Saffron Flowers and Sunken Gardens

Inspiring Initiatives Reversing Dryland Degradation and Strengthening Livelihoods

Peoples’ perceptions about drylands are often dominated by stories of doom and gloom. Although some areas do face serious problems there is also reason for optimism as grassroots initiatives in many regions have positively transformed the environment and living conditions with people finding ways to earn their living that do not cause degradation. Drynet partners around the world have been involved in, and are documenting all sorts of inspiring initiatives from around the world, this publication highlights just a small selection of them.

Drynet - Both Ends | September 2009

(From the back cover)

Drylands are rich in plant and animal species that are specifically adapted to living in arid and harsh conditions. Drylands also are home to resilient peoples, who make use of the dryland resources and seek to maintain the precarious balance between soils, water, vegetation, animals and people. These people have a long history of living with their environment, not just living from it.

Today with climate change, growing populations and more frequent conflicts over resources, the fragile balance of dryland ecosystems is increasingly in danger. Yet, all over the world, dryland communities are finding ways to maintain or restore this balance, adapting their practices and coming up with innovative and inspiring responses to reverse the constant threats of land degradation, desertification and subsequent loss in the productivity of the land. These examples show us the value of investing in drylands, which contain many valuable resources, provide valuable services and play a key role in meeting global food requirements. Such investment is all the more urgent since two-thirds of people suffering from serious and permanent under-nourishment live in drylands, 70% of which are currently being degraded.

Drynet is a network of committed civil society organisations that work together with dryland communities. This report highlights a few of the many positive developments happening in dryland regions that Drynet’s partners are either involved in or have documented. These examples show us how, with sufficient dedication and inventiveness, drylands can be sustainably managed and livelihoods

strengthened, thereby helping to reduce (or eradicate) poverty and hunger. Drynet will continue to represent the views and experiences of dryland communities and people. Our aim is to build strong civil society platforms that are capable of bridging the gap between local dryland realities and political and development processes. We invite everyone concerned with the well-being of dryland  communities and environments to become involved and join us in these efforts.

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Case studies:

Building One Million Water Cisterns - Brazil

Using a Flower to Combat Desertification - Turkey

The Largest Reforestation Effort in Africa Goes Unnoticed - Niger

Drynet: a Global Initiative Giving Future to Drylands

A Greener Approach to Cultivating the "Golden Grain" - Bolivia

Villages and the Iranian Government Aligning their Interests - Iran

From Heirloom to Unique Selling Point - India

Working the Fields for Healthy Soils - South Africa

NGO's and Journalists Making Land Degradation Public - Uzbekistan

A Living Example of Traditional Knowledge - Iran

Fishermen Catching Clouds for an Alternative Livelihood - Chile

Adapting to Climate Change: a Mulit-Functional Response - Pakistan

Fine-Tuning Farming Techniques through Farmer Schools - Senegal

Reviving the Green Lungs of the City - Mauritania

Fighting the Tiokatimo Winds: Farmers Experiments - Madagascar

Indigenous Communities Responding to Monoculture Tree Plantations - Chile

One Million Signatures for Soil Conservation - Turkey

Cooking Up Fuel Solutions - Mauritania

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