News

The Overstory published an article written by Allen Gil, ELTI Mangrove and Blue Carbon Ecosystems Fellow, about the Blue Carbon Ecosystems Workshop ELTI hosted from October 21–23, 2024. The article highlighted recent breakthroughs in blue carbon, research being done by workshop participants, and other events that took place during the workshop. Read more.

ELTI is hiring a program coordinator to join their New Haven-based team. Read more.

On October 21, 2024, ELTI and the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture hosted the Blue Carbon Ecosystems workshop. ELTI and YCNCC were joined by Blue Forest team members, the Yale School of the Environment copmmunity, and a few external scholars to share research and training experiences around blue carbon and mangroves. Read more.

Yale Planetary Solutions annonced the 2024 seed grant recipients. Along with the other twenty Yale-based research projects that received funding were two ELTI projects titled "Developing Rwandan Capacity in On-Farm Native Species Restoration Processes" and "Integrating Forest and Carbon Monitoring and Training in Tropical Landscape Conservation and Restoration Projects." Read more.

Puspitasari was invited to present at Blue Carbon Dialogue by CIFOR on February 20 to discuss the ecological mangrove rehabilitation approach implemented by Blue Forests in its project areas and by Blue Forests-ELTI program through its courses. After the presentation, CIFOR interviewed Puspitasari to share her experience with Blue Forests and ELTI on mangrove rehabilitation activities. The interview was published later by CIFOR on April 26, 2024. Read more.

Dr. Florencia Montagnini, instructor for the strategies course of the Yale Tropical Forest Landscapes online certificate program, was recently interviewed by José Antonio Montenegro on CNN's podcast Globoeconomía. The conversation touched on sustainable agroforestry systems and promoting biodiversity. Dr. Montagnini discussed maintaining harmony between development, technology, and nature conservation.

Listen to the full interview in Spanish or download an English translation here.

The Forest School at Yale highlighted ELTI's online certificate program in an article of their publication, The Overstory. The article, “ELTI Trains Fifth Cohort of the Tropical Forest Landscapes Certificate Program” discussed the program, including the fifth cohort currently enrolled in the program, the team behind the program, and the upcoming application cycle. Read more.

YSE-ELTI's Tropical Forest Landscapes certificate program admitted 28 participants as Three Cairns Fellows in its 2023-2024 cohort. The Three Cairns Fellows program has enabled the certificate program to expand their reach globally and have brought a new dimension to the online courses. The Three Cairns Fellows program is an enhanced scholarship initiative supporting qualified participants from the Global South who are committed to advancing climate solutions in their home countries. Read more.

ELTI's Brazil team published an article on the IPÊ website (in Portuguese) about their 2021–2022 blended course “Introduction to Carbon Markets." The goal of the training event was to expand theoretical and practical knowledge about the carbon market. The article highlights aspects of the course that was offered to technicians from institutions participating in the Bahia Forest Dialogue and IPÊ institutional partners.

ELTI created a new video highlighting the yearlong Tropical Forest Landscapes online certificate program. The video provides information about the program and featurest participants talking about their learning experience.

ELTI's Colombia Coordinator Zoraida Calle co-authored the open-access article “Silvopastoral Systems and Ecological Connectivity in a Grazing Landscape of the Magdalena Medio Region, Colombia,” published in the Brazilian open-access journal Agroecossistemas. This article is a result of a long-term mentorship to ELTI alumnus Mauricio Carvajal, which involved designing and implementing a restoration project with cattle ranchers and developing a case study.

ELTI's Panama Coordinator Jacob Slusser was interviewed by Roosevelt Ycaza from a weekly radio program “Panamá Productiva (La Exitosa radio station),” to talk about ELTI’s efforts in Panama, and the recent publication of their field guide, Practical Guide to Establish Silvopastoral Systems in the Azuero Peninsula of Panama (English translation).

Jacob described ELTI’s forest restoration successes including ELTI’s capacity development model and long-term support for alumni—to empower them to make positive land use decisions. The conversation went into detail on the development of model silvopastoral farm networks in the Azuero peninsula.

Lastly, Jacob talked about the recently published field guide published by IATTC-ELTI and how it illustrates practical ways that cattle farmers throughout the country can implement more ecological practices. The guide is based on ELTI’s historical success in helping farmers transform conventional farms into sustainable silvopastoral farms by integrating restoration strategies into cattle farms, which enhance—not replace—traditional livelihoods.

Dr. David Neidel, ELTI Asia Advisor, and Dr. Marlito Bande, ELTI alumnus and partner at Visayas State University, were two of 18 authors of a book titled, "Agroforestry: A Primer. Design and Management Principles for People and the Environment," which was recently published by CIFOR-ICRAF. In recent years, agroforestry has been widely promoted as a land use practice that can contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, forest & landscape restoration, sustainable agriculture, and other pressing global issues. Agroforestry, however, is more than just adding trees to existing land use practices. Moreover, agroforestry has such a wide variety of forms that it can not be promoted through simple cook book-style recipes. To address the needs of those who are new to the field, this book was designed to provide an easy-to-understand introduction to the basic principles underlying agroforestry and  to provide practical guidance on the development of an array of different agroforestry systems.

In May 2022, Mr. Gutang was awarded a Rainforest Hero Award for his advocacy of Rainforestation—a form of reforestation using native tree species—at the Visayas State University Anniversary Celebration. Mr Gutang established three Rainforestation sites on unproductive private lands in Pilar, Camotes, through Memoranda of Agreement between himself and the landowners. By integrating native trees with fruit trees and coconut palms, Mr. Gutang turned these barren lands into lush, productive farms that prevent soil erosion and landslides during the frequent heavy rains. As a teacher, Mr. Gutang also works tirelessly to promote Rainforestation among local elementary and high school students.

See interview with GMA regional TV network in the Philippines.