Global warming and climate-change is a global issue and solutions to avert climate change from tipping over and slow down global warming should likewise be global in nature.   

"While we are relatively small individually…I believe that working together for a greater purpose, we can achieve our goals; many in body and one in mind." Ken Lee, Lotus Foods.

 ZIDOFA's attainment of near completed status for the targetted closed-loop organic SRI rice value chain in the span of just two years despite the absence of a resident sponsoring NGO or support organization is attributable to its strategic partnerships with both private organizations and government agencies.  As such, the various components of the value chain, mainly infrastructure, logistical and equipment support were granted by varying organizations and agencies.

At the start of the project, ZIDOFA submitted the Project Plan to as many private and government entities as possible and a year after project start, also submitted Executive Briefs to heads of agencies outlining the milestones, achievements and constraints met by the farmers.  As such, by year two, the concerned organizations and agencies were well aware of the project and eventually became project partners thereby setting an unprecedented model for convergence.

Financing the plantation of trees in poor developing countries is impossible. Banks need collateral but in general there is common land ownership and no kadaster. Often the population register is not complete so banks do not know where the money lender lives. At last trees start to produce after 5 to 7 years and banks want the interest and redemption as of the first year, so the money lender cannot pay its loan. For this reason not enough productive trees are planted, although agroforestry would be the best solution for dry and eroded countries.

The planting of trees in combination with vegetables offers a possibility to microfinance the planting. The trees cause long term cashflow, the vegetables produce food for the family, and they can sell their overproduction which causes the short term cashflow. The short term cashflow enables them to pay their microfinance. The microfinance can be done with a revolving fund.

The vegetables production in combination with the efficient water use, offers a possibility to reforest the world with productive trees. 

The microfinance can be given by a revolving fund. The money lender lends money, repays within a year, the fund can lend it again. This system can repeat itself eternally.

The Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology consists of 5 building blocks:

1) Growboxx®/Waterboxx® plant cocoon

​intelligent bucket

Provides water to a tree and vegetables while creating a healthy micro-climate. Both boxes use 90% less water and provide a survival rate of +90%.

2) (Bio)Growsafe Telescoprotexx

protects plants

Plant protector against heat, frost, wind, (sand)storms, and grazing animals. Protects plants and speeds up to plant growth. Available in carton or polypropylene.

3) Growmaxx Mycorrhizae

assists and/or replaces fertilizer

Fungi that feed the plant and support a healthy root system. Fertilizers contain salt and in dry soil often burn the roots. Mycorrhizae replace expensive fertilizers (natural alternative) while supporting faster plant.

4) Capillary Drill

elevates planting productivity

Machine used to accelerate making planting holes while leaving the capillary system intact. Digging planting holes by hand takes 15 min/hole (32 – 40 holes/day). Capillary drill makes 6.000 holes per day.

5) Terracedixx

increases water infiltration

Machine is used to make mini-terraces to stimulate increased rainwater infiltration into the soil. Currently just 25% of (rain)water enters the soil in degraded areas, by using the Terracedixx up to 90% is harvested.

The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network offers a range of certification programs that promote best practice standards for farming and ranching enterprises around the world. These standards represent global best practice with input from the appropriate experts to ensure that a) key species of wildlife are protected for net positive impact and b) local communities are actively involved.

The central core point for this solution is the sustainability concept of intervention. Three main components of sustainability are addressed and exercised by the youth and all chain actors. By this organic honey production fits to the sustainability issues. From our business slogan “No tree, No bee, No honey, No money” one can understand, how it is really in line with sustainability. In our intervention we a have a vision to see happy beekeepers, healthy environment and quality honey. This approach also helps us to get a market for our product.  

As this was DRC’s first experience in applying both the Eco-DRR, as well as IWRM approach, it was critically important to progressively develop and strengthen capacities over time, which involved:

• Awareness-raising;
• training and workshops;
• Hands-on learning activities in the field demonstration sites;
• Field visits and study tours both in the country and in the region.

There was a total of 71 trainings and workshops. These covered general meetings (inception and presentation); national awareness raising workshops on Eco-DRR and IWRM; workshops related to IWRM, the role of Eco-DRR in IWRM and action planning; trainings on hydro-meteorological monitoring, soil erosion monitoring and flood risk modelling; training on agroforestry and value chain production; and trainings on soil loss monitoring and bioengineering to reduce soil erosion.

The project invested significantly in building capacity for Eco-DRR implementation. Firstly, awareness raising for different audiences (communities in the project area, government, university and other local and national audiences) was conducted by various means such as radio, conferences, workshops, factsheets and posters, 3D model and video.

Secondly various workshops on Eco-DRR implementation were undertaken at the local level to instruct on nursery management, early warning and preparedness, community resilience centre management, as well as trainers training. Field demonstrations and practical trainings at the provincial and national level served as a basis for strengthening Provincial and National Governments’ understanding of Eco-DRR practice in order to sustain future implementation and replication of Eco-DRR measures.

Finally, the project involved universities in Afghanistan in national and provincial EcoDRR conferences and trainings, in an effort to mainstream Eco-DRR concepts and practical knowledge in university programmes.

The success of the National Marine Sanctuary will largely depend upon the quality of its marine surveillance and enforcement. As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Palau lacks the resources to adequately patrol its waters.  Throughout the process of developing and implementing the PNMS, Palau has sought active partnerships with fellow nations, NGO’s and technology providers to develop and fund a comprehensive monitoring, control and surveillance strategy.  Palau now looks forward to numerous contributions to its surveillance and enforcement capacity in the coming months.

Joint migratory bird monitoring programmes and support of common scientific and management projects to promote conservation and management of the natural resources of the Wadden Sea and Banc d’Arguin. The ambition is for the two sites to take lead in simultaneous counts along the entire East Atlantic Flyway in order to get a full picture on the status of migratory bird populations using the flyway. Research on migratory birds in the Wadden Sea and Banc d'Arguin is closely interconnected and significant for all other wintering, breeding and staging sites along the flyway. Thus, only scientific cooperation can reach a holistic perception of the flyway and a common basis for successful management.

Regular exchange visits and exchange of know-how between experts and site managers. These meetings are means of capacity building with harmonised values and methods taught and practiced both in Banc d’Arguin and the Wadden Sea. Common monitoring and management methods are harmonized and a shared level of knowledge and understanding is created. Participants are scientists, site managers and other experts of the respective protected areas.