Global Landscapes Forum event, Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot, Tony Rinaudo work in Niger, Dr. Susan Chomba; Compendium Notes: Blue carbon stocks of Great Barrier Reef deep-water seagrasses, York et al. 2018

Blessed Unrest, Matt Russell and Iowa Farmers, Prairies Restoration Movement, Paula Phipps, Compendium Notes: Trees, forests, and water: cool insights for a hot world

Vijay Kumar on Community Managed Natural Farming, SUGi Spotlight, Jim Laurie’s Biodiversity and Symbiosis III: Mastering the Water Cycle, Adam Sacks’ Call Story, Ngā Uruora Book Review, The Hidden World of Fungi, Compendium Notes: Effectiveness of the Miyawaki method in Mediterranean forest restoration programs, Schirone, Salis & Vessella 2011

Eighth Compendium Issue, Mike Hands and Rattan Lal on Agroforestry, Voices of Water for Climate, Ecosystem Restoration Camps Symposium, Jim Laurie’s Biodiversity and Symbiosis III Class, Hannah Lewis’ Call Story, Grassland 2.0, Compendium Notes: Fence ecology: Frameworks for understanding the ecological effects of fences, McInturff et al. 2020

Water Cycles Conference Recap, Community Grazing for Community Abundance, Jobs, Justice and Climate: A rally to defend New England’s future

Urban Eco-Restoration Series Part 3, Climate Conference Speaker Announcement, Featured Event: Restoring Water Cycles to Reverse Global Warming

Urban Eco-Restoration Series Part 2, Featured Event: Restoring Water Cycles to Reverse Global Warming, Catching up with Philip Bogdonoff of BLC, Washington D.C. Chapter

Backyard Biochar and Beyond, Featured Event: Restoring Water Cycles to Reverse Global Warming, Alright Seattle, where’s the rain? 

6:00 p.m.  Potluck, Presentation and Discussion in Cambridge:  “Ruminating on the New Water Paradigm.“ View event details.

5:00 p.m. Potluck, Presentation and Discussion in Cambridge: “Water Follows Carbon (No More Drought) potluck and discussion.“ View event details.

6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Hope for a Livable Climate: The Promise of Restorative Grazing & Other Ecological Innovations to Regenerate Soil, Secure Food & Water, Revive Rural Economies and Reverse Global Warming View event details.

Antje Danielson is the Administrative Director at the Tufts Institute of the Environment and the graduate interdisciplinary “Water: Systems, Science and Society” (WSSS) program. She came to Tufts from Durham University (UK), where she served as the Deputy Director for Sustainability, in May 2008. Previously, she worked with the Harvard Green Campus Initiative.  A long-time resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Antje also co-founded the innovative car-sharing company Zipcar. She holds a Ph.D. in Geology from Free University,…

Jim Laurie, Restoration Ecologist, is a biologist from Rice University and is a pioneer in biological remediation of waste water. He was the technical manager of the world’s largest “Living Machine” project to clean raw municipal sewage with no toxic chemicals. The facility, through a grant from the EPA, processed 80,000 gallons/day using the “living machine”…

Charlotte O’Brien, President and CEO, Carbon Drawdown Solutions, is an entrepreneur, pyrolysis and biomass expert who has worked for years with many varieties of bamboo, a plant that improves soils and water cycles, expands habitats for many other species, and may be harvested sustainably for uses ranging from construction to food to biochar, a soil supplement.…

Precious Phiri is a Senior Facilitator at the Africa Center for Holistic Management (ACHM) in Zimbabwe.  Precious directs training for villages in the Hwange Communal Lands region that are implementing restorative grazing programs using Holistic Land and Livestock Management. This helps rural communities in Africa to reduce poverty, rebuild soils, and restore food and water security. This nature-based…

Jim Laurie, Restoration Ecologist, is a biologist from Rice University and is a pioneer in biological remediation of waste water. He was the technical manager of the world’s largest “Living Machine” project to clean raw municipal sewage with no toxic chemicals. The facility, through a grant from the EPA, processed 80,000 gallons/day using the “living machine” methodology invented by…

Jono Neiger is a founding partner of Regenerative Design Group with 24 years of professional experience in permaculture, ecological land design, site planning, community development, agroforestry, land management and conservation, and restoration. Mr. Neiger teaches widely around the northeast and southeast at colleges, workshops, and conferences on the topics of permaculture, ecological design, sustainable water use, and productive…

Thomas Akin is State Resource Conservationist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the US Department of Agriculture. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to farmers to improve the health of their soils by implementing conservation practices such as cover crops, crop rotation, and reduced tillage. Healthy soils hold more water, better resist erosion and…

Nathan Phillips is professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University.He studies the physiological mechanisms and processes by which plants and ecosystems regulate water loss and carbon gain, and how these processes may be altered under global environmental change.  He is now applying this research to studies of urban ecology in a program called Urban Metabolism.

Annita Seckinger is a soils and water scientist who works as a consultant for a range of organizations.  She is also the founder and president of the Watts Branch Watershed Alliance, an organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Watts Branch Watershed in Montgomery Country, Maryland.  Annita and Dr. Ray Weil are currently collaborating…

Jim Laurie, Restoration Ecologist at Biodiversity for a Livable Climate, is a biologist from Rice University and is a pioneer in biological remediation of waste water. He was the technical manager of the world’s largest “Living Machine” project to clean raw municipal sewage with no toxic chemicals. The facility, through a grant from the EPA, processed…

Precious Phiri is the Founding Director of EarthWisdom Consulting Company.  She was formerly a Senior Facilitator at the Africa Center for Holistic Management (ACHM) in Zimbabwe where she directed training for villages in the Hwange Communal Lands region that are implementing restorative grazing programs using Holistic Land and Livestock Management.  She helps rural communities in Africa to reduce poverty, rebuild soils, and…

Biodiversity 4: Forests, Fungi and Living Shorelines Summer 2021, Wednesdays, June 16th – September 1st 12 weekly classes with our staff scientist, Jim Laurie, held at 1pm and 7pm ET on Zoom. The Excitement and Inspiration of Science for the Curious to the Serious and everyone in-between. A fully interactive online adventure with discussions, experiments…

This article provides an overview of types of plant communities and the process of succession in those communities. In each type of habitat, certain species group together as a community. Fossil records indicate that some of these groups (or very closely related precursors) have lived together for thousands or even millions of years. During that…

This review explores the question of whether plant-plant interactions drive evolutionary changes. “If such evolution is common, plant communities are not random assemblages of species.” The topic is under-studied compared to plant interactions with other groups. Research on plant–consumer, plant–pollinator and plant–disperser interactions has been central to understanding the complex mutualistic and co-dependent interactions among…

Jeannette Christine Armstrong is a Canadian author, educator, artist, and activist, who wrote this article about the traditional decision-making process in Okanagan, called “enowkinwixw,” which demonstrates a great practice of biophilia. Okanagan, the Penticton Indian reservation in Canada where the author was born and raised, has a very fragile ecosystem. However, the author discovered that…

What creature the size of a paperclip is lethal enough to kill ten grown men? The poison dart frog! What makes the poison dart frog so powerful? Poison dart frogs – so named because the Indigenous Emberá people of Colombia traditionally used the venom in blow darts – are some of the most toxic creatures…

What brainless creature can learn, problem solve, and even hold down a job?  The slime mold!

What tiny creature brings luck to farmers and other folks all over the globe? The ladybug!  One Lucky Lady Ladybugs, or beetles of the family Coccinellidae, are small, often colorful rounded insects beloved by children’s rhymes and gardeners alike.  Ladybugs are thought to be a sign of luck in many cultures and urban myths. Whether it’s…

Fred Tutman joined our Life Saves the Planet lecture series on Monday, November 15 to discuss environmental movements and the importance of decolonizing our attitudes, actions, and leadership. Check out related resources and the talk recording on our GBH page. As the planet faces existential threats from multiple sources, the people raising movements aimed at…

Nature’s Solutions as National Policy Code Red at Glasgow: What did they miss? November 20, 2021 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET This November, Biodiversity for a Livable Climate continued its series of mini-conferences on how we can leverage nature’s solutions to shape policy on climate action and resilience. We turned our attention to the Glasgow…

Fill out the form below to register for Nature’s Solutions as National Policy – Code Red Water on March 19, 2022 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET. Please note that we want you to join us more than anything, so we never turn anyone away based on ability to pay.  For free registration, please sign…

Fill out the form below to register for Nature’s Solutions as National Policy – Code Red Water on March 19, 2022 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET. Please note that by registering, you will be added to our mailing list. You can unsubscribe or manage your email preferences at any time.

In this talk, Fred Magdoff, Professor Emeritus of Plant and Soil Science at the University of Vermont, describes the difference between nutrient- and life-depleted soil and nutrient dense, carbon-capturing, and water-storing soil. Fred Magdoff’s research was on ecologically sound ways to improve soil fertility, especially focusing on the critical role of soil organic matter. He…

Precious Phiri grew up in Zimbabwe and discusses her evolution as a trainer in Holistic Management and community facilitation. Her work focuses on working with rural communities and collaborating with networks in Africa to reduce poverty, rebuild soils, and restore food and water security for people, livestock and wildlife – and most recently, to address…

Globally, oyster habitats are the most degraded habitats among coastal systems, with the loss of 99% in the last 150 years. These 350 million years old keystone species and their habitats are at the brink of total collapse from industrial harvesting and pollution of coastal areas. Today scientists understand the ecological value of oyster habitats…

The Inga Foundation’s founder and director Mike Hands has been working to halt the destruction of rainforests from slash and burn agriculture for over 20 years. An experienced tropical ecologist and scientific researcher, Mike divides his time between his farm in Cornwall, UK, and the Inga Foundation’s Land for Life program in Honduras. Now in…

Bulu mini-forest in Cameroon after 19 months; Photo: Agborkang Godfred Hannah Lewis, Compendium Editor for Biodiversity for a Liveable Climate and freelance writer The Miyawaki Method The Miyawaki Method is a way to grow natural, mature forests in a couple of decades rather than a couple of centuries. You do this by observing what happens…

Suggest a Featured Creature, Eco-Restoration Stories Currently Inspiring us, Throwback from the Bio4Climate Blog, Voices of Water, Staff Spotlight: Maya Dutta, Compendium Notes

What nocturnal creatures native to North America are known for their beauty and the fact that they don't eat at all in their adult life?  Luna moths!

On Thursday, January 26 at 6pm ET, Ridge Shinn and Lynne Pledger will join us to discuss their new book, Grass-Fed Beef for a Post-Pandemic World. While the last few tumultuous years have heightened uncertainties about our food supplies, there’s some good news coming out of the regenerative agriculture movement. Regenerative practices restore degraded land,…

In January, Ridge Shinn and Lynne Pledger joined us to discuss their new book, Grass-Fed Beef for a Post-Pandemic World. While the last few tumultuous years have heightened uncertainties about our food supplies, there’s some good news coming out of the regenerative agriculture movement. Regenerative practices restore degraded land, increase soil productivity, sequester carbon and…

To support efforts to stop deforestation, sign the Amazonia for Life pledge: https://amazonia80x2025.earth/declaration#déclaration The Amazon Rainforest is known as the “lungs of the earth” because it draws in carbon dioxide and breathes out oxygen. But it is also the biological heart of the planet’s hydroclimate system, the planet’s rain making machine. We have lost almost…

The Cambridge Public Library and Biodiversity for a Livable Climate present author Hannah Lewis in a reading and discussion of her latest book, Mini-Forest Revolution: Using the Miyawaki Method to Rapidly Rewild the World. The Miyawaki Method is a unique approach to reforestation devised by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. In the book, Lewis explains how…

Which creature is the largest Asian antelope, considered sacred to some and pest to others? The Nilgai!

Greene-Rose Park Forest Photos by Maya Dutta On Saturday November 5, 2022 we planted our second Miyawaki Forest in collaboration with the City of Cambridge in The Port at Greene-Rose Heritage Park. We are thrilled to bring another pocket forest to life with the help of the community. We will share information, updates, and photos…

Everyone needs a forest Forests are one of the most efficient means for sequestering carbon, and the most effective system for cooling the planet, especially on the local level. With the loss of green spaces, more and more people are feeling the effects of heat islands, localized hotspots that can be readily combated by planting and…

What small but fearless songbird can astonish with its aerial acrobatics and is always ready to battle much bigger birds for dominance? The Black Drongo!

Four forestry specialists offer their views on how to reduce the wildfire risks. The Wildfire story that no one is talking about.  The media is full of stories about the causes and cures for the massive forest fires raging around the world.  Those fires have finally hit close to the Bio4Climate home in New England…

Have you ever heard of a squirrel that barks?

What a thrilling week it has been! Since last Thursday’s New York Times article Tiny Forests with Big Benefits, my teammates and I at Bio4Climate have been buzzing with excitement at the recognition our forests and this type of restoration is getting. We are so thrilled by the enthusiasm of people’s responses, from interest in…

Natick High School Forest Photos by Maya Dutta On Saturday September 30, 2023 we planted Natick’s first Miyawaki Forest at Natick High School! Sign up to volunteer here. We are so excited to bring another pocket forest to life with the help of the community, high school, and municipality. We will share information, updates, and…

Somerville High School Forest Photos by Maya Dutta On Sunday October 22, 2023 we are planting Somerville’s first Miyawaki Forest at Somerville High School! Sign up to volunteer here. We are so excited to bring another pocket forest to life with the help of the community, high school, and municipality. We will share information, updates,…

Dr. Makarieva explains why protecting existing forests is one of the most important things we can do to stabilize the climate. Pending legislation in MA (USA) serves as a model for policy protections needed around the world. Learn more about taking action here, and find out more at Save Mass Forests. Our climate system is incredibly…

Halley’s Comet last hurtled around the Sun in 1986 and is expected to return in July of 2061. What will the Earth be like when the Comet returns?  What kind of world do we want to greet it?

What cute creature is an underground architect and an amateur meteorologist? The Groundhog!

We affirm the need to restore the five billion hectares of degraded land worldwide but we have also found a way to bring the power of eco restoration home. Home to our own communities; Home to those most in need of a healing shot of nature; By planting tiny forests in urban areas, using the Miyawaki method.

We, the undersigned organizations, are writing with the hopes of establishing a dialogue regarding the October 17, 2023 joint comment letter sent to Congress by the Outdoor Industry Association, Outdoor Alliance, and The Conservation Alliance concerning the Farm Bill.

Which creature who helps fight climate change has newborns the size of an adult elephant and is not a fan of boats? The Blue Whale!

What handsome creature dyes its feathers and almost exclusively eats bones? The bearded vulture!

Upcoming Youth Eco Restorers for Climate Mini-Conference, Jim Laurie’s Fall 2022 Course, Suggest a Featured Creature!, Voices of Water Corner, Eco-Restoration Stories Currently Inspiring us, New on the Bio4Climate Blog, Compendium Notes

Upcoming Event: No Trees, No Rain, Suggest a Featured Creature!, Voices of Water Corner, Eco-Restoration Stories Currently Inspiring us , Moving On, Staff Spotlight: Tania Roa, New on the Bio4Climate Blog, Compendium Notes

Ongoing & Upcoming Events, Voices of Water Corner, Maya’s Miyawaki Minute, Quotes That Inspire Us, Compendium Notes, A Word from the Editor

Regenerating Life Premiere: Saturday, Life Saves the Planet Lecture Series, Milestones – NYTimes, First Miyawaki Forest Turns Two & Field Trips, Education – Jim’s Biodiversity Course, Maya’s Miyawaki Minute, Redesigning Our Communities, Global Youth Ambassador Program, Voices of Water Supports Scientists, Eco Restoration Stories That Inspire Us, Compendium Notes

Farewell and Welcome, Miyawaki Minute, Life Saves the Planet GBH Series: Beavers with Brock Dolman, Off Grid and on the Board: Welcome John Lambert, Education: Healing Our Land and Our Climate course, Richard Heinberg makes the case for nature based solutions, Muddy Boots and Helping Hands: Bio4Climate in the Community, Voices of Water Summer Reading…

What creature steals photosynthesis, can go a year without eating, and blurs the animal-plant boundary?  The Eastern Emerald Elysia!

Regenerating Life is a groundbreaking film that reframes the climate crisis by focusing on nature’s power to heal our planet. It reveals how the biosphere egulates Earth’s climate and how its destruction has driven global warming. The film highlights regenerating ecosystems like forests, fields, and wetlands, restoring the water cycle, and embracing sustainable practices like…

What Mediterranean tree is uniquely equipped to withstand wildfires with armor-like bark and high, out of reach, branches?

What plant can also be used as a soap, but without a certain insect, simply could not cope? 

BHS Mini-Forest at Belmont High School  Donate to Support Our Forest In Fall 2025, the Miyawaki Forest Action Belmont (MFAB), under the guidance of  Biodiversity For a Livable Climate (Bio4Climate), will be planting a mini-forest using the Miyawaki Forest at the Belmont High School. Join Us As a Volunteer Miyawaki Forest Action Belmont (MFAB) is…

How does life shape our planet? Join Jim Laurie, Restoration Biologist & Futurist, for Biodiversity 12: Earth Alive – Exploring Our Home, a 12-week course running from February 26 – May 14, 2025. Explore how ecosystems—from wetlands to grasslands—create the conditions for life, and learn how biodiversity plays a crucial role in regulating climate, soil,…

What species sang part of a Mozart concerto and got its own musical tribute in return?

Experience the enlightening panel discussion that followed the Boston Film Premiere of “Regenerating Life,” a groundbreaking three-part documentary that delves into the vital role of biodiversity and natural ecosystems in climate regulation. This panel discussion, recorded on October 14th, 2023, at Tufts University, brings together key figures from the film and experts in the field.…

What animal, despite having the same number of vertebrae, has a neck longer than the average human, has spot patterns as unique between individuals as our fingerprints, and despite their gentle appearance, can kill lions with a karate-style kick!?

In June, Bio4Climate Science Communications Intern Adrianna Drindak attended a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., by The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Federation of American Scientists about how federal policies can bolster resilience to extreme heat at the state and community level, centered on the Federation of American Scientists’ 2025 Heat Policy Agenda.

I flicker and float in warm evening air, Like nature’s own fireworks, more care than scare. No sound, just light as I drift and play What glowing insect lights up your way?

Climate disruption is increasing and with it so is polarization, both within the US as well as among nation states. Now more than ever it is incumbent upon us to highlight successful efforts to create a more sustainable, just, and peaceful world. Important initiatives in regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, soil restoration, and related practices are making…