Sostenibilidad

Every day, agricultural products wind up on tables and counters in Brazilian kitchens and living rooms.  There are fruits, vegetables and grains --of various colors and flavors. These foods come from countless farms scattered throughout Brazil. Family farms are the primary source of food that reaches the tables of Brazilian families, accounting for approximately 70 percent of food consumed in the country in 2015. Family farmers are important actors in the productive chain for the main foods in the Brazilian market: cassava, beans, pork, milk, chicken and corn.

Did you know that more than 800 million women and girls between the age of 15 and 49 are menstruating right now? Some of them are your co-workers, friends, partners and supervisors. For some, the topic can be an uncomfortable one, but it is also a central issue for women’s health and opportunity.To those in the developed world, menstruation can be a minor nuisance, accompanied occasionally by cramps, backaches and frequent visits to the bathroom, something that can be managed safely, hygienically and easily.

Four guiding principles to managing Natural Capital for sustainability in Neotropical watersheds

This week, as we celebrate the World Oceans Day, I started to think about the importance of oceans and how frequently we forget about the critical role they play. The reality is that oceans are the home of nearly 2 million species. Marine life is so rich and extensive that it goes from the tiniest bacteria to the largest mammal that ever lived on the planet’s surface.

After decades of planning and construction, SIEPAC (The Central American Electrical Interconnection System) was finally completed in 2014. It took longer than expected to come to life but on many levels, the 1,800km transmission line represented a boost for the region. It improved electrical markets and provided electricity and telecommunications for millions of residents throughout Central America. The transmission line spans six countries. The cost for planning, construction and infrastructure totaled almost half a billion dollars, over half of which was funded by The IDB.

The project has a lot going for it. In El Alto, Bolivia, IDB has provided a financial package of US$109 million to help bring drinking water to residents while at the same time improve irrigation for 7,000 farmers. Once complete, the integrated watershed will benefit over 260,000 people over the coming 10 years – about 10,000 in remote communities and the remainder in El Alto itself.As with every development project, the IDB, the agency in charge of executing the project and other stakeholders sought to minimize impact on local communities and natural resources.

With International Migratory Fish Day (yes, there is such a day, in case you don’t know) just around the corner, I’d like to share the experience of how Costa Rica, with the IDB’s help, has successfully implemented its first river offset in Central America’s largest hydroelectric project.

Hidden in the rainforests, deserts, and mountains of Latin America and the Caribbean lay the keys to reversing the impact of global climate change.  The region claims the world’s largest single-source of oxygen, most diverse species of flora and fauna, and several Natural Wonders of the World that need our help.  The next great challenge for our generation is to join together to save these precious resources that are rapidly disappearing due to the effects of rising sea levels and more extreme weather patterns.  Here are ongoing initiatives focused on preserving four sites vi

Although the idea of living in a sustainable world is an appealing thought for most of us, it also presents us with difficult choices that directly affect our daily living. One of these very important lifestyle decisions is what we eat. In this blog post we discuss how food is linked to biodiversity, and as a result, how our food choices influence global biodiversity. Food systems & biodiversity When most people think of biodiversity they think of the large variety of animals and plants.