The PILA geoportal

PILA supports the ILM process to make easy and fast use of relevant and reliable geospatial information at different spatial levels. This includes leveraging on existing global, regional, national and sub-national data through a dedicated geospatial platform. The PILA geospatial platform, is a web-based global platform targeting all 27 FOLUR countries and hosted in the FAO Earth Map tool from the Open Foris suite. It is meant to allow any user, without background in programming, to access and analyse remote sensing data with known accuracies on biophysical, socioeconomic and productive conditions (e.g. on productivity trends, land use change dynamics, tree cover loss, land degradation, restoration opportunities, etc.). The PILA geoportal leverages the petabytes of multitemporal, multiscale, multiparametric, and quasi-real-time satellite imagery and geospatial datasets from Google Earth Engine and other qualified sources. It also offers advanced analytical functionalities through a point-and-click graphical user-friendly interface, taking advantage of Google cloud services, and allowing quick environmental and climate data analysis as well as land monitoring over an area of interest.

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About GLF Peatlands 2024

Peatlands cover 3-4% of Earth’s land but store a third of global soil carbon. Despite their importance, 12% are degraded, contributing 4% of human-induced emissions.

Degradation, driven by agriculture and forestry, causes environmental and social issues like fires and economic damage. Managing peatlands effectively requires collaboration across sectors.

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Peatlands 2024 Hybrid Conference brought together global stakeholders to address gaps in peatland science, policy, and practice. Held alongside the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Change Conference, it explored peatlands’ roles in carbon storage, biodiversity, and water regulation.

Exploring Global Peatlands: Mapping, Challenges, and Strategic Actions

This session provided an overview of the Global Peatlands Assessment (GPA), the most comprehensive assessment of peatlands to date. It explored the global distribution of peatlands, showcasing the Global Peatland Map and other hotspot maps to discuss mapping methodologies and identify existing gaps. Key challenges for decision-makers were highlighted, along with policy and governance recommendations. Additionally, peatland action and stakeholder engagement strategies were explored, emphasizing the vital role of the private sector and civil society in effective conservation, restoration, and sustainable management. Key activities and partnerships were outlined for future planning and action.

Speakers

Fabrice Inkonkoy, Global Peatlands Initiative Coordinator, UNEP; Patrick Scheel, Research Specialist, Global Peatlands Initiative, UNEP; Kristell Hergoualc’h, Senior Scientist, CIFOR-ICRAF; Alexandra Barthelmes, Senior Researcher, Greifswald Mire Centre; Rosie Everett, Associate Researcher, Scotland’s Rural College; Jan Peters, Managing Director, Michael Succow Foundation.

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This study in La Jagua de Ibirico, Colombia, compares soil hydraulic characteristics in shade-grown coffee, a 15-year-old regenerated forest, pasture, and reference forest. Findings indicate similarities in saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) between coffee and the reference forest, showcasing agroforestry’s positive impact on soil hydrological functions. Moreover, 15 years of forest regeneration after land abandonment demonstrate improvements in soil hydraulic attributes, highlighting the potential for positive ecological outcomes.

Key takeaways

1. Agroforestry boosts hydrological function: Shade-grown coffee exhibits comparable saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) values to the reference forest, showcasing the positive impact of trees on soil hydrological functioning in agroforestry systems.
2. Forest regeneration improves soil attributes: After 15 years of regeneration, the formerly abandoned Sub-Andean Forest shows enhanced soil hydraulic attributes, emphasizing the positive ecological effects of forest regrowth on soil health.
3. Water repellency in reference forest: Soil water repellency is observed in the reference forest, shedding light on additional soil characteristics that contribute to the complexity of soil hydrology in tropical environments.

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This book explores the impact of coffee agroecosystems on soil hydrological functions, focusing on the potential benefits and challenges associated with land-use change. Utilizing low-cost methodologies like the Steady Simplified Beerkan Infiltration (SSBI) method and visual soil assessment (VSA), the study examines various land-use types in Guatemala. Key findings highlight the positive influence of shade trees on soil hydrological properties and the microclimatic benefits of leaf litter in seven-year-old shade-grown coffee. The book concludes with a recommendation for regular monitoring to understand the temporal variability in tropical land-use systems.

Key takeaways

1. Shade trees boost hydrological properties: Thirty-year-old shade-grown coffee (CN) exhibits the highest saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) values, indicating that shade trees positively impact soil hydrological properties in coffee agroecosystems.
2. Microclimatic benefits of leaf litter: Seven-year-old shade-grown coffee (CP) demonstrates higher soil volumetric water content (VWC) and a significant positive effect of leaf litter on soil temperature, highlighting the positive impact of leaf litter on microclimatic conditions and soil moisture.
3. Effective low-cost methodologies: The Steady Simplified Beerkan Infiltration (SSBI) method, coupled with visual soil assessment (VSA), proves to be a cost-effective and easily implementable approach for assessing soil hydraulic and physical characteristics in various land-use types.

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About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About John Colmey

John Colmey, Director at the Global Landscapes Forum envisions mobilizing a billion people to create landscapes that are productive, prosperous, equitable, and resilient. Emphasizing a commitment to science, knowledge, respect, inclusiveness, equity, and hope, the quote encapsulates a call for action grounded in a holistic approach towards a sustainable future:

“We are going to create a movement of a billion people to build a vision of landscapes that are productive, prosperous, equitable, and resilient. And we’re going to do it as we always have — guided by science and knowledge. We will proceed with science, knowledge, respect, inclusiveness, equity, and hope.”

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About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About this session

This panel, hosted by DW Akademie, delved into the intricate world of climate science and politics and how journalists and community media can effectively translate complex data into accessible information. The discussion centered on empowering communities to create their climate information through local media, inspiring local engagement. Notably, the panel spotlighted challenges and best practices from Africa and Latin America. Community media’s role in addressing digital inequalities within marginalized communities was a key theme, emphasizing the importance of reaching decision-making centers with local voices.

The session underscored local media‘s critical role in conveying community needs, ensuring impartial information, and combating misinformation. It also highlighted the work of community activists in raising awareness and advocating for climate action, emphasizing the need for context-specific conversations.

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About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

Crafting a New Vision for Earth

As the climate crisis accelerates, scientists, civil society, grassroots organizations and some policymakers are calling for urgent action to phase out fossil fuels, improve energy efficiency and promote sustainable land use alongside renewables. But millions of people are already dealing with the effects of climate disasters, biodiversity loss, severe food and water insecurity, and social inequalities.

It’s time for a new vision for Earth – one that will trigger a system-wide transformation to benefit humanity across the board and build both sovereignty and stewardship in landscapes. Join world leaders, activists and experts in this opening plenary to highlight the latest scientific insights, novel policy instruments and bold new ideas to build a new vision for earth – one that keeps us within planetary boundaries and ensures the well-being of people and our planet.

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Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa face the combined threats of climate change, degraded agricultural lands and a growing population. They will need more resilient, productive and nutritious crops to meet these challenges. Unfortunately, crop diversity—which offers the raw materials for crop innovation—is being lost at unprecedented rates.

Equally concerning is that the collections of seeds currently held in the participating national genebanks are also at grave risk. For years, the genebanks have suffered from insufficient staffing and low levels of funding.

The Seeds for Resilience project is providing the financial and technical support to ensure these five national genebanks will reach the necessary international standards to ensure their collections will be safe and widely available, long term.

Asking farmers what they need

Evaluation of the diversity in the genebanks. Seeds for Resilience supports the partner genebanks in working with diverse groups of farmers to evaluate their collections and identify the samples that have the characteristics the farm- ers are looking for. Often, women prioritize nutrition and taste, whereas men seek the varieties that give the highest groups are heard.

This participatory approach engages a wide range of stakeholders, from farmers and plant breeders all the way to the consumers who generate the demand for farmers’ produce, and has proven to be successful in generating new crop varieties that are rapidly taken up by farmers and truly have an impact.

Learn more about Seeds for Resilience

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