International Institute for Sustainable Development Archives

A recent report argues that nature’s
water management tools can be
used to support their usually much
more expensive brick and mortar
counterparts.

Nature-based solutions can shore up crumbling water infrastructure: IISD

‘Natural infrastructure’ is cheaper and comes with many additional benefits, a new report says

By Geralyn Wichers May 29, 2023

Natural infrastructure can help bridge an ever-growing investment deficit in crumbling water infrastructure, according to a new report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development. “It’s less expensive, easier to maintain and comes with many other benefits to communities,” said Dimple Roy, director of water management, in a May 10 news release. WHY IT MATTERS:

Margret Sinda(left to right), Gladys Chigamba and Catherine Fridolin.

News, Other

African freshwater scientists visit Manitoba lakes

Pollution, algae blooms a big concern in African and Manitoban lakes

By Geralyn Wichers October 25, 2022

Four African scientists found parallels between their home lakes and the problems facing Manitoba’s lakes during a recent visit to the province. “We have this common problem of pollution. It doesn’t spare anyone,” said Gladys Chigamba, a research scientist at Lilongwe University in Malawi. Chigamba and three other women from Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania, visited

Manitoba’s Pelly Lake water-control project is cited as one example of how natural features can control flooding more cheaply than engineered structures.

Local news, News, Other

‘Natural infrastructure’ — retain what you have; restore what’s lost

A new report says natural infrastructure can be cheaper than built infrastructure for controlling floods

By Lorraine Stevenson October 15, 2018

Saving and carefully managing of wetlands, forests and other working natural landscapes can save Canadians millions in yearly flood damage costs, says a new report supported in part by the Insurance Bureau of Canada. This ‘natural infrastructure’ is also a viable and cost-effective alternative to traditional — and often much more expensive — built flood

Cattail harvesting for fuel is just one way Manitoba could better use its available biomass for economic and environmental good.

News

Biomass atlas provides map for future sustainability

Manitoba could be a global leader in this sector of the bioeconomy

By Duncan Morrison March 27, 2018

Biomass is a big topic, but it’s an even bigger opportunity for Manitoba, one so big the province as a whole needs to understand it. From the science to the already-established industry and future opportunities, Manitoba could be a global leader in the world’s bioeconomy. That is exactly why the International Institute for Sustainable Development

News, Other

No such thing as ‘unprecedented’ weather, delegates at ARBI conference told

Delegates with the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative (ARBI) met in Regina February 14 and 15

By Lorraine Stevenson February 23, 2018

If 1930s seems like the worst drought we could ever have, scientific records show pre-settlement dry spells lasted far longer. Likewise, there were wet spells on the Prairies much more intense than events like 2011’s — a flood we tended to call “unprecedented.” Neither are unprecedented, say Saskatchewan scientists. Both extremes have occurred before on

Andy Martin (l) of Providence College discusses cattail biomass with Dimple Roy (c) and Richard Grosshans (r) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development. IISD and the college, along with several Hutterite colonies are proving biomass heating to be practical.

Local news, Other

Hutterite colonies leading the masses with biomass heating

IISD, colonies and Providence College are proving biomass heating technology to be viable

By Duncan Morrison June 27, 2017

Manitoba’s Hutterite colonies are leading a made-in-Manitoba farm heating movement. “With the provincial ban on the use of coal for space heating in Manitoba, a good number of Manitoba’s Hutterite colonies have recently upgraded or converted their heating systems from aging coal-burning systems to cleaner biomass boiler heating systems,” says Richard Grosshans, bioeconomy lead for

Manitoba is developing a reputation for its grazing research efforts.

Forages, Livestock

Showcasing the value of the forage industry

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association will highlight Manitoba’s  unique forage research initiatives at the organization’s national conference

By Jennifer Paige November 16, 2016

If you want to talk about grasslands and forage, go to where the action is — and lately a lot of that action is in Manitoba. In the eyes of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA), Manitoba has been a standout in its efforts towards forage research and the ideal place to hold this

Comment/Feedback

Biofuels are mankind’s greatest blunder

Proponents of biofuels are simply refusing to count their true environmental cost

By Gwyn Morgan August 22, 2016

Are biofuels really greener than the fossil fuels they displace? In a recent column I pointed out that electric cars are only as green as the fuel used to generate the electricity they consume. For internal-combustion-powered vehicles, much of the focus has been on trying to reduce carbon emissions by adding ethanol to gasoline and

The Assiniboine River Basin encompasses the Qu’Appelle, Souris and Assiniboine sub-basins, across Saskatchewan, Manitoba and North Dakota and is  162,000 square kilometres in size, which is approximately the same size as the entire state of North Dakota.

Crops, News

Federal investment kick-starts Aquanty project

The Aquanty project is said to be a game changer in how the province will address  future water management issues within the Assiniboine River Basin

By Jennifer Paige June 27, 2016

A computer program capable of analyzing the effects of land use and simulating mitigation strategies of an entire river basin seems like a concept stolen from a futuristic movie. However, a $1.1-million investment from the federal government has put the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) on track for developing just that — a multi-faceted

Editorial

Editorial: A whole-farm approach

By Laura Rance-Unger January 18, 2016

If you think the future of government support for agriculture lies in doing more of the same but only better, you’ll get little comfort from Manitoba’s Agriculture Risk Management Review Task Force report released last week. The 25 recommendations and the supporting appendix report should also make you a little uncomfortable if you think the

U.S. grains: Corn rebounds from contract lows on short covering, bargain buying

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures come down from highs

Entomologist tests trap crops and marigolds to repel flea beetles at an Ag in Motion

Daily Network News

U.S. grains: Corn rebounds from contract lows on short covering, bargain buying

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures come down from highs

Entomologist tests trap crops and marigolds to repel flea beetles at an Ag in Motion

Tag Archives International Institute for Sustainable Development

Nature-based solutions can shore up crumbling water infrastructure: IISD

African freshwater scientists visit Manitoba lakes

‘Natural infrastructure’ — retain what you have; restore what’s lost

Biomass atlas provides map for future sustainability

No such thing as ‘unprecedented’ weather, delegates at ARBI conference told

Hutterite colonies leading the masses with biomass heating

Showcasing the value of the forage industry

Biofuels are mankind’s greatest blunder

Federal investment kick-starts Aquanty project

Editorial: A whole-farm approach

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