General

The State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources

Introduction

Produced by FAO, this document reviews the state of the world forests as of 2020. The authors cite that forest provide valuable goods and services that benefit human well-being, particularly forest genetic resources (FGR). Yet these are threatened by an exponentially increasing human population, overexploitation, and landscape conversion. 

Open access copy available

Nursery management, tree propagation and marketing: A training manual for smallholder farmers and nursery operators

Introduction

Published by ICRAF, this manual is intended to provide training support aimed at farmers and nursery operators to promote the propogation and establishment of small-scale nurseries. 

Goals & Methods

To achieve the aim of encouraging superior techniques and materials for superior planting, the document offers five modules. Each module covers a different step in the nursery establishment process, from sourcing and selecting seeds to establishing a nursery business. 

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Nucleation in tropical ecological restoration

background

Due to centuraries of human development, there is a need to restore degraded areas and reconcile productive uses of land with conservation goals. One means of ecological restoration is facilitation, which aims to accrue positive interactions between species. Nucleation has been shown as a effective stategy for facilitation. 

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Marco para evaluar el alcance y la eficacia de la forestería de base comunitaria

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Antecedentes

Organizaciones internacionales como la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO) y la Iniciativa de Derechos y Recursos (RRI) han evaluado las tendencias mundiales del desarrollo de la forestería a base comunitaria (FBC) y la tenencia de bosques. Sin embargo, existe una escasez de información relacionada a el alcance y la efectividad de distintos estilos de FBC alrededor del mundo.

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IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions

BACKGROUND

This manual from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) contains a framework for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in terms of its verification, design and scaling up. It provides answers on key questions on NbS:  why there is a need for the standard, what does the standard do, who can use the standard, and how can the standard be used. More importantly, it highlights the importance of working with nature and its immense potential of addressing a plethora of societal changes through initiatives that “protect, manage, and restore the environment.”

Open access copy available

Core principles for successfully implementing and upscaling Nature-based Solutions

BACKGROUND

The degradation of the natural environment continues to impact on biodiversity, human health and well-being notwithstanding various initiatives to restore ecosystems and conserve the diversity of life within it. Increasing the interface between conservation and sustainable development goals through the Nature-based Solution (NbS) framework show promising results. However, there is a need to address the gaps to effectively implement, assess and upscale NbS programs in different parts of the world

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Mountains and Climate Change: A Global Concern

BACKGROUND

Mountains play a significant role as global biodiversity hotspots and sources of fresh water.  However, climate change implications may have negative effects on the services they provide such as water availability, irrigation, urbanization, industrialization, and hydropower generation. Negative climate change impacts may also expose the mountains to more intense and frequent hazards.

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Leverage points for improving global food security and the environment

BACKGROUND

Meeting global food demands is still a challenge, yet agriculture has been one of the main driving forces of greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, this study focused on identifying small regions, actions that can be taken and crops with a potential of increasing global yields, with an efficient system of food delivery and reducing the negative impacts of agriculture on the environment.

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INTEGRATING GREEN AND GRAY: Creating Next Generation Infrastructure

BACKGROUND

As a joint undertaking of the World Bank and World Resources Institute, this report highlights how the next generation infrastructure can integrate natural systems (green infrastructure) with traditional, built projects (gray infrastructure). By advocating the “putting nature to work” thinking, the report provides a guide to developing countries on how to incorporate natural capital to projects in order to increase the quality of the services and reduce the total costs. It also features case studies of successful projects on how natural systems contribute to infrastructure services ranging from water purification and storage to flood management.

Open access copy available

Nature-Based Transformative Adaptation: a practical handbook

BACKGROUND

This handbook, designed for project managers and policy makers, focuses on transformative adaptation. It can act as a guide during policy decision-making processes and in designing adaptation initiatives and plans. The handbook provides concrete examples of nature-based transformative approaches done on the ground. With the current shifts in social and ecological conditions brought about by Climate Change, this handbook considers transformative adaptation as the most suitable solution.

Open access copy available
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