International RiverFoundation’s Post

Fire has always been an essential part of ecosystems, naturally sustaining them rather than destroying them. Yet, the more we've suppressed it, the more intensely it pushes back. The real issue? A shortage of fire. The solution? Use fire as a tool for renewal. Give a watch!

For World Water Day, I highly recommend the documentary "Watermark." This powerful film uses stunning visuals and captivating vignettes to showcase humanity's complex relationship with water. We see water as a resource, a necessity, and even a cultural touchstone. The documentary doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of climate change and its impact on water availability. By highlighting the changing ways we use water, it prompts reflection on how we can ensure its sustainability for future generations. #WorldWaterDay #WatermarkDocumentary #ClimateChange

What works effectively for long-term success in safe drinking water? Community participation. That's the No. 1 thing it takes, UBC alum Karl Zimmermann found in making his documentary. Karl's "Water, Together" premiers this Mon, Aug 12 at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition. Watch the trailer: https://lnkd.in/gP-aqKdU Karl's aim is to share the film's messages from community leaders around the world, talking in their own voices and languages, with global policy makers and NGOs involved in UN SDG 6 (water sanitization and hygiene). Karl says: communities themselves must be the ones to address values-based decisions, such as: Who deserves new infrastructure when it becomes available? And, should everyone pay the same amount of money for water fees? The film is the culmination of his UBC PhD research. Future Water World Congress Foundation For United Nations SDG UBC Science The University of British Columbia UNICEF WaterAid Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada alumni UBC UBC Applied Science #water #WaterTogether #documentary #SafeDrinkingWater #UNSDG6 #WaterPolicy

As populations grow, climate change exacerbates water scarcity, leading to heightened competition among communities, industries, and nations. Economic interests clash over access and control, while political tensions escalate as regions face dwindling water supplies. Societies grapple with inequitable distribution, pollution, and unsustainable extraction practices, fueling conflicts over rights and management. The struggle for water reflects a complex interplay of environmental, social, and economic factors, highlighting the urgent need for collaborative solutions to ensure equitable access and sustainable management for current and future generations. https://lnkd.in/gcjJ4EeN

One way of helping climate anxiety in our wee ones is to help them experience the wonders of nature in their own way. From geological stories to magical plants, the more we get them outdoors, the stronger their relationship will be with our wonderful planet. https://lnkd.in/dYkKvq9U

Coco Velvet International is pleased to announce that we have launched our CVI Earth Angels Foundation. The foundation is committed to working with other NGOs, government agencies and civil society organizations to educate publics about the need for planetary conservation efforts as well as sustainability and circularity in our day-to-day lives. It is obvious that our planet is in peril - due to our unsustainable, industrial and commercial activities over the last 200 years three of Earth's nine planetary boundaries have been breached: * Stratospheric Ozone Depletion * Increase in Atmospheric Aerosol Loading * Ocean Acidification Two other boundaries - Landsystem and Freshwater Change are on the verge of being breached. The AMOC which is a critical Earth system is about to collapse according to Oceanographers and climate scientists; the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation transfers heated, saline seawater from the equatorial regions of the Atlantic, up to the Northern region where the millions of gallons are submerged to depths of 2000-3000 meters following which the cooled seawater is circulated back down to the South Atlantic. This system aids with keeping global warming in check, but due to the melting of Polar ice sheets, glaciers and permafrost, billions of gallons of unsalted, fresh water are entering the oceans - saline water of course is denser so it submerges faster than fresh water so the AMOC is slowing down. When permafrost melts tons of methane and carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere. Each and every soul on our planet has a responsibility to ensure that our Earth remains in its holocenic state which we have enjoyed for the last 11700 years. There's #noplanetb I found this PBS NOVA documentary to be quite enlightening and easy to understand the scientific information so I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I did. Follow CVI Earth Angels Foundation on Instagram @landscapedesignertobago

More vegetation = more rain.... 3rd bit from Reindeer Chronicles by Judith D. Schwartz ... healthy soil and vegetation creates the micro particles (precipitation nuclei) that enable rain to accumulate and fall.... Unhealthy soil and removal of vegetation leads to that water falling elsewhere... In cities, in regional areas, everywhere we should be aiming at increasing the heath of soils and planting at least as much canopy as would be there without us... video of Loess plateau China "Trees are crucial to the hydrological cycle: stabilizing soil; cycling moisture within the local environment through transpiration; emitting minute particles, or aerosols—fungal spores, bacteria, pollen—that serve as precipitation nuclei and contribute to regular rainfall. The absence of tree cover leads to alternating floods and drought." "What we do to the land alters the water cycle, and this has an influence on climate. He determined that human impacts on hydrology were already contributing to extreme weather events such as prolonged droughts and intense, damaging storms. This research also gave him the conviction that once we understand the dynamics that lead to these negative scenarios, we can implement land management approaches to recover previous rainfall regimes. That is, water cycle disruptions are reversible. This body of work strongly supports the importance of ecosystem restoration." https://lnkd.in/gbma9qy5

This was a project for my JRN 212 course - Digital Journalism. For this infogram, I wanted to do something different, as most of my journalism projects have been about politics. I talk about and explore how finning sharks is environmentally harmful and unethical. There are more than 100 billion sharks being killed annually, with a little less than 40% of all shark populations being critically endangered (as of 2023). If you click on the link below, you’ll be able to access the full project.

In my recent research on the future of the water sector, I stumbled upon a treasure trove of insights. From innovative water and wastewater sludge treatment technologies to futuristic visions inspired by science fiction, the potential for transformation is immense. It's time we shift our perceptions and recognize the true value of water. How can we catalyze this change? By embracing sustainable practices, investing in cutting-edge technology, and fostering a culture that prioritizes water conservation, we can secure a thriving future for the water sector. Let's discuss how we can collectively reimagine and elevate the status of water in our lives and communities. #WaterActionPlatform https://lnkd.in/eZmWBkVc

I have talked before about the global significance of chalk streams and rivers, their vulnerability and perilous condition in the UK. This video brings optimism that SERT’s catchment wide and science based approach, which engages multiple stakeholders to develop and implement nature based solutions, is the most effective way to help nature fight back. https://lnkd.in/e6ZQZpvG We now need you to help us replicate this success story many times over. https://lnkd.in/epWdvJnQ