When life gives you lionfish: Innovation in fighting invasive species in the Caribbean
Posted on: May 31, 2017
Seeing a lionfish while diving in the Caribbean is a cause for mixed emotions. On the one hand, one marvels at the exquisite beauty of the fishes’ flowery fins and its amazing adaptability to a range of habitats, from shallow estuaries with...
Why coastal ecosystems protection is on our to-do list
Posted on: May 15, 2017
More than a thousand years ago, the Vikings lived and died by the sea while often taking to the oceans in specially designed wooden ships and sailing for the unknown. They dreamt of plunder, stories to entertain the long winter nights, and not...
Don’t water down the value of water: some thoughts on World Water Day 2017
Posted on: March 21, 2017
Water is not a commodity and not a mere resource - it is the very foundation of life. As poetic as it sounds, the meaning behind this simple truth nowadays provides reasons for concern.
Water crises, extreme weather events, and interstate...
Integrated approaches: accelerating women’s contribution to food security, reducing deforestation and sustainable cities
Posted on: March 7, 2017
Today, the GEF joins the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day. It is an ideal time to reflect on GEF’s efforts to advance the role of women in environmental sectors worldwide. When the GEF adopted its Policy on Gender...
The World’s wildlife needs young naturalists
Posted on: March 2, 2017
In 2010, 15 days after graduating from college, with nothing but a backpack and an old water bottle, I stood in front of a large gate with a rusted sign welcoming me to the “Pench Tiger Reserve.” The same reserve that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s,...
Three videos you need to watch now if you care about forests
Posted on: January 27, 2017
Apart from being invaluable in connecting us to nature, forests provide resources that we depend on for our livelihoods – food, fuel, water, and habitats for birds and animals. Also, forests maintain Earth’s biodiversity, water resources, protect...
Elephants hate kale and other lessons in bringing conservation and development together
Posted on: January 13, 2017
When I try to explain the importance of the GEF when it comes to protecting the world’s biodiversity, I end up with two main arguments.
First, biodiversity is not evenly distributed across the planet. And second, most of the places with the highest...
Gender and biodiversity joint gains: myth or reality?
Posted on: December 13, 2016
At the UN Biological diversity conference (COP13) in Cancun, Mexico, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) discussed progress and experiences in integrating gender and social inclusion dimensions into biodiversity-related projects...
Restoring degraded lands, growing resilient communities in Kenya’s drylands
Posted on: November 11, 2016
Moving from the Paris Agreement to climate action is on everybody’s mind these days and transforming agricultural production to climate smart practices is central to the international community’s efforts of keeping the global climate well below 2 C...
How to mine all your existing M&E data without breaking the bank
Posted on: October 25, 2016
A common challenge faced by organizations in a world where information systems are changing rapidly is a large amount of data that is not easily accessible. The Global Environment Facility (GEF), is no different, but we’ve taken...