Christine McCullum-Gomez, PhD, RDN’s Post

📅 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is celebrated every 17 June to raise awareness of various international initiatives to combat these phenomena. ⚠ Desertification and drought, are some of the environmental challenges of our time, which are a degradation of environmental health and contribute to the collapse of biodiversity. 🌎 Currently, 40% of the land surface is considered degraded according to the United Nations Is it possible to change this situation? We´re very happy to say YES ✅ These are some of the ways to change the situation: 👉 AFFORESTATION: The use of various scientific and technological approaches and equipment to produce and manage forested areas where they did not previously exist. 👉 ARTIFICIAL SOIL: Tailor-made artificial soils can sequester carbon from CO2 in both organic and inorganic form, and stock large amounts over time. These two methods are being tested with the Project C-SINK Project because they´re CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal) technologies If you want to know more about the project 👉 https://lnkd.in/dqUdk4UR #CDR #environment #Afforestation #ArtificialSoil #CarbonDioxideRemoval

Hey connections, Today we celebrate #Happy_World_Environment_Day_2024 World Environment Day Is Observed Annually On June 5. The United Nations General Assembly Declared June 5 As #World_Environment_Day During The Stockholm Conference In 1972. The First World Environment Day Was Celebrated In 1973 Under The Theme 'Only One Earth'. This Year, The Theme Of World Environment Day Is - "Land #Restoration, #Desertification, And #Drought_Resilience.' Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience- a call to action for GenerationRestoration. As we reflect on the significance of this day, Let's remember that our land is not just a plot of soil - it's the foundation of life and livelihoods. The alarming rate of land degradation demands our immediate attention. Unsustainable practices in agriculture, deforestation, and overgrazing have led us to the brink of desertification. But there is hope. This World Environment Day, let's pledge to: - 🌱 #Support_sustainable farming and reforestation efforts. - 💧 #Promote_water_conservation and drought resilience. - 🤝 #Collaborate_with_communities to restore degraded lands. Our land. Our future. Let's be the change we wish to see in the world. Join me in embracing the spirit of restoration and resilience. Together, we are #GenerationRestoration. #environment #Agriculture

Climate change poses significant threats to various sectors, including agriculture, biodiversity, and human health (Abbass et al., 2022). Mitigation strategies are crucial to address these impacts. Watershed management practices, such as field bunds, contour bunding, and trenching, can help mitigate adverse effects, although they may become more expensive with increasing rainfall intensity. Analysis has showed that percent increase in the cross section of field bunds in medium soil is expected to be 33.3, 71.1 and 113.3% with an expected increase in one-day maximum rainfall by 20, 40 and 60%, respectively, over the cross section corresponding to the one-day maximum for the base period of 1961 - 1990. To address the rising costs and environmental impact of traditional soil and water conservation measures, it is essential to explore innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable bio-engineering solutions. #Energy #ESG #Innovation #Sustainability #climatechange Jeremy Riro

Going with the Grain: Changing land uses to fit a changing landscape. Released yesterday from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, this is an interesting read. “We need to change the way we use our land if we are to hold the line on environmental quality, let alone improve it.” I absolutely tautoko this statement. Land use practices have always changed over the years, the reasons for it now are different but the process has always happened. And it’s time for a transformational shift now if we are to achieve outcomes for freshwater, biodiversity and climate emissions. But, we need all the settings in place and all the support and innovation and good policy and case studies and leaders to enable this transition. This report unpacks some of this. We could get this right or we could bury our heads in the sand and remain as status quo. Remaining status quo would be disastrous. In the end, markets will define this but we need to be ahead of the game, adaptable and innovative. I believe Aotearoa can be world leaders in this space. Let’s not wait for further degradation to happen before we act. “Moving to more diverse landscapes has been proposed as a way to mitigate environmental pressures and enhance resilience. #landusechange #adaptation #agriculture #horticulture #landuse #Aotearoa https://lnkd.in/g9MtQGUx

This information highlights the critical state of our planet's soil and its profound implications for food security, biodiversity, and economic stability. The degradation of soil not only threatens agricultural productivity but also poses risks to forests, wetlands, and overall ecosystem health. With such a significant portion of the global GDP relying on healthy soil, it is imperative that we take immediate and concerted action to counter this trend. To address this issue, we can focus on several key actions: 1. Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Promote regenerative agriculture techniques that enhance soil health, such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage. 2. Reforestation and Afforestation: Implement projects to restore degraded lands through planting trees and restoring natural habitats to improve biodiversity. 3. Soil Conservation Policies: Advocate for policies that protect soil resources, including land-use planning and incentives for sustainable land management. 4. Public Awareness and Education: Increase awareness about the importance of soil health in schools, communities, and through media campaigns to mobilise public support. 5. Investment in Research: Support research initiatives that focus on soil health, restoration techniques, and innovative agricultural practices. By taking these steps, we can work towards a more sustainable future that values and protects our vital soil resources. #SoilHealth #SustainableAgriculture #Biodiversity #ClimateResilience #FoodSecurity #LandDegradation #RegenerativeAgriculture #EcoRestoration #SoilConservation #UNCCD #Urth

As we seek to capture the resilience dividend, how do we account for the value of #rain in our cost-benefit analyses? University of Miami Climate Resilience Institute's friend and colleague Henk Ovink, head of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, delivered the opening remarks for the "conservation and restoration of water-related ecosystems for peace with nature" panel at #COP16. The Commission's recent report (linked below) explains the importance of #greenwater, the part of the water cycle that flows through soil and is catalyzed into rain by the evapotranspiration of plants. Every #SustainableDevelopmentGoal (SDG) assumes a stable water cycle, but half of the world's rain comes from forests, he said. Deforestation, agricultural conversion, and urban expansion can reduce rainfall and further increase vulnerability. Mr. Constantino Aucca Chutas, founder of Acción Andina and a UN 2022 Champion of the Earth laureate in Inspiration and Action, had the last word: "Conservation without money is just conversation. If that doesn't include local and native communities, it's a bad conversation."

Today is World Environment Day "We cannot turn back time, but we can grow forests, revive water sources, and bring back soils. We are the generation that can make peace with land." This is the mantra of #Worldenviromentday. This year, the focus is on #generationrestoration; if you want to find out how to get involved, look at their website here👉✍ https://lnkd.in/eS82u8uW

🌍 #ClimateFarmDemo & ClimateSmartAdvisors Knowledge Exchange Week – Join Us on 9th December! 🌱 As part of the Knowledge Exchange Week, we’re hosting two insightful sessions on December 9th, addressing key challenges in agriculture and climate change: 1️⃣ Water Management in Agriculture 📅 Time: 1 hour 🎤 Organizers: Maria Ingham Mendonça & Luís Mira da Silva (CFD) 🔗 https://lnkd.in/daax6NCu Explore the challenges of water management in the Iberian region under climate change. Topics include integrated water resource management, the effects of changing weather patterns, and strategies for addressing water scarcity through efficiency, governance, and economic measures. 2️⃣ Impacts of Tillage on GHG Emissions 📅 Time: 1 hour 🎤 Organizers: Pete Berry (CFD) & Céline Bourlet (CSA) 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dJxs6hfs Learn about the impact of tillage practices on greenhouse gas emissions, with practical insights into zero tillage, conservation agriculture, energy use for cultivation, and carbon sequestration, followed by a discussion. Don’t miss these sessions filled with knowledge-sharing and practical solutions for sustainable agriculture! 🌱 #ClimateSmartAdvisors #KnowledgeExchange #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateChange #HorizonEurope #WaterManagement #CropsManagement #GHGEmissions #SmartAgriculture

Today is World Soil Day 🌱 This year's theme, "caring for soils: measure, monitor, manage", highlights the importance of soil in our planet's survival, from environmental concerns to food security. As signatories to the UN SDG Publishers Compact, our mission is to support progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include three goals closely aligned with World Soil Day's theme: Zero Hunger, Climate Action and Life on Land. In honour of this, our journal Soil Research has released a collection of Open Access articles that support the SDGs and provide innovative insights into soil conservation, carbon sequestration, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem health. Explore the collection: https://lnkd.in/gPwxU55W #SoilResearch #WorldSoilDay #SoilHealth #UNSDGs #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #SDGPublishersCompact #SoilsRotorua2024

#LAMASUS_EU is excited to share key insights from the second Stakeholder Board Workshop that was held in March 2024! Simon Kay from DG CLIMA presented the challenges and complexities associated with EU land use policies in the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation. His presentation covered anticipated changes in land use as the EU progresses towards climate neutrality, outlining the potential hurdles ahead. Simon provided an overview of the anticipated carbon sink for various sectors by 2040. He emphasized the interconnectedness of climate, biodiversity, and land use policies, highlighting the necessity of robust monitoring to understand their interdependencies. Furthermore, he introduced upcoming policy tools, such as the Climate Target Plan, LULUCF, Carbon Removal Certification Framework, and the proposal for a Monitoring Framework for resilient European forests. Again, there is a need for monitoring to check compliance with these targets. LAMASUS stakeholders raised concerns, including the heightened bureaucracy for farmers, and different policy objectives hampering clarity and flexibility. Questions were raised regarding why agroforestry is not counted towards carbon removal, the role of wood as a construction material, and the role of satellite monitoring systems to measure carbon potential.   Simon addressed these issues by highlighting the importance of agriculture in carbon sequestration and discussing potential policy approaches. He emphasized the need for balanced policies that consider both climate goals and nature conservation, while also acknowledging the importance of protecting individual farms and minimising bureaucratic burdens. Read the full summary of the Stakeholder Board workshop ➡ https://lnkd.in/eY-HjHud #landuse #policymaking #landusepolicies #agriculture #climatechange #carbonsequestration #natureconservation