EESEEMR:
USING UNDERSTANDINGS OF PAST CLIMATE AND LAND USE IMPACTS TO RESCUE LANDSCAPES AND DESIGN
SUSTAINABLE AND FIRE-RESISTANT ECOSYSTEMS
We study the relationships between climate, human activity and ecosystem response both today, and in the past. We model those relationships and apply them to design future sustainable ecosystems, and use principles used by Forest Scientists in North America and Europe to make them fire-resistant!
We restore forests damaged by climate change, wildfire, and human mismanagement by applying the principles of permaculture, and techniques used by the U.S. and European Forest services to produce widely spaced forests comprised of diverse, thick barked tree species with meadow fire breaks.
We use native & ancient plants & low tech agriculture (no-till plowing, composting, mulching) & irrigation (qanats, rainfall collection, cisterns) enhanced with modern techniques (drip irrigation). Most importantly we use techniques that do not exploit the environment beyond its natural limits & ability to recover.
Ongoing assessment of our pilot project heath will include analysis of satellite photography and drone monitoring of plant cover changes, and use of on- the-ground sensors. We will then be able to make adjustments to how we are treating the plots to ensure their ongoing health.
Ongoing assessment will be be critical in regions where water is at a premium and where it will have to be finely controlled to avoid water waste. Insect and disease problems could be identified early enough to apply natural solutions, i.e., natural insect predators and culling of diseased plants.
Special software programs will allow continuous analysis of project progress and allow comparison with model projections, both past, present and future.
Our project near Gravina in Puglia will attack soil erosion with terracing, use natural soil enrichment methods, & maximise plant diversity. We are using palaeoecological data to model project design & maximise success.
Come visit us in the field and see environmental rescue as it happens! Maybe you will join our volunteers and the crusade to save our planet!
Join the battle against global warming! Join our growing list of angel investors at the Irish Investment Network!
