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June 2011

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Winrock’s American Carbon Registry (ACR) announces an open public comment period for Emission Reductions in Rice Management Systems, initiating the ACR approval process for the first-of-a-kind carbon offset methodology to quantify greenhouse gas reductions from rice production. The methodology was developed by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in partnership with the California Rice Commission (CRC), Applied Geosolutions, LLC and Terra Global Capital LLC. The EDF team developed the rice methodology with a specific focus on practice changes that reduce greenhouse gas from rice production in California. The ACR approval process for the methodology, which includes public comment and scientific peer review, is expected to be complete this summer. In parallel, with a grant from USDA’s Conservation Innovation program, EDF and Winrock will expand the methodology for additional practice changes applicable in Winrock’s home state of Arkansas, the leading rice producer in the U.S.

Winrock International, through its Children’s Empowerment through Education Services project (CHES) joined the Royal Government of Cambodia in observing the World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL), June 1-12. CHES is strongly advocating with government and civil society for a multi-sectoral response to address hazardous work for children in agriculture, in pursuit of the Cambodian government’s commitment to eliminating the worst forms of child labor by 2016. Winrock’s CHES project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor .

Winrock International was recently added to the America’s Unofficial Ambassadors (AUA) Directory of Recommended Organizations. The directory includes information about global volunteer opportunities in specialized areas. Winrock’s profile can be found here.

Are you interested in working at Winrock? Search current openings and post your resume. Would you like to volunteer with Winrock? Learn more about new opportunities for volunteers.

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 Winrock Develops Tool to Help Landowners Decide If They Should Reforest Their Land
 Winrock Develops Tool to Help Landowners Decide If They Should Reforest Their LandWinrock International recently developed a tool to assist landowners in Shasta County, Calif., who are exploring whether to pursue forest carbon sequestration projects involving reforestation on their land. The Winrock Land Use Planner (WinLUP), which can be downloaded from Winrock’s website, calculates the potential net financial return from planting trees for a carbon project by taking into account the potential income through carbon credits and timber and the potential opportunity cost and planting and maintenance costs of the tree planting activities. In addition to potential economic benefits, land reforestation results in multiple environmental benefits such as land enrichment, erosion reduction and the enhancement of biodiversity.

WinLUP was developed as part of the West Coast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (WESTCARB), Phase II, implemented by Winrock International and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. WESTCARB, Phase II was a partnership that evaluated carbon capture, storage and sequestration options to determine the most suitable technologies, regulations and infrastructure needs for sequestration as a climate change mitigation strategy. At this time, WinLUP is designed for use by landowners in Shasta County only .

Winrock Honored with Humanitarian Award for Community and Economic Development Work
 Annett Pagan accepts ACHANGE award on behalf of Winrock InternationalWinrock International was honored this month with the 2011 Neighborworks America Humanitarian Award from the Arkansas Coalition of Housing and Neighborhood Growth for Empowerment (ACHANGE). Winrock was recognized for its community and economic development work  throughout Arkansas. Winrock’s U.S. Programs Director Annett Pagan accepted the award from Neighborworks Southern District Director Don Pheonix at the ACHANGE Annual Community Development Awards Dinner, June 7, at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion.

Winrock’s U.S. Programs addresses development challenges that affect communities across the United States. Through the implementation of coordinated and comprehensive community building strategies, projects in community, economic, workforce and small-business development help stablize local economies and generate new sources of income .

Training and Quality Seeds Produce Big Benefits for Poor and Marginalized Farmers
Training along with quality seeds help produce bug benefits for poor farmers in BangladeshMany poor and marginalized families live in the Mymensingh, Gazipur and Tangail districts of Bangladesh. Even farming families have such low incomes that they cannot afford diverse and nutritious food. In these areas, the Winrock-implemented Rural Enterprise for Alleviating Poverty (REAP) project – funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – is helping reverse this trend. REAP is working with farmers to grow more food on existing and available land, while using currently available water sources.

Farmers receive training and are provided with a source for high-quality seeds. As part of REAP, more than 350 farming families have earned substantial amounts of income from growing cucumbers on their homestead land utilizing pond dikes. Abdus Sattar of Gouripur produced about 12 metric tons of cucumbers on less than a half acre of land and earned $1,289 (USD) after an initial investment of only $597 (USD). His initial venture was so successful that Sattar started growing a second crop of cucumbers on the same land, hoping to catch the market during Ramadan to get a higher price.

The supplemental income earned with the help of REAP has a tremendous impact on the livelihoods of these families, while increased vegetable production enhances the nutritional standing of family members. More than 2,000 small-scale producers have produced vegetables suitable for pond dike horticulture on their small pieces of land after receiving training and seed support from REAP, resulting in another 9,000 people who have indirectly benefited, both economically and nutritionally.
       


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