Uploads from Chemonics International, tagged tree

Mortí Forest Inventory

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:26:56 -0800

Community members from Mortí participate in the development phase of the community forest inventory. Forest inventories help determine the overall health of the forest including how much of it exists, where it exists and how it is changing.

Climate Change Activities in Panama

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:29:46 -0800

Chemonics International posted a photo:

Children of the Bijagual Peña community in Panama’s Darien forest smile for the camera during the first visit of the USAID/FCD climate change team for logistical preparation and coordination of community based emergency preparedness workshops. Climate change activities are part of a recently added component to help communities prepare for emergencies as the result of extreme weather conditions.

Portable Sawmill in Darien

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:27:17 -0800

Chemonics International posted a photo:

A community member hard at work using a portable sawmill procured through USAID/FCD. USAID/FCD has coordinated with GreenLife Group to train community members to use portable sawmills. These sawmills not only will allow for more efficient forest use but will also generate more income for the communities.

Organic compost workshop in Darien, Panama

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:29:43 -0800

Chemonics International posted a photo:

Women participate in organic compost workshops led by the USAID/FCD team, addressing the project’s commitment to integrate gender within the plantain value chain and agro-forestry activities.

Harvest Preparation in Mortí, Darien, Panama

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:27:06 -0800

Chemonics International posted a photo:

A community member from Mortí, in the Wargandí comarca, prepares for the 2012 forest harvest during the directional felling workshop conducted by USAID/FCD.

IFAD Students participate in training modules

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:29:09 -0800

Chemonics International posted a photo:

Students from the Forestry and Agricultural Institute of Darien (IFAD) participate in a series of training modules designed to further their knowledge of forestry and biodiversity while also providing hands-on experience.

Maldives Beach Trees

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:23:55 -0700

Chemonics International posted a photo:

Submitted by Julie Lohela

With an average ground level of four feet 11 inches, the Republic of the Maldives is the lowest country on the planet. It is also the smallest Asian country in both population and land area. Comprised of 1,192 islands and 396,000 people, the Maldives is a Muslim country in the Indian Ocean located 250 miles south-west of India; 96 percent of the islands are smaller than one km2 and of the 203 inhabited islands, only 16 have a population greater than 2000!

It was to this small island nation that Kadi Warner and I traveled this past June to prepare our response to USAID’s RFP: Enhance Climate Resiliency and Water Security in the Maldives Program. Given its unique topographical and geographic characteristics, the Maldives is especially vulnerable to climate-related hazards, including extreme rainfall events, droughts, rising sea levels, damaging winds, and elevated water and air temperatures. After the 2004 tsunami, the Maldivian population became acutely aware of their vulnerability to climate change, as well as the high population density (the capital Male is less than 2 km2 yet has a population of 103,000) rapid population growth, and their high dependence on climate-sensitive industries such as fisheries, agriculture, and tourism.

Rather ironically for a nation surrounded by water, water security is a major concern in the Maldives and climate change has the potential to have a major impact on both quantity and quality of the country‘s freshwater resources. Groundwater, rainwater, and desalinated water are the main sources of drinking water in the country. In the outer islands, groundwater represents more than 98 percent of total water consumption. However, the 2004 tsunami compromised much of this freshwater lens and with water tables only 1-2 meters below ground level, poorly built septic tanks, and soak pits are contaminating more and more of the ground water. Rainwater is used mainly for drinking and cooking and most households have a 2.5m3 collection tank, in addition to community tanks. The lack of catchment and storage space is a significant restraint to collecting more rainwater. Finally, desalination is an expensive and energy-consumptive option when there is insufficient space for rainwater harvesting, such as in Male. As of 2006, about 35 percent of Maldivians had access to desalinated water. Despite the different methods of obtaining potable water, the government is routinely called upon to deliver emergency water to the outer islands. There were 60 requests for ships to deliver water to islands during last year's dry season representing a cost of more than $1million to the government.

The purpose of the Enhancing Climate Resiliency and Water Security Program is to help create two climate resilient islands in the north of the country, which will both have improved water and sanitation systems that can be managed by the newly decentralized regional utilities. This photo was taken near the northern airport of Hanimaadhoo while Kadi and I were waiting to walk from our water taxi to the prop plane that would take us back to the bustling capital. With no space for sandy beaches or palm trees in Male, this was a rare moment on our trip to snap a classic picture of the turquoise blue waters and white beaches one would expect to find in this island nation.

Tree Nursery

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:14:58 -0700

Chemonics International posted a photo:

The USAID Sustainable Forests and Coasts project is working to provide sustainable livelihoods to the inhabitants of the Ecuadoran coastal and mangrove regions whilst ensuring conservation of rare and diverse natural resources and habitats. Part of the efforts of the Project is to work with local government partners such as Proforestal in agro-forestry and the reforestation of farms, rivers and estuaries. In this photo from 2010, Fabiola Mosquera Works in a tree nursery in the Caimito community of the Esmeraldas province. Reforestation will not only replace threatened indigenous plant species and restore natural habitats, but also provide a source of income for the local population through agro-forestry.

Photo Credit: Cristobal Rodas, USAID Sustainable Forests and Coasts Project.

Colegio Galera 1

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:14:06 -0700

Chemonics International posted a photo:

The USAID Sustainable Forests and Coasts project is working to provide sustainable livelihoods to the inhabitants of the Ecuadoran coastal and mangrove regions whilst ensuring conservation of rare and diverse natural resources and habitats. Part of this effort includes promoting and teaching environmental care and preservation techniques to the local population and institutions. Above, students from the Galera Technical School in the Esmeraldas province in 2010 learn conservation techniques and the critical importance of protecting their natural resources to guarantee the survival and success of their communities.

Photo Credit: Carlos Martinetti (Conservación y Desarrollo), USAID Sustainable Forests and Coasts Project.

Field Training Schools

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:13:55 -0700

Chemonics International posted a photo:

Through activities such as field training schools, the Sustainable Forests and Coasts project has been teaching best management practices in topics such as reducing or eliminating pesticides, shifting from monoculture to agro-forestry schemes and preventing erosion.

Colegio Galera 2

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:14:13 -0700

Chemonics International posted a photo:

The USAID Sustainable Forests and Coasts project is working to provide sustainable livelihoods to the inhabitants of the Ecuadoran coastal and mangrove regions whilst ensuring conservation of rare and diverse natural resources and habitats. Part of this effort includes promoting and teaching environmental care and preservation techniques to the local population and institutions. Above, students from the Galera Technical School in the Esmeraldas province in 2010 learn conservation techniques and the critical importance of protecting their natural resources to guarantee the survival and success of their communities.

Photo Credit: Carlos Martinetti (Conservación y Desarrollo), USAID Sustainable Forests and Coasts Project.

Nairobi National Park

nobody@flickr.com (Chemonics International) — Mon, 09 May 2011 07:50:24 -0700

Chemonics International posted a photo:

Submitted by Adrian Limmen.

Nairobi National Park! It's a short trip from Nairobi if you are only in town for a short time and cannot do a safari. We saw giraffes, rhinos, impalas, and lots of different birds, but if you have more time and a good guide you can see other things as well. We had a Prius so we could sneak up on the animals and not scare them off.