April 10, 2012 “Underground forest" prevents famine in Africa A
World Vision expert has found that an “underground forest” could
be the key to restoring arid land and ending recurring droughts
across Africa. Today, about half a dozen countries in West
Africa face acute food shortages. Elsewhere on the continent,
critical food shortages continue in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia
as those countries seek to recover from last year’s crippling
drought. Beating famine with an “underground forest” Such grim
news has regularly dogged Africa in recent decades — a few
seasons of poor rainfall puts millions at risk of starvation.
But an “underground forest” is the key to restoring the land and
ending recurring famine, says Tony Rinaudo, World Vision’s
research and development specialist on climate and natural
resources. This week, Rinaudo will present his techniques as a
keynote speaker at the Beating Famine Conference at the World
Agroforestry Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference will be
attended by government minist