Category: Environments

2024 is the year in which people should put into practice all that they have planned and designed so far. Certainly, the goal of no more deforestation or preventing climate change does not ask for new strategies, it wants unyielding action now.

World Rainforest Day is observed annually on the 22nd of June and is an initiative of Rainforest Partnership established in 2017, The day aims to raise awareness on the role of standing forests for climate, nature, biodiversity, culture and People, and also build a platform with a collective vision for the protection and restoration of the world’s remaining rainforests. From 2021 to 2023, we have been the global convener of the Annual World Rainforest Day Summit. Brought to life by 105 collaborating organizations and attendees from 77 countries, the Summits facilitated knowledge exchange and community building with one shared purpose, for this operationalizing of resilience and its employment in a targeted way to advance the sustainable protection of forests. In 2024, we extended further and introduced the World Rainforest Day pledge program to advance rainforest and climate solutions today globally.

Global awareness about the need to protect rainforests — home to over 50% of plant life, a third of all animals, and a source of much of the world’s oxygen — is the purpose for launching the initiative. The concept of World Rainforest Day 2024 is ‘Empowering the World in Defense of Our Rainforests’.

Rainforests

So let’s get a brief understanding of Rainforests. A rainforest can be described as a geographic location that features forests with a high level of precipitation throughout the year more so the year-round heavy rainfall. The majority of rainforests occur in regions of the tropics, yet some tropical rainforests can be identified in temperate zones such as the Pacific Northwest of NORTH AMERICA or Tasmania. While occupying less than 6% of the Earth’s surface, rainforests yield roughly 50% of the world’s animal species, and plants as well as 90% of the species of many animals, including monkeys, birds, frogs, spiders and insects. 

New plant, insect, and animal species are being found today in the same way they used to be discovered several years ago. The Amazon rainforest, for example, is believed to harbour up to eight hundred thousand and this is a single floor of this diverse building. This diversity, in addition to being a storehouse of valuable genes, supplies most of the consumables we actively employ in our everyday life routine; coffee and fruits we consume day by day, cosmetics we wash with, or medications that alleviate our pain – though such list is far from exhaustive.

One key aspect that is important to highlight is that rainforests have a significant function in climate control and carbon storage. Stomata, the minute pores on the surface of leaves, release water in the form of vapour known as transpiration that aids in the creation of atmospheric rivers, which transport moisture over long distances across continents and bring rainfall to parts of the planet that may not see a drop of rain for years.

Rainforests are significant carbon reservoirs, or what is known as carbon repositories, because they help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air through photosynthesis. Tree plants use CO2 for photosynthesis and release oxygen into the atmosphere, and carbon is sequestered both, in tree trunks and branches, and the ground. As for the terrestrial biospheric carbon pool, the Amazon Rainforest alone is calculated to contain tens of billions of tons of carbon. Apart from gaining the greenhouse effect by lowering the quantity of CO2 in the atmosphere, the stated procedure facilitates the carbon cycle, which is one of the natural lifecycle processes that more or less regulate the climate of the Earth. Due to their complex structure and their ability to store and sequester carbon as well as control climate within large land masses, rainforests remain humanity’s biggest assets in mitigating and even in some cases reversing some of the disastrous outcomes that are associated with climate change.

Cultural and Human Importance

People who still live in rainforests continue to practice the ancient ways of life and are therefore a source of diverse cultures. The vast geographic area, about one-third of the area covered by the rainforests of the world, is occupied by more than 30 million heads of families, 350 indigenous and ethnos of the population with their unique culture and traditions. Within the geographical location of Papua New Guinea (PNG), which is ten million people in rainforest country, more than eight hundred languages are used. Central African rainforests, especially the Congolian Lowland, also host many linguistic and cultural diverse groups.

Most of these individuals rely directly on rainforests for their sources of income, everyday needs and other necessities in life. Farming, fishing, and hunting activities are particularly associated with a cultural perspective on the means of subsistence and social organization. Indigenous inhabitants of the rainforest areas have unique practices that can help promote the conservation of forests, agriculture practices and various scientific practices associated with the rainforest. These are learnt from generations and act as key factors in the conservation of ecosystems and human community welfare. It has to be pointed out that Indigenous and local people living in rainforests are integral to the protection of the latter as well as to the promotion of sustainable, long-lasting systems, which can and should involve them, as they possess invaluable knowledge that is necessary for restructuring existing systems and creating novel nature-based solutions. It is crucial to acknowledge and facilitate the rights, knowledge, and engagement of indigenous and local communities.

The Global Importance of Rainforest Conservation

World Rainforest Day is a yearly event which takes place on 22nd June. This day is observed to help people develop an understanding of how forests, especially tropical rainforests, are important for the functionality of the earth and why they should be preserved.

Rainforests are located in all the continents across the globe excluding the South pole or Antarctica. The two major rainforests today are located in the continent of South America near the Amazon River and in Africa near the Congo River. Southeast Asia has tropical islands and Australia as well as rainforests. That is, the temperate rainforests of the coastal and mountain regions of the Pacific Northwest of North America as well as Northern Europe also represent a kind of rainforest.

Tropical moist forests more popularly known as rainforests are the oldest ecosystems on earth with some having remained as they are for at least seventy million years. They are highly fertile, self-contained ecosystems that support over one-half of all species of plants and animals on the planet despite accounting for only 6% of Earth’s surface area. So, rainforests are incredibly packed with vegetation and animal density; even a one sq km area may contain up to 150 species of flowers, 75 trees, 40 species of birds, and 15 butterflies.

There is nothing quite as significant as the amount of bio-diversity that is found within rainforest regions as it is vital to our health and the overall existence of the planet. Rainforests play an important role in climate change on our planet – the so-called climate moderators – as well as provide us with many of the products that are part of our daily use. Human encroachment and particularly industrial and agricultural development, however, are reported to have taken a toll on the health of world rainforests. People, their governments, Intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as well as conservation organizations are doing their best to conserve such important but vulnerable ecosystems.

Therefore, as a message for the future WORLD RAINFOREST DAY, everyone should contribute to conserving these important biomes. This means calling for more aggressive actions that will reverse the deforestation process that has caused climate changes thus leading to more problems for the already threatened forests that need to be preserved for the benefit of future generations.

Permaculture, a contraction of “permanent agriculture,” was developed in Australia in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. It’s a design system for sustainable land use and living, grounded in ecological principles and three key ethics: care of the Earth, care of people, and fair share. Permaculture is a global movement dedicated to creating a sustainable future through the application of permaculture design principles. Inspired by nature, it seeks to develop self-sufficient and sustainable farming systems that prioritize natural productivity, resilience, crop diversity, and overall sustainability.

Understanding the Ethos of Permaculture

At the core of permaculture is a deep respect for nature and a strong grasp of ecological principles. The three key ethics—Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share—guide every aspect of permaculture design and practice.

Earth Care values all living beings and ecosystems, focusing on rebuilding natural resources and restoring ecological balance. This involves promoting soil health, conserving water, protecting biodiversity, and reducing environmental impact.

People Care highlights the connection between human well-being and the natural world. It aims to meet human needs while promoting resilience, fairness, and community unity. Providing access to necessities like food, water, and shelter, as well as nurturing social connections and emotional health, are key aspects of people’s care.

Fair Share promotes fairness by distributing resources equally and sharing any surplus. It encourages responsible consumption, sustainable resource management, and collective efforts to address inequalities and create a fairer and more sustainable society.

These principles, influenced by various cultural traditions and indigenous knowledge, are the basis of permaculture. They help individuals and communities develop a balanced and respectful connection with the Earth and with one another.

The Essence of Permaculture Design

Permaculture design is a dynamic and multidisciplinary method for developing sustainable systems that imitate the strength and variety of natural ecosystems. It combines ecological principles, social dynamics, and cutting-edge technologies to create productive, resilient, and self-sufficient landscapes, habitats, and human settlements.

Permaculture design is based on a set of principles that are inspired by observing natural patterns and processes. These principles, developed by Mollison and Holmgren, provide a foundation for creating systems that are efficient, diverse, and harmonious while reducing waste and reliance on external resources.

Some key principles of permaculture design include:

• Observation and Interaction: Take the time to carefully observe and understand the patterns and dynamics of natural systems before taking action. This will help make informed decisions and create responsive designs.
• Catch and Store Energy: Utilize renewable energy sources like sunlight, wind, and water, and store them for future use. This can be done through methods like collecting rainwater, harnessing solar power, and implementing passive heating and cooling techniques.
• Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services: Give priority to using renewable resources and ecological services instead of finite or non-renewable alternatives. This involves utilizing natural processes like nutrient cycling, pollination, and soil regeneration.
• Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback: Design systems that can regulate themselves and adapt to feedback from the environment and stakeholders. This includes promoting resilience, diversity, and redundancy within the systems to withstand disturbances and shocks.
• Produce No Waste: Minimize waste by designing systems that use all outputs as inputs for other components. Permaculture focuses on creating zero-waste systems that are efficient and productive.
• Integrate Rather Than Segregate: Create interconnected systems where each element serves multiple functions to enhance resilience and productivity. This fosters symbiotic relationships between different components.
• Use Small and Slow Solutions: Opt for small-scale, decentralized interventions over large-scale, centralized solutions for greater adaptability and resilience in uncertain conditions.
• Diversity: Enhance resilience and ecosystem health by promoting biodiversity and genetic diversity within systems. Incorporating a wide range of species and functional groups helps systems withstand pests, diseases, and environmental changes.

By applying these principles in conjunction with the ethics of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share, permaculture designers can create thriving ecosystems and communities that benefit both people and the planet.

Applications of Permaculture

Permaculture principles and techniques are used in various areas, such as agriculture, agroforestry, urban planning, and community development. Some notable examples of permaculture practices include:

• Regenerative Agriculture: Permaculture takes a comprehensive approach to farming that focuses on the health of the soil, biodiversity, and the resilience of ecosystems. Methods like agroforestry, polyculture, composting, and no-till farming are commonly used to increase productivity while minimizing harm to the environment.
• Water Management: Permaculture offers innovative solutions for sustainable water management, such as collecting rainwater, creating swales and ponds, and using water-efficient irrigation systems. By effectively capturing, storing, and utilizing rainwater, permaculturists can combat droughts, prevent erosion, and replenish underground water sources.
• Ecological Building Design: Permaculture principles are applied in the design and construction of eco-friendly buildings that reduce energy consumption, utilize natural materials, and promote healthy indoor air quality. Techniques like passive solar design, natural ventilation, and green roofs are integrated to create comfortable and energy-efficient living spaces.
• Community Resilience: Permaculture promotes community resilience by encouraging local self-sufficiency, social unity, and collaborative decision-making. Initiatives like community gardens, cooperative housing, tool-sharing networks, and skill-building workshops empower individuals and communities to meet their needs sustainably.
• Habitat Restoration: Permaculture methods help restore damaged ecosystems like farmland, deforested areas, and urban brownfields. By bringing back native plants, improving soil quality, and establishing wildlife corridors, permaculture experts aid in conserving biodiversity and rejuvenating ecosystems.
• Waste Management: Permaculture focuses on reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting to manage both organic and non-organic waste. Methods like vermicomposting, biochar production, and upcycling are used to reduce landfill waste and produce beneficial resources for soil health and plant development.

These are just a few examples of how permaculture principles can be applied to create sustainable, resilient, and regenerative systems across various scales and contexts.

The Environmental Impact of Permaculture

Permaculture holds immense potential to mitigate environmental degradation, restore ecosystems, and build resilience in the face of climate change. By promoting biodiversity, enhancing soil health, conserving water resources, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, permaculture practices contribute to a more sustainable and ecologically balanced world.

• Biodiversity Preservation: Permaculture designs prioritize the integration of various plant and animal species, creating habitats that support a wide range of native plants and animals. By imitating natural ecosystems, permaculture systems help protect biodiversity and endangered species.
• Soil Revitalization: Permaculture techniques like composting, mulching and cover cropping improve soil health and fertility, increasing its ability to store carbon, retain water, and support plant growth. Healthy soils are crucial for agriculture, carbon storage, and ecosystem resilience.
• Water Conservation: Permaculture emphasizes water conservation and efficient use through methods like rainwater harvesting, contour bunding, and greywater recycling. By collecting and storing rainwater, permaculture systems reduce the need for irrigation, alleviate water scarcity, and mitigate the impacts of droughts and floods.
• Carbon Storage: Permaculture practices contribute to carbon storage by enhancing vegetation cover, promoting agroforestry, and increasing organic matter in soils. By storing carbon in plants and soil, permaculture systems help combat climate change and improve climate resilience.
• Erosion Prevention: Permaculture techniques such as contour ploughing, terracing, and windbreaks help prevent soil erosion and land degradation. By stabilizing slopes, improving ground cover, and reducing runoff, permaculture systems protect soil health and maintain the integrity of ecosystems.
• Pollution Reduction: Permaculture promotes organic farming practices, non-toxic pest control methods, and closed-loop nutrient cycles, reducing the use of synthetic inputs and minimizing pollution of air, water, and soil. By adopting regenerative agricultural practices, permaculture systems mitigate environmental pollution and promote the health of ecosystems.

To sum up, permaculture provides a comprehensive and interconnected approach to addressing environmental degradation, food insecurity, social inequity, and climate change. By following the principles of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share, permaculture enables individuals and communities to establish regenerative systems that support the land, livelihoods, and thriving ecosystems for future generations.

In conclusion, permaculture goes beyond mere techniques or practices; it encompasses a mindset and lifestyle that harmonizes with nature. By embracing Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share, we can utilize the transformative potential of permaculture to build a sustainable, fair, and resilient world for everyone.

You might be surprised to learn that many species on our planet have endured up to 5,000 years of silence, witnessing the birth and fall of entire civilizations. They are not mythical creatures or ancient figures from forgotten lore; they are simply trees. Join us in this article into the heart of Earth’s landscapes, where arboreal (pertaining to trees) giants like Methuselah stand as living records of our planet’s past. Prepare to discover the secrets of these silent guardians of time as their stories of persistence and strength unfold in the vastness of our natural world.

As we travel across vast landscapes, certain trees emerge as eternal witnesses, quietly attesting to the enduring fabric of life. Consider Methuselah, mentioned earlier, a Great Basin bristlecone pine in eastern California that proudly displays its 4,853-year-old past through the detailed records contained within its tree rings. This arboreal monster predates the Egyptian pyramids, prompting us to explore the secrets of its incredible longevity.

In this arboreal drama, Methuselah is not alone. Other old trees have left their imprint on time across our planet’s different terrains. These arboreal wonders, like Prometheus and The Senator, have triumphant and tragic stories to tell, each adding to the larger story of Earth’s ancient guardians.

At the core of these stories is an intriguing question: What gives these trees the power to withstand the passage of time? As we unearth the secrets of their lifespan, we gain insights not only into the complicated interplay of adaptation, chance, and resilience but also into the significant ecological contributions that make these old trees essential to the health and balance of our world.

So, what is the key to their continued existence? These old trees have survived illnesses, pests, wildfires, and human activities that have killed many of their contemporaries. These amazing trees have evolved sophisticated chemical defences, making them resilient guardians against pests and illnesses. Unlike animals, where ageing frequently results in cell death, these trees have different cellular dynamics that ensure reduced cell death in critical development regions.

On a larger scale, these trees’ basic yet effective body plan allows for modular development, allowing for the replacement of missing pieces to maintain continued life. Surprisingly, dead wood accounts for up to 95% of the structure of an elderly tree. This seemingly contradictory composition has a purpose: dead wood does not need metabolic activity, which reduces the energy required for maintenance and contributes to the tree’s lifetime. Learn more

But why is it important for these trees to endure over time? The reason lies in their significant ecological contributions. From anchoring soil with extensive root systems to leading in carbon sequestration (carbon sequestration is the vital process where trees absorb and store carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change and maintaining ecological balance.) and supporting biodiversity, these ancient trees are vital in preserving the delicate balance of Earth’s ecosystems.

As we learn more about Methuselah, Prometheus, The Senator, and many more arboreal wonders, we get a greater understanding of the delicate interplay of adaptation, chance, and resilience that allows them to survive. These trees are not mere witnesses to time; they play a crucial role in keeping our world healthy and balanced. Coming together to understand, appreciate, and safeguard younger trees becomes a shared mission, ensuring the preservation of the delicate threads of life woven into the fabric of our natural world.

Picture credits: Future Tree Health, Wikipedia