Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Plan 4u323e

When Cornwell Hademu, of Choma, Zambia, started mentoring the women of nearby Mbole, he was sure it would help them on their fields and their farms. What wasn’t clear was just how far that mentorship would take the women.  In the past few years, the Twachiyanda Women’s Group has gone from foraging for food in the surrounding area, to weathering a drought thanks to Cornwell’s mentorship on nature-based solutions. And they’re now starting to bring their own influence to the surrounding community by not only bringing along their men in their journey, but providing a safe space for young women who have given birth to land as they go back to school.  host Ivy Prosper as she takes us on a journey through Cornwell’s own history, and the ripple effects his influence has had on an entire community.  This is the first episode in a three-part series written and produced by Sarah St-Pierre and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff.  More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

In Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa and rubber farms, yields are dwindling due to deforestation and rising temperatures. In this episode we meet farmers like Gbagnon Jean-Pierre Lodugnon who have been farming those fields for a lifetime. Alongside fellow farmers Aicha Fofana and Lamini Zoungrana, Jean-Pierre faces a difficult choice: keep relying on traditional crops that no longer thrive—or make space for trees and embrace agroforestry. In this episode of Nature Answers, host Ivy Prosper explores how these farmers are navigating the trade-offs of short-term income versus long-term sustainability, and how government reforestation initiatives are changing minds and rebuilding the landscape. This episode was produced by Dominique Gené and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff   More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

In Northern Uganda, a community once torn apart by war is regrowing its future—one tree at a time. In this episode, we travel to Bar Opok, a rural village in Northern Uganda, to learn how a resilient community is reclaiming its forests. Once devastated by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, the land was stripped bare, its people displaced, and its environment left vulnerable to erosion, heat, and storms. Meet Walter Atine, village chairman, and John Ogwal, founder of the Dwok Can Ipur Group, whose grassroots reforestation efforts are helping restore both the landscape and community spirit. With from organizations like Kijani Forestry and a growing network of determined residents—including youth and women like Evelyne Awor—the village has planted over 5,000 trees, welcoming back biodiversity and hope. And, you’ll hear from young leader Benard Odongo, whose ion for nature is inspiring a new generation, and experience the sounds of Bar Opok—from birdsong to local music—captured in the heart of the reemerging forest. This episode was hosted by Ivy Prosper. It was produced by Emma Stuart Kiss and it was edited by Tara Sprickerhoff and Emma Stuart-Kiss. More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

Nestled on a narrow strip between the Gulf of Guinea and the Keta Lagoon, the Ghanaian village of Setsinu has long depended on its unique geography for farming and fishing. But climate change is transforming that blessing into a threat. Setsinu’s proximity to water has left it at a high risk of flooding, and in recent years those floods have wiped out crops and displaced families. Through the voices of farmers like Selorm Akli, Olivia Abogado, Simon Avor, and Sylvanus Nyidewu, you’ll hear how the community is responding—not just with resilience, but by turning to ancestral knowledge. They’re rebuilding bunds, traditional earthen barriers once used to protect farmland from floodwaters. It’s a nature-based solution ed down through generations, now being revived to meet the challenges of today. This episode was produced by Jonah Grignon, and hosted by Ivy Prosper.  Edited by Jonah Grignon and Tara Sprickerhoff.  More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

In Kugzua, Ghana, farmers were falling sick. They soon determined the cause: chemical fertilizer. But faced with a choice between poor crops and poor health, farmers stuck with what they were told would keep them fed—until they encountered another option. It’s one that both stemmed from their traditions, and promised a healthier future for both them and their crops.  In this environmental food fight, we meet farmers like Abraham Abubilla Abuari, Christiana Akparibo, and Judith Atama who are leaning into tradition and trying something new to them—compost. Find out how exactly they create the natural fertilizer, and why this technique is helping them deal with the changing climate.  Credits This episode was written and produced in Ghana by Tamara Merritt with from Farm Radio International’s Accra office. It was hosted by Ivy Prosper and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff. Special thanks to local translators, Quality Radio FM, and the farmers who shared their stories. Translations were voiced by Eunice Gakpetor, Abraham Atubila and Jill Adinkrah. More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

Yaara stands as a lone, lush oasis in its part of Ghana. And yet, women in the town have to walk six miles every day to fetch water. Despite pressure from surrounding communities, Yaara has decided against cutting their trees to make a profit by producing charcoal. Why? They’re holding out hope they can bring their water access back. Community , including Chief Nana Yaw Sumaa, the Queen Mother, and local farmers like Aisha Gbinda, share their insights on why they hope protecting the forest will do exactly that: help their rivers flow again.  This episode was written and reported by Justin Fiacconi and hosted by Ivy Prosper. Find pictures of the people you hear from in this story at farmradio.org.   More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

When Jessica Sheillah Aanyu moved a six hour bus and motorcycle ride from home, she found herself asking, “What can I do to make a difference.” When an illness threatened her life, she asked herself, “What have I left behind that the world will be proud of.”  The answers to these questions led to founding Trees for Life, an environmental organization started by Jessica and her husband that brings trees and education to people in her Ugandan home.  This International Women’s Day, meet a woman whose drive and purpose have grown from a single tree in the ground to a movement that makes room for everyone: from a school for the deaf to the other women she sees every day.  This podcast was produced by Olivia Rumbell and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff. It is hosted by Ivy Prosper. Transcripts and photos are available at https://farmradio.org/s2e4-how-one-woman-is-changing-teso/ More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

Mangroves are money-makers in coastal Côte d’Ivoire. And the fish you can cook with the smoke from their branches are delicious. But the very practice of cutting down the trees to burn put the fish in danger. So people like Jean-Claude Kaké have had to make a choice: Do you keep cutting the trees to make money in order to feed your family? Or do you forgo the cash for a future that might take years to appear?   Finding the answer has not been easy for people in Dabéda and Niani, in the Sassandra region in the west of Cote d’Ivoire. And their choices have meant sacrifice.   So meet the people behind the decisions, from Serge Doutché, who founded an NGO to protect the mangroves, to Ève Inago, who is weighing the education of her children with a future for her children.   Produced and written by Jack Wilson.  Edited by Tara Sprickerhoff. Hosted by Ivy Prosper   More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

When the Malili Women’s Cooperative first tried new farming techniques in reaction to climate change, their community laughed at them. But what started as a simple listening group for a farming radio program has grown into a powerful, women-led farming cooperative, leading the way with nature-based solutions. These women have faced financial struggles, skepticism from their community, and even a national drought—but through perseverance and innovative farming techniques, they are proving that change is possible. In this episode, host Ivy Prosper takes us to Rosanna Malambo’s farm near Chikankata, Zambia, where women gather under the trees to share knowledge, one another, and learn farming methods that help them survive and thrive in the face of climate change. From ripping to intercropping and planting musangu trees, the cooperative is demonstrating the power of unity and resilience. As their crops grow, so does their impact—men and other farmers in their community are now turning to them for guidance. What started as a search for solutions has made these women the role models they once needed themselves. This episode was produced and written by Adam Tripp. Resources & Links: 🌍 Learn more about nature-based solutions: IUCN Definition 🎧 Follow Nature Answers on social media: @FarmRadio 💛 Farm Radio International’s work: Donate Here More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

The Mabamba Swamp is home to the dinosaur-like shoebill stork. But it wasn't always that way. In order to save it. Joseph Kimbagaya had to convince his friends, his elders, and ultimately the Catholic Church.  In our season launch, host Ivy Prosper takes us to the lush Mabamba Swamp in central Uganda, home to over 300 bird species, including the striking shoebill stork.  Hear how local leaders, tour guides, and conservationists, like Joseph Kimbagaya and Kasasa Hanington, have transformed this wetland into a thriving eco-tourism hub by reforesting, regulating harmful activities, and inspiring a love for nature.  And meet the bird that inspired it all.  This episode was written and produced by Evert Lindquist, with from staff from Farm Radio International’s office in Uganda, including Ecaat Stephen Justin and Pascal Mweruka. Broadcaster Amayiko Martin provided translations on site and re-recorded the translation for Mayombwe Godfrey.Doreen Ainembabazi further translated and voiced the interview with Katende Aidah. This podcast was edited by Tara Sprickerhoff. More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

When Ggingo first found encroachers digging up their community forest, they called the police. But they soon found that chasing people from the forest wasn’t a long term solution – so they changed tactics.  In this teaser for Season 2 of Nature Answers you’ll find that conflict isn’t always the answer.  And – meet our new host, Ivy Prosper. The Ghanaian-Canadian s us from Accra, Ghana where we chat about the stories you’ll hear in the new season of Nature Answers. The full season launches on January 23rd, with tales from Ghana, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, and Zambia. This episode was produced and written by Doreen Ainembabazi in Kampala, Uganda.  More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

Local media can make a difference — at least if it's done right. That's what these professionals had to say during a recent live podcast recording at the Cooperation Canada Forum in Ottawa, Canada.  Hear from media professionals both in Canada and Africa about the power of community media in all its forms. This lively discussion saw ists tasked with proving the impact of radio in a world of digital media, with discussing the impact of "information poverty" and with giving advice on how media can do a better job of amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. The result? An engaging conversation about the role media plays from rural Africa or Indigenous communities in Canada, and what is required to make it worthwhile to listen to.  And, get a sneak peak from Season 2 of Nature Answers.  session Adrian Harewood in front of a live audience at the Cooperation Canada Forum at the NAC in Ottawa, Ontario for a recording of this discussion on the power of media.  Special thanks to our guests:  Eucharia Uranta-Okonkwo, Past Country Program Manager, Farm Radio International Nigeria; current doctoral candidate, University of Ottawa Eden Fineday, Publisher and Journalist, IndigiNews Amara Bangura, Director of Operations, Journalists for Human Rights Sarah St-Pierre, Master of Journalism candidate, Carleton University More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

Bushfires are both a way of life, and threaten the way of life, in communities in northern Ghana. But one community, Shelanyili, made a bold change: they banned bushfires outright. The consequences of that ban ranged beyond their community, sparking conflicts, and forcing both themselves and their neighbours to reckon with what it means to change your lives to adapt to climate change.  Meet Baba Salifu, a community elder who has watched the impacts climate change have made on his community and Ayi Abdulai, a farmer who has had to protect her community from bushfires and the people who spread from. But you’ll also hear from their neighbours in in Karaga, a community chose not to follow the bushfire ban, instead using fire to hunt and clear land — until they faced devastating consequences.  Shelanyili and Karaga are two communities who could be any communities in the world right now. One changed their way of life to adapt to climate change – and had to physically defend that change, while the other strove to find ways to keep their way of life — one born out of hundreds of years of tradition — in the face of a planet that was forcing them to change.  The season finale of Nature Answers asks the question: what does it take to protect nature, and in doing, protect ourselves.  This episode was produced by Chris Edwards and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff. Transcripts and pictures are available at farmradio.org/ More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

When Morungatuny in Uganda realized the essential need to start replanting trees in the face of their ever-depleting forests, they realized something stunning: not only was nature becoming healthier, but the trees were reducing gender-based violence and improving the community as a whole.  Trees are the looming lifelines of our planet, and their roots run deep in rural Uganda. But in Morungatuny burning them for charcoal was the main economic driver of the economy. And trees were needed for firewood for cooking and building.  The rates of consumption soon outpaced the availability of trees. This resulted in extra difficulties faced by women, from the long distances they had to travel for firewood, to higher rates of domestic violence caused by economic stress.  So the community was faced with a question: what could they change to make life better for everyone – and for future generations especially. Community like Jethro and Aliba Mary came to the community with answers — answers pulled from nature itself.  This episode was produced by Izzie Helenchilde and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff.  Pictures from Morungatuny and a transcript are available at https://farmradio.org/five-trees-for-every-child/ More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

A 100-year-old mango tree grows in the heart of Kikandwa, Uganda. But not long ago, the community considered cutting it down for charcoal. Instead, everyone from school children to elders have been part of a community environmental effort.  John Kaganga founded the Kikandwa Environmental Association in memory of his grandfather, who would walk hundreds of kilometers for seeds to plant trees. But it’s taken community like Vincent Lutalo to make John’s dream of a green future a reality. Vincent teaches at the community school, where children are not only taught their letters, but how to grow seedlings and the fundamentals of beekeeping. It’s a change Kikandwa hopes will spread as the children grow up and travel outside the community.  Transcripts and photos from the episode can be found at https://farmradio.org/taking-the-classroom-outside/ This episode was produced by Alex Dines and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff.  More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

What are Nature-based Solutions actually? We talk alot about them on Nature Answers, but what makes a Nature-based Solution a nature-based solution? What does it mean to have both human and ecological benefits? And why are they so important anyways?  These are the questions we answer in Episode 5 of Nature Answers. Instead of a documentary episode, this week we sit down with Sareme Gebre, Farm Radio International's Nature-based Solutions Advisor.  For more about Nature-based Solutions visit the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) website at https://www.iucn.org/our-work/nature-based-solutions. For more on the IUCN standards, click here. A transcript is available at https://farmradio.org/e5-what-are-nature-based-solutions/ More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

How mangrove rehabilitation can save a community’s future What can you do when the resources that pay you stop growing back? That’s the question asked by residents in Agbledomi, a coastal community in the Volta region of Ghana.  Mangroves are environmental heavy hitters – they sequester carbon, prevent coastal erosion and contribute to biodiversity in intertidal areas. But they’re also an important part of the community’s economy after the construction of the Akosombo dam reduced fish populations. And overharvesting is threatening them. But a Community Resource Management Area model led by community like Major Kamasah and Gabriel Ahianyo is providing a path to sustainability.  They and other community are actively involved in planting mangroves – some to restore the estuary, others for the promise of an economic future for them and their children. They highlight the intertwined relationship between environmental conservation, community development, and social equity, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to address climate change impacts effectively. This episode was produced by Morgana Abdy and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff.  For a complete transcript, photos and other stories about Agbledomi, visit farmradio.org/mangrove-rehabilitation/ More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

After years of civil war and the challenges of restoring their environment, this community has found an innovative solution—a sustainable fish farm. Meet Betty Achen and Dennis Obote, two community whose work, land and ion have turned fish into a future. In this episode, we visit Balwalwa, a community in the Artwotngo Parish in Northern Uganda. We hear into what it takes to establish a sustainable fish farm, the setbacks faced due to drought and market access, and the unexpected return of nature's predators. Through it all, the community remains hopeful and determined, using their learnings to build a better future. Discover the intricate balance of aquaculture, wetland restoration, and sustainable farming practices that the Artwotngo community employs. From tilapia and catfish harvesting to the challenges of running a restaurant, Betty Achen shares her hopes for her community.   Learn how the Artwotngo community has navigated both environmental and economic recovery post conflict, and how they are embracing nature-based solutions to adapt to a changing climate, overcome challenges, and build a future for each other. For pictures and a transcript, visit https://farmradio.org/fish-mean-recovery-from-war/ More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

When wind blew off roofs in Gagbiri in northern Ghana, the community made what turned out to be a fruitful choice: they planted mango trees!  Discover how the community planted over a thousand trees, growing windbreaks and economic empowerment. Learn how women played a pivotal role, breaking cultural barriers and contributing to the project's success – and reaping the rewards of its progress as well.  The thriving mango plantation not only shields homes but transforms lives, boosting income, funding education, and even addressing healthcare challenges. Gagbiri's story exemplifies the resilience of nature-based solutions to climate change and equitable community development. This episode was produced by Christopher Edwards and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff.  A transcript is available at farmradio.org/how-mangoes-grow-economies-and-wind-breaks/ More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. 

Inconsistent rainfall and a lack of reliable water are no small challenge for rural farmers, but two innovative communities in Ghana have found creative solutions to their water issues. The thing they both have in common? Trees!  us in the surprisingly green landscape of Mem, where we learn about the community’s unique approach to securing rainfall—planting teak trees. Teak trees, with their towering canopies and ability to absorb carbon dioxide, have become a vital part of the community's strategy to combat heatwaves and unreliable rains. Yaw Donko, a local resident, takes us back to the beginnings of Mem's tree-planting initiatives and how the community rallied together for this nature-based solution. Journeying Ghana's Upper West Region, we also learn how Pieng used trees to stabilize slopes and filter the water around a crucial pond. The collective effort highlighted by Gbentie Mariama and Bakoo Tia has helped fortify the community against future drought.  Both Mem and Pieng showcase the resilience and innovation of rural communities in Africa as they face water-related challenges head-on. us on this episode of Nature Answers to see the power of nature-based solutions in action and the incredible stories of communities adapting to a changing planet. This episode was produced by L. Manuel Baechlin and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff. Sounds were recorded by L. Manuel Baechlin, Christopher Edwards and Morgana Abdy. Translations were voiced by David Addo and Laurentia Adabio. The transcript, photos of the people we interviewed, and more about the nature-based solutions implemented in Mem and Pieng are available at farmradio.org/what-do-trees-have-to-do-with-rain/   More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.