Asia

WorldMap_Asia_Only

Asia has the largest population in the world, with almost two thirds of the population – some 4 billion people, living in scattered villages and crowded cities and towns across roughly 17 per cent of the world’s surface. The region is highly varied with many climatic and agro-ecological zones spreading from landlocked countries such as Mongolia to the large archipelagos of Indonesia and the Philippines. More of the world’s poor people live in Asia than any other continent.

The Food Security & Climate Change team works with World Vision National Offices and communities in the region across a number of countries aiming to reduce desertification, restore and regenerate natural forests, improving access to energy (particularly renewable, stable sources of energy), improving crop yields and helping communities access land.

For example World Vision has partnered with local government and communities in Cambodia to protect fragile areas of land that are expected to be converted to agricultural land in the coming years. This includes preserving its natural, ecological and cultural value. Selected areas are targeted with a programme aiming at empowering communities in local resource management and sustainable community livelihoods.

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)

India: enhanced energy and food security building resilience to climate change

In India up to 40 percent of the population has no access to electricity. In particular, rural communities are reliant on inefficient energy sources – wood and cow dung for cooking, diesel and kerosene for lighting, and diesel for day-to-day agricultural applications, including water pumps and irrigation systems. This project aims to reduce the energy burden of approximately 2,000 households across 15 villages. This is being done through transforming communities’ traditional energy use to renewable and energy efficient technology. Using a holistic approach, a range of technologies and techniques will be introduced to meet the energy needs of entire villages as well as methods to regenerate surrounding areas of land that were once forested. (read more)

Nepal: targeting food security through better information about changing environmental conditions

By analysing the last 50 years of weather data at Jumla (far west Nepal), it has been possible to gain an idea of how the weather is changing. The rainfall remains variable, but it is falling at different times of year, and more often heavier and less frequent. Temperatures are rising, especially on the hottest days in winter. Many local people are already changing from thick flat roofs on their houses to steep roofs to drain away the rain. Our work has led to changes in the design of greenhouses, not only to ensure the vegetables do not freeze at night in winter, but to ensure that the greenhouses do not get too hot during the day. Then, from the size of the greenhouse roof, a rainwater collection system can be built with enough storage so that the vegetables can be watered throughout the year. (read more)

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)