
By Bulisani Mlotshwa and Ntuthuko Ngwenya, MCC Zimbabwe
At the heart of the LINCZ project is the integration of scientifically backed, nature-based solutions with the knowledge of local communities. Dr. Natalia Wiederkehr's recent research visit to Zimbabwe demonstrates how technologies such as GPS (Global Positioning System) and satellite images can be tailored to support sustainable practices in smaller communities. Join us in exploring how this approach can lead to meaningful change.
Read MoreWhat Does Climate Change Adaptation Look Like in Real Life, Beyond Workshops and Reports?
In September, a team from Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Zimbabwe had the opportunity to participate in an exchange visit to Kenya for the Nature Positive Food Systems for Climate Adaptation (Nature+) project, led by Canadian Foodgrains Bank in partnership with Global Affairs Canada. The purpose of our visit was to learn from MCC Kenya and to share our own experiences as related to the LINCZ project.
Read MoreWhen I arrived in the dusty, sun-drenched Mwenezi district of southern Zimbabwe my task was clear: pilot a tool I developed to assess the conservation of medicinal plants at the grassroots level. It seemed straightforward on paper—I was eager to see how communities engage with biodiversity, not just as a concept in global conservation systems, but through lived experience. What unfolded during our few days of piloting felt far more personal, layered, and instructive than I could have imagined.
Read MoreClimate change is disproportionately impacting women in rural communities in Zimbabwe. Culturally, women are primarily responsible for domestic responsibilities such as such as fetching water, providing food for their families, and keeping their households clean.
Read MoreI'll never forget that first set of interview videos I received from Prof. Arnold. Sitting on my chair at home, watching the interview video play on my laptop atop my work table, where I remote work, I was struck by a woman's words from Mwenezi village in Zimbabwe: "She's bringing the issue of domestic violence, as a result of no food in the house."
My hand froze over my notebook. In that moment, thousands of miles from my home in Nigeria's Delta State, I felt the uncomfortable familiarity of a truth I'd witnessed before.
Read MorePrinted from: www.lincz.ca/hub/n