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For many years GRID-Arendal has worked with
developing countries to support their efforts to manage
their environments. In 2014, we prepared a
User Guide
to help the Africa Environmental Information Network
(AfricaEIN)
3
support African countries keep their state
of the environment under review. One application is the
3. Supporting Environmental Management
Award for Zambia Atlas of Our Changing
Environment
The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA)
5
was given an award in October 2014 for its work on the
Zambia Atlas
6
(published in 2013). The atlas was a joint effort
of GRID-Arendal, ZEMA and UNEP. The research benefited
from the Fredskorpset (FK) Norway Exchange
7
when Joel
Simwinga of ZEMA was seconded to GRID-Arendal and
Bernardas Padegimas, a GRID-Arendal staff member, was
seconded to ZEMA. Additional support was received from
GRID-Sioux Falls. ZEMA received the Best Public Sector
Campaign Award, in recognition of the collaborative approach
used in producing the atlas and its influence on the public,
from Zambia Public Relations Association (ZAPRA).
IMPACT
EM
development of country environment profiles. In 2014, 10
countries -- Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi,
Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
– published their environmental profiles on line using
GRID-Arendal’s
User Guide
. In order to better profile the
AfricaEIN, a stand-alone website is being developed. In
addition, a video explaining the network was also produced
in English and French.
4
Water grabbing
8
in Africa
Who controls access to water is a vital question in many
developing countries. This project looks at the extent of
large-scale land investments in Africa and highlights their
effect on people’s livelihoods and on water ecosystems. A
summary of the project’s initial findings was published
and distributed at the World Water Week in early autumn
2014 and the full report was finalised in December.
Other work in the region involved examining food waste.
A joint study with UNEP,
Food Wasted, Food Lost
, argues
that ecosystem degradation is a major cause of loss in
potential food production, while human practices and
preferences are blamed not only for food loss but also
food waste. It calls for investment in better management
of food producing ecosystems.
Droughts and floods worsen losses in potential food production
from agriculture due to land degradation, including soil
erosion and salinization. Photo: iStock/no_limit_pictures