Zero deforestation agreement in the Amazon, sailboat-powered coffee beans, biodiverse mini-forests

Photo: Milo Miloezger / Unsplash (CC0)

In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re looking at a pioneering agreement between campesinos and cattle ranchers in Colombia, a boost for wind-powered cargo in the form of coffee beans, and an increase in super-diverse Miyawaki forests in Japan.

Colombian campesinos and cattle ranchers have joined forces to protect the Amazon rainforest

The historic zero-deforestation agreement means that regeneration of the fragile soils is now a top priority.

Source: Mongabay

Wind-powered sailboats are transporting coffee beans to the UK in another step towards carbon neutrality

Although it takes a little longer for cargo to arrive, the move results in the prevention of over 170 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

Source: The Guardian

Fast-growing and super-diverse mini-forests are appearing across the globe in an attempt to halt climate change

The nature of tennis court-sized Miyawaki forests means that they are able to store up to 40 times more carbon than single-species plantations.

Source: The Guardian

The Canadian city of Victoria is distributing over 75,000 seedlings in order to promote food security among residents

Over 17 varieties of vegetables are available free of charge, in an updated version of the Victory Gardens of the 1940s.

Source: Treehugger

Band-Aid is creating a range of plasters to match black and brown skin tones

The company is also donating $100,000 to Black Lives Matter in light of recent global protests.

Source: CNN

The UK’s barn owl population is soaring due to human installation of nesting boxes

The project has resulted in an approximate increase of 7,500 breeding pairs and over 20,000 nesting box installations.

Source: The Guardian

Tiny gardens are being planted around bins in Amsterdam in order to cut littering

Trials in a number of locations suggest that the fauna dissuades passers-by from disposing of their waste in an irresponsible fashion.

Source: The Guardian

A 14-year-old engineer has created two innovative inventions in order to protect vulnerable older people

Freddie’s creations include a fall-monitoring system, and a home security system based on facial recognition which prevents cold callers from gaining access to a property.

Source: BBC

A city in New Jersey successfully abolished the traditional police force and replaced it with one under country control

The move meant police officers were no longer rewarded for the number of tickets they had given to residents or number of arrests they had made, and focused on better community integration.

Source: Politico

A Romanian cobbler has fashioned social distancing shoes in order to help people keep a distance from one another

The size 75 shoes ensure that two people wearing them will be forced to keep 1.5m apart, as recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Source: DW

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