2015 International Year of Soils
Human Rights: Reducing land degradation and desertification:
The Sekem Initiative (Egypt) received for their contribution combating soil erosion and reclamation of desert soils the “Land for Life Award 2015” of the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification).The approach of Sekem is based on biological and dynamic farming methods.
http://www.unccd.int/en/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.un.org/en/events/desertificationday/2015/sgmessage.shtml
http://news.sekem.com/en/sekem-wins-land-for-life-award-2015
Another important contribution to this topic is the scientists and practical afford (Erna Smidt, Johannes Tintner) of the “Platform for the Humus Research” of BOKU (Universität für Bodenkultur Wien). The approach is based on the thematic cycle: humus – humic substances – soil fertility – carbon sequestration – climate. BOKU’s project the “BOKU Mobile” has been was awarded by UNESCO to the UN Decade Award “Education for Sustainable Development”.
http://www.boku.ac.at/humusplattform/humusbuch/
http://www.boku.ac.at/humusplattform/boku-mobil/
Jadav Payeng, a Mishing tribe environmental activist and forestry worker from Jorhat, India planted and tended trees, – over the course of several decades -, on a sandbar of the river Brahmapitra covering now more than 50 hectars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuvzoD42-Vw
Summer of Soil, an association of agronomists and ecologists, is concerned about the misuse of soil in agriculture and forestry on all 5 continents. They work closely together with John D. Liu and with Willem Ferwerda of the Commonland Foundation in the Netherlands and created a “centre of excellence” offering research and training attracting people from all over the world both on a practical and scientific level. One of the ambitious projects is in Ayoó de Vidriales, Spain..
http://operationco2.com/news/life-news/summer-of-soil-team-visits-ayoo-de-vidriales-341.html
WELTjournal+: Grüne Wüsten – Visionen für die Welt: tvthek.orf.at
Roland Leithenmayr VfV
NGO Committee on Sustainable Development Vienna 