Crop diversity on UN agenda:Food security is the theme of the UN- designated International Mountain Day, which falls on Thursday. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN has identified 22 countries around the world that are particularly affected by soaring food prices due to high levels of chronic hunger and a dependence on imported grains and petroleum products.
There are also high infant and maternal mortality rates in mountain regions in developing countries due to hunger and micronutrient deficiencies. The trend to rely on a single cash crop to meet market demands has also, according to the FAO, reduced agricultural diversity and devalued traditional mountain foods and the expansion of pastureland and over-grazing has contributed to deforestation and degradation of watersheds. However, projects such as the Rawain Women's Cooperative Federation in India's Himalayan Region and the Regional Integrated Silvopastoral Ecosystem Management project in South America are changing things for the better. The former is marketing traditional crops in Indian cities while the latter is paying farmers in Colombia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua to plant trees and improve their pastures, resulting in increased biodiversity and the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. See www.fao.org and www.mountainvoices.org for details.
How does your garden grow?
A plan to stimulate the development of community gardens and allotments in towns and cities across the Republic and Northern Ireland was launched earlier this week. The plan has been put together by a group of "climate advocates" who will develop five ideas to reduce carbon use as part of a pan-European project, Challenge Europe. This first idea, which will be managed by the Seasonal Organic Unprocessed and Local (SOUL) Food Growing Communities Group aims to increase the number of community gardens, strengthen existing ones, and develop educational projects with Transition Year students. The group is also drafting policy recommendations for community food initiatives, which it will submit to the Department of Agriculture. To this end, the climate advocates are keen to hear from those already involved in community gardens (e-mail communityfoodpolicy@gmail.com). The 19 climate advocates from this island will also work with teams from 14 other European countries to develop 40 ideas to help change the way we use carbon.
Neighbourhood birdwatch
More than 1,000 people are expected to participate in Birdwatch Ireland's Garden Bird Survey, which started on Monday. Now in its 15th year, the survey relies on members of the public to record the highest number of each bird species seen in the garden each week. "Robins, blackbirds, blue tits and chaffinches fight for the top spot of most widespread birds but we have also seen an enormous growth in collared doves, goldfinches and bullfinches," says Oran O'Sullivan of Birdwatch Ireland. Paper records are acceptable, but for the first time, Birdwatch Ireland is offering an online recording option. The survey continues until the end of February. See www.birdwatchireland.ie or tel: 01-2819878.
sthompson@irish-times.ie
Ecoweb
www.ucd.ie/earth
Find out all about the Earth Systems Institute at University College Dublin, whose mission is to find new sustainable ways of living on the Earth. Also check out details of a new series of weekly seminars on climate change which will be held in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Kildare St, Dublin from now until June 2009.
