Five Drops of Insight #15
Nevada's Ruling on Water, Tony Rinaudo, Tigray Crisis, Greening of the Deserts, and Growing Arctic Ice from 2009-2019
Good day, Regenerators. In this issue, we traverse a spectrum of ecological and societal transformations that underline the resilience of our planet and the impact of human actions. From Nevada's innovative approach to water management, through desert regions blossoming into fertile lands, to the unexpected growth of Antarctic ice shelves, each story presents a facet of how environments and communities adapt and thrive in the face of challenges. Yet, amidst these tales of triumph, we're drawn to the stark contrast of Tigray, Ethiopia, where the devastating consequences of conflict overshadow a past success story of environmental rejuvenation. Together, these narratives celebrate the victories and remind us of the vulnerabilities and urgent needs that demand our collective attention.
1. Nevada's Groundbreaking Water Ruling
In a landmark decision, the Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that the state can limit new groundwater pumping to protect existing water users and wildlife, potentially altering the fate of a proposed Mojave Desert community for 250,000 people. This ruling underscores the vital importance of water in Nevada, America's driest state, which relies heavily on the dwindling Colorado River and its depleted aquifers. Nevada sets a precedent for more sustainable water management practices by treating surface water and groundwater as a unified resource. This approach could redefine the development landscape in Nevada and across the Southwest, where water scarcity and ecological concerns are increasingly pressing. The decision also emphasizes the necessity of science-driven policies in addressing water rights and environmental protection, challenging the traditional notion of unchecked growth in the region.
First published on Daniel Rothberg’s substack here
2. Green Revolution in the Desert
In the heart of West Africa, an unexpected transformation is taking root. Tony Rinaudo's "Eureka" moment in Niger has sparked a reforestation technique called Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), turning barren landscapes into lush, life-sustaining environments. This simple yet revolutionary method involves nurturing trees back to life from existing stumps, roots, and seeds, tapping into the "underground forest" lying dormant beneath degraded lands. With minimal tools and cost, FMNR has empowered local farmers, catalyzing the regeneration of 200 million trees in Niger alone without planting a single new one.
This grassroots movement has combated land degradation and climate change and revitalized communities, boosting crop diversity and livestock health. Rinaudo's journey from despair to hope underscores a vital lesson: working with nature and engaging local communities can unlock profound environmental and social benefits. FMNR's success story in Niger is a testament to the power of simple solutions in addressing complex global challenges, offering a blueprint for sustainable land management worldwide.
3. A Closer Look at Global Greening
Despite rising concerns over drought and its potential to hinder vegetation growth, a recent comprehensive analysis reveals a slightly different story. The global greening phenomenon, widely recognized through satellite observations, continues to gain momentum, albeit at a slightly increased pace.
The study, leveraging the latest leaf area index datasets, indicates that over half of the globe has experienced an acceleration in greening, covering significant regions like India, the European plains, and parts of Africa. This trend persists even in the face of increasing drought stress, which, while slowing the greening rate, hasn't flipped the switch towards widespread browning.
The research highlights CO2 fertilization and proactive land management as the main drivers behind this greening, overshadowing the adverse effects of climate change. It’s a testament to the resilience and adaptive capacity of our planet's ecosystems, suggesting that with the right balance of environmental stewardship and natural processes, we can sustain and even enhance the health of our terrestrial habitats.
This insight brings hope and underscores the importance of continued environmental monitoring and management efforts to harness the positive impacts of global greening on climate regulation and biodiversity.
4. Antarctic Ice Shelves: A Decade of Growth
A recent study challenges prevailing narratives of Antarctic ice loss, revealing a more complex and nuanced picture of the continent's ice dynamics. Utilizing satellite data from MODIS, researchers have documented a net gain of 661 gigatons in Antarctic ice shelf mass from 2009 to 2019.
Contrary to models based on steady-state assumptions, which predicted significant losses, this study found that ice shelves in East Antarctica and the massive Ross and Ronne-Filchner shelves experienced substantial growth, outweighing losses in West Antarctica and the Peninsula.
This growth led to an overall increase of 5,305 square kilometers in the Antarctic ice shelf area during the decade, with 16 of the 34 shelves studied showing expansion.
The study highlights the importance of using real-time observational data over models that rely on fixed assumptions, which can significantly overestimate losses. By providing a more accurate account of ice shelf dynamics, this research underscores the complexity of climate systems and the need for nuanced approaches in environmental science.
5. Transforming Tigray: From Degradation to Fertility to Devastation and Depopulation, again
In the heart of Ethiopia, the Tigray Project once stood as a beacon of hope and transformation. Launched in the late 1990s, this community-led initiative revitalized the once-degraded lands of the Tigray region, turning them into flourishing farmlands. Through constructing terraces, check dams, and adopting sustainable practices like agroforestry, the project combated soil erosion, boosted agricultural yields, and secured the livelihoods of countless local farmers.
The project enhanced soil fertility and water retention and brought back biodiversity, reintroducing various plant and animal species to the region. Recognized globally, the project received the Gold Future Policy Award in 2017, celebrating its innovative approach to soil conservation and its significant impact on food security.
Tigray's transformation was a testament to what communities could achieve together to restore their environment.
However, the once-lauded Tigray region now faces a harrowing reality. Since the end of 2021, a devastating conflict has ravaged this historic land, erasing much of its past progress.
The war, which has received scant attention on the global stage compared to other conflicts, has been catastrophic, with casualty estimates nearing a million lives in just two years.
This stark contrast between Tigray's past achievements and its current plight is a poignant reminder of the fragile nature of peace and development. While the world has been closely watching the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ongoing strife between Israel and Palestine, the crisis in Tigray has unfolded with far greater human cost (roughly 1 million) yet with far less international scrutiny.
Today, Tigray urgently requires the global community's focus and assistance. The conflict has not only led to an appalling loss of life but has also severely impacted the region's infrastructure, economy, and the very fabric of society. Buildings that once symbolized a prosperous future now stand as empty shells, and the streets of Mekelle, Tigray's capital, bear witness to the scars of war. The once bustling streets are now lined with the remnants of a region in turmoil, starkly contrasting the vibrant community-led efforts of the past.
The crisis in Tigray highlights the urgent need for immediate humanitarian aid and a concerted effort to bring peace. The international community must respond to this alarm by offering support to resolve the conflict and help Tigray rebuild. The tragedy unfolding in Tigray should galvanize global action, urging us to address one of our era's most pressing humanitarian crises and help Tigray reclaim its legacy of resilience and regeneration. The scale of the tragedy in Tigray, which surpasses even those in more widely covered regions like Ukraine and Gaza, underscores the need for a focused international response to avert further loss and suffering.
Thank you for your time, and as usual, stay informed - stay curious.