livelihoods in the form of tree felling for charcoal.
The Rwot Ber members and other project beneficiaries are now involved in raising awareness within their communities about the value of the Shea trees and collaborating with local leaders on this issue.They have established of tree nurseries and tree planting activities. They are promoting species suitable for firewood in order to protect the future of the Shea trees.
Small-scale Fishermen abandon unsustainable fishing practices
2009-07-01 / Bernie Hewett / Island of Mafia, Tanzania
A trial sustainable pearl oyster culture project was implemented in
2006, 2007 and 2008 in which several groups of small-scale fishermen
were given the required materials and training to be able to set up
black lip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) “farms”.
Other
groups were assisted to set up rafts and long line type spat (juvenile
oysters) collectors to sell to the pearl oyster farmers.
Coffee farmers work to promote biodiversity.... Guess what?...It pays!
2009-06-09 / Bernie Hewett / Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
The Chairman of the Kalinzi Cooperative, Mr Yahaya said that “ ......the prices and the help we receive from our partners help us to feel like the decision we made to preserve the environment for the chimpanzees and other animals was the right one. We have received recognition from around the world and now farmer’s attitudes have changed from seeing the chimpanzees as pests to be chased and sometimes killed, to perceiving them as beneficial and adding value to their lives.”
The basis of all forms of agricultural production is the environment
2009-06-28 / Joseph Lumumba from IUCN NL interviewed by Jasmijn Besorak / Amsterdam, NL
"There is work to do at different levels. At policy level is it important to sharpen the regulations and rules. Especially when this results into certification, there is an incentive for producer organizations to manage the biodiversity in their area.
Furthermore it is important to create incentives for producers to integrate conservation objectives in their work: promote organic farming, use of organic inputs, use indigenous tree species to shade coffee farms for example, introduce environmental friendly certification schemes etc."