Ecosystem Restoration Netherlands Project #53285

Empower 80+ communities restore their ecosystems

by Ecosystem Restoration Communities

Empower 80+ communities restore their ecosystems

Project Report | Sep 8, 2022
Ecosystem Restoration Camps Donor Report, Sep 2022

By Cristina Pianca | Camp Coordinator

Camp Mainsprings' transformation

Dear Earth Restorers,

We are thrilled to share with you some inspiring updates from the ecosystem restoration movement. Here are just some of the restoration projects and activities that YOUR generous support is making possible.

From degraded dust bowl to thriving ecosystem

Ten years ago, consultant Mark Shepard, and Valley Foundation introduced Camp Mainsprings in Tanzania o Permaculture. Take a look at what the land looked like before, and how it looks now. Between the two learning campuses at the camp, Mainsprings now produces between 55-60 tons of produce per year, plus livestock, and are just getting started. Not only is the camp providing for themselves, but they’re helping other farmers, organisations and individuals across East Africa learn from what we have done so they can do the same!

A 'wildly' inspiring read

Our education officer Ashleigh Brown, who also facilitates at Embercombe’s seasonal Rewilding Camps, reflects on her experience of the land in Devon, England, as it rewilds - and on healing the world.

Read the blog here.

Ecosystem Restoration Summit engages more than 300 earth restorers

We presented a summit in partnership with Gaia Education from 2 - 10 September. The "All-Star" lineup of presenters and facilitators - all experts in the field of ecosystem restoration - took this opportunity to share their vast knowledge through riveting interviews, presentations, and Q&As, inspiring positive restoration action all around the world. Some of the popular topics included:

How to determine whether an ecosystem requires restoration
Representations and case studies of all biomes, ecosystems and communities from around the world
What steps are needed to restore an ecosystem
How to engage community
How to fund a restoration project
Indigenous wisdom for ecosystems restoration
If cities can be restored
How to design for resilience and disasters
How to learn and engage further

Our next symposium is scheduled for 22 October and will explore the topic of growing food in water-scarce regions, with expert presentations and case studies from several Ecosystem Restoration Camps across the globe.

Karibu ('welcome') Camp Nguge Hills Lodge!

We're thrilled to welcome another camp in Africa! Nguge Hills Lodge, now the third Ecosystem Restoration Camp in Kenya, is making it their mission to restore 300 acres of land in the next 10 years with the help from local citizens, for the benefit of both the local community and wildlife alike.

The Camp is located on 25-acres of degraded rainforest that is home to numerous communities, as well as a growing monkey population. The degradation has become increasingly problematic due to deforestation from land clearing for charcoal.
To date they have set up a tree nursery and restored 2 acres of land through agroforestry, planting over 5,000 trees. Each species has been selected for its ability to grow in harmony with the indigenous trees and vegetation, and to provide shelter, food, or have medicinal value.

Look what your support is achieving

And to end this newsletter update on an inspiring note, we would love to share with you our latest impact figures!

To date, our collective Mighty Movement has spanned to 55 initiatives globally, with more than 18,600 earth restorers participating in the restoration, regeneration, and rehabilitation of over 8,846 hectares and have planted 2,363,445 trees and plants! Through your support, we keep growing and growing, getting stronger and stronger.

THANK YOU - from all the Ecosystem Restoration Camps around the world - for being a part of our mighty movement.
If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing up for our newsletter so we can keep you more regularly updated with inspiring news coming from the camps. You will also receive invitations to our exclusive 'Fireside Chat' sessions which feature a different camp manager each month!

Together, we are restoring the earth.

With gratitude,

Cristina, Cath, and the Ecosystem Restoration Camps Team

Ashleigh Brown at Camp Embercombe

Ecosystem Restoration Summit

Camp Nguge Hills, located near Siaya Town, Kenya

Links:

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May 13, 2022
Ecosystem Restoration Camps Donor Report, May 2022

By Cristina Pianca | Camp Coordinator

Camp Greenpop - Reforest Fest 2022

Dear Earth Restorers,

The story of a regenerative African farm

Andrew Bowker from Camp Reedsdale Regeneration in South Africa is breaking with generations of farming tradition and boldly embracing a regenerative land management strategy, paving the way for other farmers in the drought-stricken area who are brave enough to follow in his footsteps. Read the blogpost here

Rainwater harvesting in the desert

Camp Khalifah in Mzouda, Morocco has finally experienced rainfall after a year-long drought. And, thanks to dedicated camp workers Lahcen and Moha, the camp was able to reap the benefits of the precious rainfall by capturing and redirecting its flow, slowing it down long enough to seep into the ground and benefit this very thirsty soil in dire need of a drink. The next step is to get trees planted along the swales. Step by step, with patience and dedication, Camp Khalifah is regreening this desert while improving local communities' livelihoods.

Reforest Fest near the southern tip of Africa

Around 800 participants planted an astounding 5,064 trees in three days at Camp Greenpop's annual Autumn festival held in South Africa in early April. The fun-filled weekend included empowering workshops, talks and a line-up of South Africa's top musicians. Scroll through further snapshots from this event on Greenpop's Facebook page. Greenpop's next camp - Eden Festival of Action - is all set to take place in late September.

Reforestation Fireside Chats - Camp Desperto and Camp Doku in conversation with John D. Liu

Our founder, John Dennis Liu, has recently been in conversation with Ziyu Chan from Camp Doku, located in the Malaysian region of the island of Borneo, and with Gaby & Michel from Camp Desperto, located in Caçapava, Brazil. You can catch these recordings on our YouTube channel and hear how these camps are working to reforest their local region.

Fighting fire with cacti in Bolivia

Camp Chocaya in Bolivia, is making fire prevention a top priority by planting cacti to act as living buffers to brush fires. During the dry season, Lloque trees (Kageneckia lanceolata) - endangered in Bolivia and Peru - are especially susceptible to burning. So Camp Chocaya, along with 5 community volunteers are on a fire prevention mission by employing this innovative and environmentally sustainable solution. Even though the cacti won't reach full maturity for 5 years, they will still add value to many other ecosystem services.

THANK YOU - from all the Ecosystem Restoration Camps around the world - for being a part of our mighty movement.

If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing up for our newsletter so we can keep you more regularly updated with inspiring news coming from the camps. You will also receive invitations to our exclusive 'Fireside Chat' sessions which feature a different camp manager each month!

Together, we are restoring the earth.

With gratitude,

Cath, Cristina, and the Ecosystem Restoration Camps Team

Camp Khalifah - water infiltration

Camp Reedsdale Regeneration - land management

Camp Chocaya - cactus planting in action

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Jan 11, 2022
Ecosystem Restoration Camps - look at what we achieved together in 2021!

By Cristina Pianca | Camp Coordinator

Volunteers planting trees at Camp Altiplano

Dear Earth Restorers,

As we enter the new year, we are filled with gratitude for all the amazing results that we achieved together in 2021!

We've grown from 37 camps at the end of 2020 to 47 camps in January 2022
1,367,156 trees have been planted at our camps to date
14,984 volunteers (we call them campers) have joined the work of restoring ecosystem functions at our camps
We've directed € 100,256 to our network of camps
We've invested € 69,055 in building and expanding educational and knowledge-sharing services for camps, and an additional € 84.704 in other support services for camps such as marketing and communications.
With the support of Zendesk we've launched our Knowledge Exchange Centre - an online knowledge hub for ecosystem restoration. We are still in the Beta-phase, but the platform will be freely accessible in 2022.
We've launched a pilot Monitoring & Evaluation program at six camps to test and improve restoration techniques through adaptive land management.

Thank YOU for making all of this possible!

Here are some of the success stories your support has helped achieve:

Camp Contour Lines in Guatemala is supporting community-led agriculture in 27 communities around Livingston, and 55 communities across the country. They have planted thousands of trees and empowered hundreds of local families to establish regenerative agroforestry systems. These agroforestry systems are replacing destructive slash and burn agriculture practices, and providing the community with sustainable livelihoods.

At Camp Dryland Solutions in Somalia, the country's first-ever Permaculture Design Certificate Course took place in October. We can now count on a group of 11 trained practitioners and volunteers who have the right mindset and skills to restore the degraded ecosystems of Somalia and improve the livelihoods of local communities.

Camp Altiplano in Spain is planting thousands of trees with the help of local and international volunteers. The trees are restoring the degraded 'high steppe' in the Murcia region of south-eastern Spain. The camp is creating an example of a mixed regenerative agroforestry system that will serve as an educational hub for local farmers, while also capturing carbon in the soil and proving that this type of farming is economically viable.

Thank you - from all the Ecosystem Restoration Camps around the world - for being a part of our mighty movement.

If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing up for our newsletter so we can keep you updated with inspiring news coming from the camps. You will also have access to our exclusive 'Fireside Chat' sessions, hosted by our founder John D. Liu and a different camp manager each month!

Together, we are restoring the earth.

Best wishes,
Cath, Cristina, and the ERC Team

Women planting fruit trees at Camp Contour Lines

Converting monoculture fields - Camp Contour Lines

New generations at Camp Dryland Solutions

Students learn permaculture techniques in Somalia

Camp Dryland Solutions Permaculture Design Course

Volunteer planting trees at Camp Altiplano

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