LONDON (27 March 2012) – An ambitious new research program, launched today by the world’s largest consortium of agricultural researchers, aims to address some of the world’s most pressing problems related to boosting food production and improving livelihoods, whilst simultaneously protecting the environment. The CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems is a ten year commitment to bring about a radical transformation in the way land, water and natural systems are managed. It is being led by the International Water Management Institute, which has just been named this year’s Stockholm Water Prize Laureate.
Sustainable management of the natural resource base supporting agriculture is one of the three major strategic objectives of the CGIAR. The CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems combines the resources of 11 CGIAR Centers and numerous international, regional and national partners to provide an integrated approach to natural resource management research. This program is led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
The program focuses on the three critical issues of water scarcity, land degradation and ecosystem services, as well as the CGIAR System Level Outcome (SLO) of sustainable natural resource management. It will also make substantial contributions to the System Level Outcomes on food security, poverty alleviation and, to a minor extent, health and nutrition.
Latest News
Interim Director’s Update- February 2013
Water, Land and Ecosystems Monthly Update- February 2013 Interim Program Director: Andrew Noble January was a busy month for the…The post Interim Director’s Update- February 2013 appeared first on Water, Land and Ecosystems.
2013-02-26, 11:30:31
Landscapes, beetles and cotton: nature’s answer to pest control
The control of pests by their natural enemies represents an important ecosystem service (ES) that has the potential to mitigate…The post Landscapes, beetles and cotton: nature’s answer to pest control appeared first on Water, Land and Ecosystems.
2013-02-26, 10:56:34
Celebrating World Wetlands Day 2013
February 2 is World Wetlands day. It marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands…The post Celebrating World Wetlands Day 2013 appeared first on Water, Land and Ecosystems.
2013-02-01, 09:05:56
Communal grazing land management in Fogera: Lessons from innovation platform action research
This was first posted on the Nile Basin Development Challenge website. As part of the Nile Basin Development Challenge, local…The post Communal grazing land management in Fogera: Lessons from innovation platform action research appeared first on Water, Land and Ecosystems.
2013-01-22, 12:18:38
Interim Director’s Update- December 2012
Water, Land and Ecosystems Monthly Update- December 2012 Interim Program Director: Andrew Noble It has been an eventful few weeks…The post Interim Director’s Update- December 2012 appeared first on Water, Land and Ecosystems.
2012-12-21, 05:23:27
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the