Strong Roots Congo is working to create a 1-million-hectare corridor between Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve in the DRC by securing community forest concessions. The project aims to rectify past displacements caused by the creation of the national park and engage communities in conservation. Despite challenges, the initiative has secured 23 community forest concessions covering nearly 600,000 hectares. The corridor will allow species to move safely between protected areas and promote biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of local communities. The initiative also aims to bridge the gap between modern and customary laws regarding forest land ownership, reduce the impacts of armed conflict on forests and wildlife, and protect Indigenous peoples from land grabbing.
Category: Nature-Based Carbon Removal
Remove Carbon:
– Restore & Manage Ecosystems
– Shift Agriculture Practices
– Use Degraded Land
– Manipulate Biogeochemical Cycles
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Women scatter seeds, restore forests in Guinea, the ‘water tower of West Africa’
The arboRise Foundation's reforestation project in Guinea has been successful in combatting deforestation and addressing the impacts of climate change, creating employment for over 1,100 people and restoring water sources. By employing local women to collect seeds and monitor tree growth, the initiative challenges traditional power dynamics and aims for long-term sustainability through carbon credits. The project provides economic benefits to participants and empowers women in traditionally male-led societal structures. Despite facing challenges in replication and vulnerability, the project offers hope and optimism in the field of environmental work, providing a beacon of positivity in the face of environmental challenges.
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In Peru, community-led camera trapping boosts conservation and ecotourism
Community members in Alto Mayo, Peru are working to protect a unique wetland forest through sustainable ecotourism, scientific research, and participatory management of the territory. The Tingana Conservation Concession, managed by Adecaram and supported by Conservation International, covers 4,000 hectares and hosts a diverse ecosystem with renaco trees and aguajales above 800 meters. Visitors can explore flooded forests, learn about sustainable agriculture, and contribute to the community's economy while observing biodiversity through canoe tours. Camera traps have captured footage of rare wildlife like jaguarundis, margays, and birds, aiding in scientific research and environmental education efforts. The initiative has empowered local communities, broadened scientific knowledge, and emphasized the importance of preserving the ecosystem for future generations, with generational replacement being a key focus for sustainability.
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Landfill Covering and Methane Capture
Landfills are a significant source of methane emissions globally as waste decomposes, but they can be transformed into managed systems with gas-capture systems and biocovers to reduce emissions. Restoring vegetation can further enhance carbon uptake and ecosystem recovery. The success of the Jardim Gramacho landfill in Rio de Janeiro, which reduced methane emissions through gas-capture systems and mangrove restoration, demonstrates how legacy waste sites can be stabilized to curb emissions and provide ecological and community benefits. This solution involves covering landfills and capturing methane for combustion, effectively reducing emissions at the source.
https://climatetrace.org/news/landfill-covering-and-methane-capture
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Roots of Resilience: The Women Preserving Asia’s Ancient Mangrove Forest
NGOs like SEEDS are working in the Sundarbans to develop resilience to climate change impacts by planting mangrove saplings along degraded coastlines, integrating the initiative into the local community for long-term sustainability. Women's self-help groups are being enlisted to plant mangroves, turning them into protectors and contributing to the local economy. Dr. Krishna Ray's successful restoration project highlights the importance of community involvement and sustainable funding for long-term mangrove restoration. Local villagers are using mangrove restoration as a way to combat climate change impacts, earning income while contributing to ecological restoration and protection against cyclones and rising sea levels. This approach demonstrates the importance of linking the local economy to climate solutions in vulnerable regions.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/women-preserving-worlds-largest-mangrove-forest-sundarbans-asia/
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Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Adaptation & Agriculture – Global Center on Adaptation
Climate impacts are reshaping farming techniques globally, with unreliable rainfall and flash floods complicating food production in the Global South. Indigenous seed varieties and regenerative farming practices are at risk, affecting the nutritional health of populations. Communities in Zambia are implementing ecosystem-based adaptation to combat water shortages, emphasizing peer-to-peer learning and combining innovation with Indigenous practices for a sustainable future.
https://gca.org/indigenous-knowledge-systems-in-adaptation-agriculture/
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CDR Monthly Recap
In September 2025, the durable carbon removal market saw nearly 119,000 tonnes of CDR contracted, with deals involving Google, Vaulted Deep, Schneider Electric, and Climeworks Solutions. Various new projects, partnerships, and funding opportunities are driving momentum in the industry, including investments in high-impact carbon removal projects, solid-sorbent DAC technology deployment, and the launch of commercial Direct Air Capture units. Companies like Ucaneo, Equatic, Boeing, and Origen Carbon are scaling up their CDR technologies, while initiatives such as the Carbon Removal Challenge and university-led online courses on carbon removal are being launched. California passed bills to accelerate CDR, COP30 will host a carbon removal pavilion, and the World Resources Institute published a roadmap for U.S. states to scale DAC.
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How a species of bamboo could help protect the South from future floods
In early 2024, Michael Fedoroff led a project to plant rivercane, a native bamboo plant, along Tuckabum Creek in Alabama to restore eroded wetlands. Rivercane used to be abundant in the Southeast but has declined due to European settlement. The project showed that rivercane is crucial for preventing erosion and damage from floods, as seen during Hurricane Helene. A network of scientists, volunteers, and Native stakeholders are working to bring back rivercane and restore its benefits in the face of climate-fueled disasters. The Rivercane Restoration Alliance (RRA) and its allies are working to replant rivercane in the Southeast, emphasizing its benefits for waterways, native species, and water filtration. Large restoration projects involve collaboration with stakeholders like land management companies, government agencies, and Native American tribes. Rivercane holds cultural significance for tribes, who historically used it for crafts. Challenges to restoration efforts include education, as rivercane is often mistaken for invasive bamboo, and the cost and availability of plants. Innovative methods, like the "cane train," are being used to propagate rivercane and overcome these challenges. Researchers are working on sequencing rivercane genomes to choose the best varieties for different locations due to the plant's specific needs. Despite imperfections, rivercane propagation is seen as a cheap and easy method for restoration projects. In Yancey County, North Carolina, a rivercane restoration project led by the county government and local groups involved volunteers in planting thousands of shoots to stabilize stream banks. This project demonstrates the power of planting rivercane as an actionable solution for ordinary landowners and volunteers to contribute to healing the landscape in the face of climate change.
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Strengthening urban resilience through collaboration: lessons from India, Kenya, Myanmar and the Philippines | International Institute for Environment and Development
Various organizations in India, Kenya, Myanmar, and the Philippines are implementing nature-based strategies to improve water and green resource management, address flood risks, and empower vulnerable communities in urban areas. The focus is on community leadership and collaboration to build inclusive, climate-resilient cities rooted in local priorities. These efforts will be showcased at the Resilient Cities Forum, aiming to encourage collaborations among funders, city governments, researchers, practitioners, and private-sector organizations. The Urban Resilience Strategic Exchange (URSE) platform, co-chaired by UK FCDO's CLARE program and the Adaptation Research Alliance, brings together funders, research institutions, and city partners to align strategies for inclusive, locally-led urban resilience. The videos highlight the importance of locally-led adaptation and community expertise in building climate-resilient cities, with a focus on empowering marginalized groups to shape policies and investments affecting their lives.
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At the City of Joy, Women Learn to Farm, Heal, and Lead
The City of Joy in Bukavu, DRC, provides a safe space for women who have experienced violence to heal and become leaders in their communities. The program includes education, therapy, and practical skills like farming, with a focus on integrating climate change into its curriculum due to the region's extreme weather events. Graduates are reintegrated into their communities with ongoing support and guidance, emphasizing a healthy relationship with the earth and sustainability. Despite facing severe impacts from climate change, the DRC contributes very little to global carbon dioxide emissions, with efforts like planting trees and employing graduates on the farm contributing to environmental conservation.
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2025-4-winter/feature/city-joy-women-learn-farm-heal-and-lead