Environmental Knowledge Building

Environmental Knowledge Building is about enabling communities to understand the importance of protecting the natural environment they live within. Understanding the impacts of deforestation and habitat destruction on ecosystem health and productivity of farming systems helps communities to understand the benefits of protecting it.

Through World Vision’s natural regeneration and forestry projects communities are being taught about ecosystems, biodiversity and water quality. In Ethiopia communities have been trained to undertake biodiversity surveys and water quality assessments. The information they collect from the surveys allows these communities to learn about the types of flora and fauna living in their land and how to manage it sustainably over the long term.

Indonesia: communities empowered to protect forests and carbon sinks

Deforestation, peat land degradation and forest fires have made Indonesia one of the world's top three greenhouse gas emitters.  On the other hand, as an archipelago, Indonesia has a massive coastline, which makes it very vulnerable to climate change. The West Kalimantan region is expected to experience significant socioeconomic impacts due to climate change. To respond to community concerns about the increasing toll of environmental stresses, the SOLVE project will increase communities’ capacities in the areas of natural resources management, advocacy for land tenure and securing resilient livelihoods. (read more)

Peru: Regenerating degraded landscapes through reforestation

The agroforestry and reforestation project in Canas Province is planting around 1.5 million trees across 1,000 hectares of degraded lands to mitigate environmental degradation and to sequester carbon into the landscape. Additional areas will focus on agroforestry by planting fruit trees to increase the income and food security of the communities. The project also includes community capacity building which will introduce sustainable farming practices, and improve community awareness of natural resource conservation and land governance issues related to the project. The project is also seeking to access carbon finance through the sale of carbon credits generated under the new Gold Standard A/Reforestation certification program in order to ensure long-term sustainability of the project. (read more)

Solomon Islands: Makira Community Resilience & Livelihoods Project

Makira is one of the most disaster prone provinces in the country. Rural Makira communities are vulnerable to natural and man-made hazards, due to their isolation, poor access to health and educational services, and high dependence on subsistence production. Settlements are clustered the coast line, which exacerbates their vulnerability to cyclones, storm surges, and sea level rise associated with global warming.The project has been developed primarily to raise awareness of climate change and disaster risks, decrease vulnerability of seven communities in one of the most vulnerable provinces, improve climate change and disaster preparedness and response, and build the capacity of communities, provinces and national agencies to integrate community based adaptation to climate change into disaster risk reduction and disaster management policies. (read more)

Cambodia: enabling communities to realise forest REDD potential

Cambodia’s natural resources are under pressure, biodiversity is at risk and large portions of forest are expected to convert to agricultural land in the coming years. World Vision has partnered with local government to protect this fragile environment and preserve its natural, ecological and cultural value. Selected areas are targeted with a programme aiming at empowering communities in local resource management and sustaining community livelihoods. In doing so, carbon sequestration is achieved and the project can be eligible for participation in the voluntary carbon offset market. (read more)

Ethiopia: Africa’s first large-scale CDM forestry project, providing socio-economic development from carbon sequestration in the compliance market

We have implemented the Humbo community-based natural regeneration project, Africa’s first large-scale CDM reforestation project, in partnership with the World Bank. This project has restored 2,728 hectares of degraded native forests and brought social, economic and ecological benefits to participating communities. Within just two years of implementation, communities were collecting wild fruits, firewood and fodder. They reported that wildlife had returned and erosion and flooding had declined. Participating communities are now receiving income from carbon trading through this project. (read more)

Ethiopia: A community-led carbon project in the voluntary market, with social benefits

World Vision Australia has partnered with World Vision Ethiopia to restore and protect the high montane forest on the slopes of Mt Damota, in this highlands of southern Ethiopia. The project involves local Soddo communities in environmental training and education programs, site rehabilitation, forest establishment, job creation initiatives and collaboration with the zonal government. Through a combination of tree planting and natural regeneration to reestablish the natural ecosystem, the project intends to sell carbon credits in order to guarantee its long-term sustainability. (read more)