Eco Africa: The Environment Magazine: Recent Episodes
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DW's Eco Africa showcases innovative concepts and best practice projects from Africa and Europe and presents environment and climate change ideas that inspire others to get on board or start something of their own. The show offers insight and moves people to help protect the environment.
The high price of imported animal feed is a headache for farmers all over the world. In Egypt, some are looking into locally produced alternatives, such as the fast-growing and versatile aquatic fern Azolla.
Everyday almost 200 tons of textile waste are dumped in landfills in African countries. Meet some young South Africans on a mission to defend the environment against never-ending textile waste.
As baboons roam the streets of a Cape Town suburb, they wreak havoc in their search for food. That has prompted locals to devise strategies to keep both the residents and the animals safe.
Slash-and-burn is a traditional farming method used by many subsistence farmers. But the practice both harms the soil and accelerates global warming. A project in Ghana promotes conservation agriculture instead.
Ambrose Letoluai is a goatherder and a talented photographer. With his striking portraits of the many animals that live here, the Maasai researcher hopes to raise awareness of species that are vulnerable or endangered.
Students from Madagascar and Germany have developed a highly efficient cooker that runs on miscanthus grass pellets. They hope the fuel can replace charcoal as the cooking fuel of choice and help stop deforestation.
The Ivorian government is aiming for a 42% renewable energy mix by 2030. We look at projects from off-grid water supply to massive solar installations that can supply tens of thousands of homes with green energy.
Hubard Stephny, a 29-year-old petroleum engineer, has turned into a pioneer of green energy and organic fertilizer in Cameroon. He is bringing his green ideas to communities and is training them.
In a state-of-the-art laboratory on the edge of Kenya's only surviving patch of tropical rainforest, a fungal weapon is being spawned to fight against a non-indigenous, invasive plant called witchweed.
A startup in Zambia is using technology to support smallholder farmers. The digital platform allows them to form saving circles, access payment services and receive personalized advice.
Tunisia is one of the most arid countries in Africa, but a lot of water is needed in agriculture. An entrepreneur now grows vegetables hydroponically, using less water overall and almost doubling his yields.
SUNfarming combines photovoltaics and agriculture by creating structures that produce energy and provide shelter and space for plants and animals. An integrated system also ensures more efficient use of rainwater.
To reduce deforestation in Uganda, people are looking for sustainable alternatives to charcoal. Using briquettes instead of wood for cooking is one good option, because it is cheaper and also more ecological.
Some crops actually improve the soil, such as beans and chickpeas. But these protein-rich sustainable legumes aren’t popular everywhere. We look at an attempt to introduce chickpeas in Germany.
Many people consider cacti a nuisance, but one young Senegalese entrepreneur is putting them to good use. He’s devised a way to produce both biogas and organic fertilizer from the spiky succulents.
Sudan has the biggest share of the world largest fossil water reservoir, the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System. The water gives life to arid regions, but it must be managed sustainably in order to last.
An Irish businessman converted a five-meter-long piece of retired aircraft and installed it in his garden to use as home office space. The social media attention was so high that he has now turned the enterprise into a business. His company Aeropod now recycles old aircrafts into chic huts.
In Nigeria, many tons of fresh market produce are spoiled daily due to a lack of refrigeration.. But what if the same sun that rots vegetables and sours milk could be the energy source that keeps them cool and crisp?
Women on the edge of Azagny National Park in Ivory Coast used to burn mangrove wood to boil seawater down to salt. They’ve now learned more sustainable methods and built up climate resilience in other surprising ways.
African baobab leaves are valued for their nutritional and medicinal properties. But overharvesting threatens the trees. An initiative is raising awareness and planting new seedlings.
Giraffes may be the symbol of the African savanna, but few realize they are undergoing a silent extinction. A conservancy in Kenya is devoted to increasing the population of one particular endangered species: the Rothschild giraffe.
Biodynamic agriculture is the oldest system of organic farming. One farm in Uganda has been using its methods for half a century -- with great success. Now Demeter certified, it hopes to be an inspiration to other farms in Uganda and elsewhere in Africa.
A farmer in Morocco has set up a solar array to cover his farm's electricity needs. The irrigation pumps and machinery used to treat produce or make biofertilizers now all run on green energy.
In Kenya, geothermal energy already accounts for a large portion of its energy prodution. Experts see is a lot more potential for the sector, so construction is underway at new extraction sites. It may be a good alternative to fossil fuels, but geothermal energy is not without its drawbacks.
Known as Nigeria's Solar queen Damilola Asaleye owns a solar tech company, has founded a solar academy and organizes stipends for young women in an effort to create women workforce in the sector.
A project provides solar-powered sewing machines to socially disadvantaged women in rural areas in Cameroon, which frequently sees outages all over the country. In addition to the machines, the young women receive seamstress training.
The crocodile population in northern Ghana’s Paga Pond is threatened. More than 100 crocodiles live here, but the pond is drying up. The community has taken measures to preserve the wetland.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare supports Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park in its efforts to protect the 45,000 elephants living there by training rangers and drilling wells for local communities, thereby avoiding human wildlife conflict.
Congolese agronomists are turning to palm weevil larvae in their search for alternative protein sources for a population facing food insecurity.
A geologist in Senegal has invented a computer program to detect illegal mining. There are hundreds of illegal mines in the country, and many are a threat to the environment.
For the first time, villagers of Nwoya in Northern Uganda are using electricity. Homes and businesses are being powered by renewable energy, generated from farm waste.
Patrick Mujuzi is turning used disposable diapers into something useful. He repurposes their plastic material in eco bricks; the bio-degradable parts are composted into organic manure and used to make seed balls.
Joseph Tsongo, a war survivor, is an environmental activist working in refugee camps in Goma. With the project "adopt a tree, not a weapon" he seeks to convince camp inhabitants to stop felling trees to produce charcoal.
Sierra Leone's Yawri Bay is a crucial stopover for thousands of migratory birds and home to more than 40 local bird species. Birdwatching clubs in the region help scientists monitor bird populations in hard-to-reach locations.
During Ramadan, volunteers in the Egyptian city of Alexandria prepare and distribute meals to those in need. Generally packaged in plastic, one man got tired of seeing the mounds of waste grow.
The Wallah We Can project in Tunisia is transforming public schools into social enterprises. The Makthar school is energy self-sufficient and a farm provides students with free meals. It's improving the prospects for both the kids and their parents.
Tunisia is one of the biggest olive oil producers in the world. Now one company has found a way to use the considerable leftover biomass from making the oil by turning it into heating briquettes.
Ghana is a leading dumpsite for rejected fast fashion clothing. Millions of items show up every week, and then 40 percent is simply discarded. Some designers and activists are getting creative to upcycle this material, creating value and jobs while reducing its environmental impact.
South Africa is using a wide range of hi-tech methods and education programs to help observe and protect the over 200 species of shark that live in its oceans. Go along for a deep dive.
A project is helping farmers adapt agroforestry for growing coffee beans in a sustainable eco-friendly way. The hope is to increase coffee production without chemicals while keeping the soil healthy and fertile for the future.
A Nigerian mobile app called Trashcoin connects waste producers to recyclers in real time. Plus it gives users direct incentives like the ability to pay utilities with points gathered from their plastic waste.
In Senegal, environmental protection is not part of the official school curriculum. Still, some schools and teachers are taking on the issue by planting organic gardens in schoolyards where students can learn by doing.
Kenya's island of Lamu is burdened by a deluge of plastic waste. Now a facility on the island is processing this waste into a valuable material that can even be used to keep some of the island's traditions alive.
The disappearance of chimpanzees is accelerating in Guinea Conakry due to poaching, as well as timber and mineral exploitation. To reverse it, one project is raising chimpanzees and preparing them for a return to the wild.
Waterways can be a part of the solution when it comes to traffic jams. More and more people are commuting with boats. This trend reduces emissions and helps people arrive on time at their destinations.
In Ghana’s Upper West region, a small startup is mounting solar-powered and cost-effective mini-grids across light-poor communities. It also distributes rechargeable solar lamps to its members.
Wildlife used to thrive in Akegare National Park in Rwanda. After years of wildlife-human conflicts, the government and local community are working to restore its natural beauty.
The cocoa industry is a major driver of deforestation in West Africa. The German startup Planet A Foods is producing innovative chocolate products -- made from oats!
In Ivory Coast, a new generation of young women encourage environmental protection through community outreach and raising awareness among the most vulnerable populations.
A scientist is now producing organic fertilizer in a bid to create a cheaper and more viable alternative to imports.
A one-man show in Harare is putting the environment centerstage. In "An Act of Man," a rain diviner is forced to look at past traditions and the future to come to terms with personal misfortunes and natural disasters.
An NGO is trying to bring access to reliable electricity by implementing small solar systems to make villages independent from the national grid. Importantly, they also show locals how to maintain the systems.
Greenhouses in the Netherlands cover a lot of land and are responsible for a lot of produce. Many also use a lot of gas to stay warm. But some are now going greener and leaving behind fossil fuels.
In Kenya, an entrepreneur came up with a sustainable solution to have power on the go: wearable solar hoodies. They are easy to charge and even make a bold fashion statement while hiding the necessary technology.
In South Africa, some whales have dramatically changed their migration routes and eating patterns. Researchers wonder if the changes have been caused by a drop in food supplies in the Antarctic Ocean due to climate change.
Agriculture is changing as more farmers turn to organic farming, whether with high-tech equipment, traditional methods or old seed varieties. The goal is the same: ecological and resource conserving agriculture.
A young activist in Kenya saw firsthand how dwindling forests led to prolonged droughts and food and water shortages. So she started a group to sensitize the community and has led cleanup and tree planting campaigns.
Mbongeni Buthelezi takes recycling to the extreme. He "paints" with plastic. For his work, he uses plastic waste, cuts it into pieces and applies it to canvas with a heat gun, creating surfaces with changing colors.
Rwanda is going through a water crisis. The government and NGOs are now joining forces to prioritize water management in the country. Using groundwater in drought-prone areas might help address water scarcity.
Haute cuisine without citrus, chocolate and pepper? More restaurants in Berlin are going local, using only products grown in the region.
A florist in Douala has decided to contribute to reducing the digital footprint. The environmental activist Honoré Bakop collects computer and television casings and transforms them into unconventional flowerpots.
Nairobi has seen a growth in "green" buildings in the past few years. Now a society is helping developers meet complex new building codes while also saving energy, building materials and water.
For years a young man in Cameroon has been taking trash and building models of cities to bring attention to the problem of waste. He hopes his work can shed some creative light on the difficult issue.
What can be done to combat dropping groundwater levels as temperatures rise? Germany's Brandenburg is betting on renaturalizing rivers and also growing heat-resistant crops like chickpeas.
Tunisian farmers are using an old and reliable method to water their olive trees. When the soil dries out, water supplies buried in clay pots keep the roots well supplied.
In Uganda, septuagenarian conservationist Tom Mboijana maintains a private forest and has gone to court to reduce pollution caused by road construction.
The number of solar panels and wind farms in Sicily have led to a shortage of land for wheat farming. The problem has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.
Two young students from Staffordshire, England, have a vision: They want to help save Britain's endangered frogs, turtles and snakes. It is not an easy task in an area full of modern intensive agriculture.
In Egypt construction accounts for at least 23 percent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. That's why some young architects decided to work more sustainably. One example of this is an eco-friendly school and playground.
To keep food from spoiling in Malawi, an NGO is brining simple cool boxes to rural farmers. Using a little water, the boxes don't need any electricity and are able to keep things fresher longer.
What is sustainable farming? And what is the future of our food? Two women who work in the food service industry spent a weekend at a German farm to see how food likes eggs is actually produced.
To better prepare communities settled along the Gambia River for the impacts of climate change, citizen scientists are assisting researchers to gather more comprehensive information on marine and coastal environments.
A project in Rwanda aims to help farmers adapt to climate change by teaching them how to restore terrains and use different crops. It is already showing results in the rugged hills of the country's Northern Province.
Ecosystems have the ability to absorb and store large amounts of carbon. While natural carbon sinks are key in the fight to curb global warming, scientists say better agricultural practices can also play a role.
For some, the Amazonian water hyacinth is an ornamental plant, for others an invasive green plague. For the planthopper, it's lunch.
The Sera Wildlife Conservancy brought three rival ethnic groups together to protect their natural resources. Now, they're joining forces to save the critically endangered black rhino.
Insects are touted as the future of food security, and the larvae of black soldier flies could be a key player. But in Germany, red tape is stalling their introduction into the market and onto dinner plates.
Students at an engineering school in Rabat, Morocco, are testing a new solar-powered racing car. Called Eleadora II, the vehicle runs without burning fossil fuels and could change how racing vehicles are made.
In Spain, volunteer divers organize cleanup expeditions to remove metal and lead from the Mediterranean seabed. The metals are then recycled. Underwater damage caused by this and other trash is shown in a photo exhibition.
Nigerian IT specialist Rebecca Amoo has developed an app that makes organic farming easier than ever, all from your smartphone. It's a part of a growing movement known as Crowd-farming.
Nigerian IT specialist Rebecca Amoo has developed an app that makes it easier than ever to farm organically, all from your smartphone. It's a part of a growing movement known as Crowd-farming.
Can bugs help save the climate and ensure food security? Pioneers all over the world think they can. They're developing sustainable products made of the larvae of black soldier flies - which often get caught in a web of red tape.
Seabird populations are declining worldwide. On the island of Sal in Cape Verde, researchers are hoping to protect red-billed tropicbirds against the growing threat of tourism.
Seabird populations are declining worldwide. On the island of Sal in Cape Verde, researchers are hoping to protect red-billed tropicbirds against the growing threat of tourism.
Lesotho is water-rich. But the southern African kingdom is one of the world's poorest countries. To fill the state coffers, the government exports water to its parched neighbor, South Africa. Lesotho's villagers suffer, and so does its ecosystem.
Fresh produce is expensive in Ghana, with demand met mainly by imports. The Agrihouse Foundation encourages women to plant their own backyard gardens, which allows them to feed their families and secure an income.
Supply chains for animal health products are a challenge for rural farmers in Rwanda. But now the government and a US-based company are collaborating to provide products for pigs, cattle and other livestock using drones.
Online platforms are sprouting up in Berlin to bring organic products like meat, milk and fish closer to consumers. One is raising bass using purified rainwater and even turns their waste into fertilizer for plants.
Deforestation and intensive crop cultivation have depleted the soil in much of Ivory Coast. To reserve this researchers are launching restoration projects, while farmers are trying to diversify their practices.
Monkey nuts are a street food staple in Senegal. Now researchers say they're confident they can use the shells to generate and store energy. Success would mean recycling natural waste and developing a clean energy source.
To boost environmental awareness in Rwanda, the Biodiversity Conservation Organisation has launched a project for the young generation. It is aimed at students in schools, from early childhood to university.
Fishing communities around the world are starting to feel the impact of extreme weather conditions and coastal erosion. On the Turtle Islands residents are fighting back in an effort to save their fishing habitats.
Solar power is one of the most promising renewables for South Africa. But only a limited number of private homes have solar paneled roofs, most are still dependent on coal-powered electricity.
Camel farmers in Somalia are keeping their animals in zero-grazing units on the outskirts of Mogadishu. It's a way to protect them from climate extremes like droughts and floods so they can keep providing fresh milk.
Many fishing boats on Lake Victoria now use an electric motor rented from the Dutch startup, Asobo. It provides training, services the motors and charges the batteries with solar power. That helps protect the ecosystem and cut the fishermen's costs.
An English farmer wants to reduce his cows’ methane emissions by using special feed. Garlic pellets are said to help significantly reduce CO2 in factory farming.
A nonprofit is trying to rehabilitate rivers and their ecosystems after recent floods hit communities hard that live along the banks. With no proper drainage systems, waste was literally pushed onto their doorsteps.
In Uganda, Paul Matovu is building vertical gardens to enable people to grow food in backyards, balconies and rooftops. He especially wants to reach the urban poor who make up almost half of the capital's population.
After three years of severe drought, the situation in northern Kenya is desperate. Animals are dying, fields have dried up and people have little to eat. A women's initiative now runs a small area with new wells.
Brown hyenas are valuable, social animals. But they are being hunted relentlessly. Now there are more and more protected zones and wildlife reserves where they can live in safety.
Romania's capital is buried in smoke from burned trash that comes from all over Europe. The dubious business is being investigated. Prosecutors and activists are sounding the alarm about organized crime structures.
Kenya's capital Nairobi aims to include more electric vehicles in its public transport network. This is an effort to reduce harmful carbon emissions in the city, with two e-buses currently in service.
An ancient agricultural system that uses seawater to irrigate crops has enabled Tunisia to cope with a water crisis. The system relies on a unique combination of tidal movement, salty water, rainwater and thirsty plants.
From planting trees to raising awareness and developing new solutions for waste, three young environmental activists in Abidjan are looking for inclusive ways to stop global warming.
Soccer, environmental education and planting trees: an environmental activist in Nigeria is teaching young sports enthusiasts how to mitigate the impact of climate change in their communities.
Burning crop residue in sugarcane fields is a common and harmful practice among farmers in Ghana. Now Audrey S-Darko is helping them improve their harvests in a natural way without harming the environment.
A greenhouse made of solar panels could point the way forward for the whole agricultural industry. Yet the farming pioneers who came up with the idea didn't find much favor with the local authorities — at first.
The spekboom plant, excellent at sucking CO2 out of the air, has been badly degraded in South Africa. Now an initiative is using innovative planting methods to bring back the plant and restore soil and biodiversity.
Dolphin researchers in Kenya are helping to better protect endangered mammals along the coast where they face an uncertain future due to climate change, overfishing, habitat loss and unregulated tourism.
In Rwanda, famers can now rent mobile drying devices for crops like rice, maize or beans instead of turning to the sun or diesel-powered fans. The units run on biowaste or solar power and are nearly CO2 neutral.
Miss Waldron's red colobus monkeys were thought extinct. But researchers think they may have heard some of them in a forest in Ivory Coast. Now locals need to be convinced to help find and save these endangered primates.
Coastal cities from Kolkata to Miami are being battered by storms and fierce floods as sea levels rise around them. But climate change is only half the story. These cities are also sinking. But what's causing it?
There are only a few official heat officers in the world. Now Freetown has hired Eugenia Kargbo and put her in charge of the city's response to rising temperatures. Helping the poor in informal settlements is a priority.
A wildlife census in Kenya indicates success in the protection efforts of major species like elephants, rhinos and lions. Still other species are endangered and need a combination of science and technology to save them.
In Egypt, an enterprising woman buys old clothes and paints designs on them to give them a new and unique look. The artists also shares her knowledge and discoveries online to inspire others to follow her lead.
In South Africa, blockchain pioneers developed a crypto platform that allows users to trade unique electronic artworks. Part of the price is donated to conservation projects, which help save endangered animals.
With an eye to sustainability, Ghana has integrated climate change into its new primary school program. Teachers are nurturing future climate scientists and supporting climate action and environmental clubs.
In Niger’s capital, environmental activist Abdel Aziz Mounkaila wants to see Niamey put on a 'green' path which would include getting more trees planted and using more sustainable construction methods.
All over the world, land is being degraded at an alarming rate, with catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth. The good news is that there are ways to reverse the damage and restore soil fertility.
Shady Rabab and his band play instruments he makes from trash. The Egyptian also offers workshops on instrument-making and recycling at schools.
Fish have become scarce in the Ébrié Lagoon in southern Ivory Coast. Its water is polluted and littered with waste. Scientists and NGOs are striving to restore degraded resources and raise awareness among the population.
Inventor and environmentalist Carlos Silva wants to help protect the environment by producing cosmetic products free of perfumes and artificial preservatives.
A rise in demand for air conditioning and refrigeration has pushed up emissions around the world. A project in Kenya is looking into alternative natural refrigerants and is training women to be specialized technicians.
Malawian activist Gloria Majiga-Kamoto's efforts helped push the country's government to enforce a ban on thin plastics in 2019. And she hasn't stopped there. Improving national waste management is next on her agenda.
A group of conservationists is using environmental DNA to track animals in Liberian forests to help better understand their intricate biodiversity and ensure further protection of these environments.
Oluwaseyi Moejoh is committed to making Nigeria a cleaner place. Lagos is choking in garbage and it is a threat to the environment and health. The student hopes her U-recycle initiative will make a change.
In southwestern Uganda, villagers have found a sustainable way of conserving a tree that produces a textile called bark cloth. In protecting this natural heritage, one tree can renewably provide cloth for decades.
The earth houses by architect Peter Vetsch bring to mind Hobbit holes. But their unusual exteriors conceal one of the most environmentally and climate-friendly designs available on the market today.
Most of the water consumed in Somalia is salty, even when it comes from wells. Taking out the salt is expensive, but now a company has cut costs by using solar energy to run its tiny desalination plant.
In Cairo, one of the world's biggest cities, traffic jams are a major problem. But cycling activists are urging people to switch to bicycles, to reduce both overcrowding on the roads and air pollution.
With energy prices rising fast, one German village has decided to harness locally made hydrogen. Created with excess wind-generated electricity, it is now fueling district heating, buses and cars.
Rwanda's transportation authorities are planning to convert at least half the country's motorcycle taxis from gas to cleaner electric power by 2026. It'll mean cleaner air and quieter roads for the nation.
Transportation gets people where they need to be. It can also lead to traffic, emissions and wasted time. Many governments are pledging to reduce carbon emissions, but what are the alternatives? DW takes a closer look.
Germany's woodlands are under severe strain. Trees are dying at an alarming rate. An Indian-born researcher is on a mission to save German forests by making them more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
A cookbook wants to make edible insects more appealing to a wider audience. It has recipes for mopane worm samosas, stink bug ginger nuggets and even beetle fritters.
In northern Ghana, farmers lose some 25% of their animals to diseases every year. Feed and water shortages are also a problem. A startup has developed an app to help farmers get their animals vaccinated to reduce losses.
Drought in Kenya is threatening many people's lives: Their animals are dying, their livelihoods being are destroyed. A theater group is raising awareness about what can be done to improve the situation.
Traditionally, growing avocados requires lots of water. But entrepreneurs in Nigeria are attempting to grow them in a new water-saving and sustainable way by using drip irrigation systems and recycling water.
Italian grapevines can no longer withstand heat and drought, so many wines will soon no longer exist. But some winemakers are using hybrids and ancient Roman grapevines that can tolerate climate changes.
According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, there are about 117,000 giraffes left in the wild. Researchers in Namibia want to improve their protection by raising awareness of this iconic species.
The Ebo rainforest in Cameroon is part of the second-largest tropical forest in the world. It is home to rare primates including gorillas. But poachers and logging companies threaten the forest and its inhabitants.
Reunion, a tiny French island in the Indian Ocean, wants to switch completely to green energy production by next year. To reach this goal, coal-fired power plants will become biomass factories, solar and wind energy will be expanded.
A project is supporting agricultural innovation in rural Burkina Faso by connecting farmers using small easy-to-use transmitters. They can transmit FM broadcasts within a small town and its surrounding fields.
To better prepare communities settled along the Gambia River for the impacts of climate change, citizen scientists are assisting researchers to gather more comprehensive information on marine and coastal environments.
Adenike Oladosu is one of Africa's most vocal environmental activists. She realized that there was a lack of knowledge about climate change on the continent, so she started her own pan- African climate justice movement.
South Africa's small-scale fishermen are fighting for survival. Big companies dominate the industry and fish stocks are in decline. Now an app connects fishers directly with end consumers in a bid to save jobs.
Brown hyenas are valuable, social animals. But they are being hunted relentlessly. Now, there are more and more protected zones and wildlife reserves where they can live in safety.
Zimbabwe loses 260,000 hectares of forest annually. Once a year, the group Friends of the Environment organizes a multiday walk across the country, planting trees along the way.
Often the Indigenous Baka people get the blame for damaging the Dja Faunal Reserve in Cameroon. But the UNESCO World Heritage Site is mainly threatened by massive deforestation due to growing rubber plantations.
Over 90% of South Africa's waste ends up in rubbish dumps. A startup wants to increase recycling and employs former informal waste collectors to pick up reusable trash, and rewards households for taking part.
The new railway line from Mombasa to Nairobi is a step in the right direction for better public transportation. It has shifted traffic from the roads to rails, but it cuts through important corridors in national parks.
Thousands of miners descended on Chimanimani National Park to find their fortune digging for gold. But environmental costs have been high. Can legalization and organized cooperatives help preserve what's left untouched?
E-waste is full of useful and precious metals. A team from the University of Cape Town are looking for ways African countries could 'mine' these materials and use the resources more sustainably.
By recycling plastic waste into bricks, builders in Ghana can create sturdy housing cheaper than ones made of steel and cement. It not only helps clean up the streets but can help ease the poor housing situation.
Camel farmers in Somalia are keeping their animals on the outskirts of Mogadishu in enclosures. Perhaps surprisingly it's a way to protect them from climate extremes like droughts and floods and so far they are thriving.
Access to clean water may be a right, but for many it is a luxury. Now two inventors in Uganda have developed eco-friendly filters for use in schools and homes that turn lake water into drinking water.
While a ban on pesticides is being discussed in the Kenyan parliament, more and more farmers are already switching to organic farming. This is not only good news for the farmers themselves, but for their customers, too.
An initiative in Germany is planting trees to help increase biodiversity in urban areas and simply make people happier. The idea originally came from Japan but has been adapted to local needs using native tree species.
Overgrazing of grasslands on the lower slopes of the Drakensberg escarpment is degrading the land. Two women run a group that promotes measures to restore the ecosystem, which is key to South Africa's water resources.
Overfishing is a growing problem along Tunisia's coast, especially due to trawlers. Their nets pick up sharks, rays and other endangered species. The Med Bycatch Project wants to encourage more sustainable fishing.
Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world. Their meat is a prized delicacy, while their scales are used in traditional medicine. Traffickers are now targeting Africa – where the animals are already an endangered species.
A group in Segou, Mali is putting up buildings using a traditional method called the Nubian vault. Utilizing local earth, it is cheaper and more sustainable than building with cement, metal or even wood.
The Tracker Academy at SA College for Tourism trains young people in the ancient skill of tracking. With this knowledge students help preserve wildlife and can find jobs in national parks instead of becoming poachers.
Two West African entrepreneurs have established an eco-friendly approach to fish farming they call eco-aquaponics. Not only do they raise fish in their ponds, they also turn its algae into chemical-free fertilizer.
A local company in Mogadishu produces roof tiles out of recycled plastic. Besides helping to solve the city's waste management problem, it has created jobs and supports women who collect plastic waste from the streets.
What does climate change have to do with income inequality, racism or intergenerational justice? A lot! See why the culprits of global warming in rich countries are less affected than those in poorer countries.
An American company has developed a liquid that can extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. Apeel is based on natural compounds and controls the factors that cause fruit to age.
In Somalia's Middle Shabelle region, farmers are using solar power units to operate their water pumps or illuminate their properties. And in some cases, they are giving away goats to finance the system.
By recycling plastic waste into bricks, builders in Ghana can create sturdy housing cheaper than ones made of steel and cement. It not only helps clean up the streets but can help ease the poor housing situation.
Farming using hydroponics is becoming increasingly popular throughout Africa. The method saves on water and soil by instead using organic materials like coconut fiber or clay balls to grow crops.
Critical raw materials like lithium, rare earths and graphite are in high demand, but in most places they're not readily available. A team of geologists is working to find them in northern Europe to make the EU less dependent on China.
Bat species in Rwanda are being threatened due to the loss of habitats – now a conservation organization is getting local communities onboard by raising awareness over the vital role bats play in the ecosystem.
In Kenya, a group is training women and young people in vertical farming, since prolonged dry seasons and a lack of proper storage for produce are making traditional methods more difficult.
It's hard to make a living as a shepherd or farmer in the mountains of northeastern Albania. But an NGO is devoted to environmental protection and helping families find sustainable livelihoods to stop the young leaving.
An organic pear farm in South Africa uses alpacas to trim the grass and make fertilizer. The animals, which are usually found high in the Andes, may be a strange sight but they are proving their worth far from home.
From planting trees to raising awareness and developing new solutions for waste, three young environmental activists in Abidjan are looking for inclusive ways to stop global warming.
A young Congolese designed a wind turbine in his parents’ backyard in Kinshasa. It generates enough electricity for his household. Now, Francy Kalonji plans to expand production to supply his neighbors with electricity.
Saiga antelopes were one of the world's most threatened animals following a mass die-off in 2015. But with signs of a saiga baby boom on the steppes of Kazakhstan, it appears conservation efforts have paid off.
Known in Lagos at the "snake man," Mark Ofua is the face of an animal welfare group that is fighting Nigeria's illegal wildlife trade. He rescues animals, nurses them to health and releases them back into the wild.
A Ugandan social entrepreneur is building sawdust composting public toilets in the slums of the capital, Kampala. The community’s hygiene has improved, and farmers are benefiting from the organic fertilizers.
Ghana is the largest gold producer in Africa. Its extraction poses serious threats to the environment, but one organization is training small-scale miners to engage in safer, eco-friendly mining methods.
When disputes arise over sparse pastures, Habiba Tadicha is a voice for peace. As the former head of a nature conservancy, she pays respect to nature and advocates for women's rights. A portrait of an empowered woman in northern Kenya.
Most lakes in Rwanda have been subject to unregulated fishing for years, which has led to the collapse of many fisheries. Now the country is restocking the lakes with native fish to avoid more environmental problems.
A young man and a team in Tanzania collect tons of human hair waste a month and convert it into a keratin-rich liquid fertilizer. After many attempts to get the right recipe, he has turned a quirky idea into reality.