Water bunds or “earth smiles” capture rainwater that would otherwise runoff over dry, barren soil. By allowing the water to seep into the ground, rapid regreening of large areas is possible in a short timeframe. As vegetation thrives and biodiversity flourishes, plants absorb carbon dioxide, effectively acting as a natural carbon sink. This helps offset greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to climate stabilization. The restoration also enhances soil health, reducing erosion and enhancing water retention capacity. This supports agricultural productivity and strengthens local communities' resilience against climate-related challenges. Over 315,000 earth smiles have been implemented across project sites in Kenya and Tanzania and they have been instrumental in regreening 39,060,000 square meters of arid land. This collective effort showcases the significant role of partnerships and community engagement in fostering a more sustainable future for both nature and the climate.
Climatelinks Photo Gallery
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Welcome to the Climatelinks photo gallery. Here you can find a range of climate change and development photos from our photo contest, our blogs, and USAID’s Flickr sites. Submit your photos to the photo gallery here.
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This is "EARTH OUR HOME PROJECT" with Children Radio foundation and Mwanza Youth & Children Network. The program based on climate change awareness to young leaders, especially school leaders.
I am a youth facilitator and I am doing this initiative with Kitangiri Secondary School, and Nyasaka Secondary Students.
This is "EARTH OUR HOME PROJECT" with Children Radio foundation and
Mwanza Youth & Children Network. The program based on climate change
awareness to young leaders, especially school leaders.
I am a youth facilitator and I am doing this initiative with Kitangiri
Secondary School, and Nyasaka Secondary Students
Mangroves are a salt-tolerant species that can grow in warm water, and are frequently planted to help adapt against climate change impacts, such as reducing the impacts of shoreline damage and alleviating seawater intrusion. In Zanzibar, a local NGO called ZACEDY is committed to empowering local citizens to build their adaptive capacity by planting mangroves along the coast. Part of ZACEDY’S mission is also to uplift members of the community by creating local job opportunities. These are some of the women involved in the mangrove planting project. At the national level, the United Republic of Tanzania is engaged in a National Adaptation Planning process to scale up the country’s adaptation efforts—such as building coastal resilience through planting mangroves—focused on improving cross-sectoral coordination, integrating adaptation into development planning, and expanding access to climate finance.
A Maasai man starts a fire from the friction created by rubbing two sticks together– a traditional method that has kept the pastoralist Maasai people warm and well-fed for several centuries. As climate change threatens the Serengeti ecosystem that nourishes their cattle, so too is their rangeland decreasing from increased agriculture, wildlife preserves, and stricter land rights. The growing number of tourists and a waning nomadic lifestyle for many Maasai people presents an opportunity to share perspectives in a rapidly evolving world. Tourists are likely to learn about the threats to Maasai culture as they interact with them on their way to nearby national parks. While the future of the Maasai is uncertain, the ability for them to tell their story is stronger than ever. Sharing skills like fire making allows tourists to have more than just a window to others' lives; understanding similarities to Maasai families enables them to connect the dots on the collective fabric that defines us as we adapt to a changing climate.
Habiba Suleiman, 29, a district malaria surveillance officer in Zanzibar, naps with her little girl Rahma under a mosquito net. Through the support of USAID/PMI, Habiba works to track, test and treat cases of the disease to stop its spread and create a malaria-free future for her children.
Mangroves are a salt-tolerant species that can grow in warm water, and are frequently planted to help adapt against climate change impacts, such as reducing the impacts of shoreline damage and alleviating seawater intrusion. In Zanzibar, a local NGO called ZACEDY is committed to empowering local citizens to build their adaptive capacity by planting mangroves along the coast. Part of ZACEDY’S mission is also to uplift members of the community by creating local job opportunities. These are some of the women involved in the mangrove planting project. At the national level, the United Republic of Tanzania is engaged in a National Adaptation Planning process to scale up the country’s adaptation efforts—such as building coastal resilience through planting mangroves—focused on improving cross-sectoral coordination, integrating adaptation into development planning, and expanding access to climate finance