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The IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is a natural laboratory in northwestern Ontario, Canada, consisting of 58 small lakes and their watersheds used for whole-ecosystem scientific research. Operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the facility conducts experiments to inform environmental policies and regulations regarding climate change, pollutants, and water management.

A fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) describing a 2010 project to simulate reduced water inputs in Lake 626 to study the effects of climate change and industrial diversions on water chemistry and cold-water fish species.

This fact sheet describes the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) approach to freshwater management, which integrates scientific research from the IISD Experimental Lakes Area with policy solutions for watershed management, bioeconomies, and international basin cooperation.

This brochure describes the activities and strategic priorities of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), focusing on its role as a research and innovation centre that integrates environmental and social priorities with economic development, particularly within the Canadian context.

This report examines the relationship between human migration and environmental conservation in the Bale Mountains ecosystem of southeast Ethiopia, specifically comparing the Harenna Buluk and Delo Mena woredas. It finds that while land conversion occurs in both areas, large-scale migration into Harenna Buluk has accelerated deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and the abandonment of traditional pastoralist systems in favor of intensive crop farming. The report recommends regulating informal land markets, strengthening participatory forest management bylaws, and developing alternative livelihoods like tourism to protect the region's high biodiversity and critical water-tower functions.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines a shift from traditional one-way communications to 'engagement strategies' for sustainable development knowledge networks. It argues that behavioral change in policy-makers is driven by trust and relationships rather than information alone, proposing a systemic approach to building action-oriented relationships over time.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) defines and establishes operating principles for 'formal knowledge networks' designed to influence sustainable development policy. It distinguishes these from other collaboration models—such as communities of practice or information networks—by emphasizing a structured, outcome-oriented approach that targets decision-makers rather than just facilitating information exchange among members.

This case study describes the 'Increasing Community Resilience to Drought in Makueni District' project in Kenya, part of the broader ACCESA regional initiative. The project implements strategies to reduce smallholder farmers' vulnerability to climate variability through improved water access, agronomic training, and income diversification, while working to integrate these lessons into national policy.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) discusses the application of resilience measurement in the agricultural sector, specifically focusing on a study conducted in eastern Ontario, Canada. It outlines a system-based approach to developing resilience indicators that move beyond traditional risk-reduction to assess the capacity of socioeconomic and natural systems to absorb shocks and transform.

This case study examines a private Licensed Buying Company (LBC) in Ghana's cocoa industry to assess its compliance with the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI). The company operates as a trader and distributor, purchasing cocoa from approximately 20,000 farmers via 2,000 purchasing clerks and selling to the state-run Cocoa Board of Ghana (COCOBOD). While the company demonstrates high compliance in inclusive structures and stakeholder treatment, it shows significant gaps in formal strategy, human resource systematization, and environmental impact management.

This case study examines LIMBUA Group Limited, a Kenyan small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) specializing in the processing and marketing of organic macadamia, avocado, and mangoes. The document assesses the company's compliance with the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) using a specialized RAI Tool. The analysis finds that LIMBUA generally demonstrates a high level of responsible agricultural investment through its sustainable business model, inclusive employment practices, and support for smallholder farmers in central Kenya.

This briefing from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines the water science community's perspective on the role of water in the green economy, emphasizing that water security is fundamental to food and energy production and requires integrated management to address climate and land-use change.

This policy brief describes the results of a Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) conducted in Namibia from January to June 2009. The assessment aimed to identify 'green' opportunities and threats within international trade law and technical standards to support Namibia's Vision 2030 and National Development Plan (NDP3). It emphasizes that Namibia should avoid the bulk export models of Western nations or South Africa, instead focusing on high-value niche sectors based on its comparative advantages in biodiversity, landscapes, and rangelands.

This fact sheet describes the application of the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology to the Saloum Delta in Senegal. The analysis, conducted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in collaboration with Wetlands International – Africa (WIA) and the MAVA Foundation, provides a monetary valuation of ecosystem services and simulates the economic and environmental impacts of various development and conservation scenarios.

The Sustainable Development Timeline is a fact sheet published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) that chronicles key environmental, social, and economic milestones from 1962 to 2007. It tracks the evolution of sustainable development through the formation of advocacy groups, the adoption of international treaties, scientific discoveries regarding climate and ozone depletion, and major ecological disasters.

This report analyzes the policy responses of Southern African nations to the global food price increases of 2006–2008. It argues that the region exists in a state of permanent food insecurity, making the global crisis a "spike" in a long-term trend rather than an isolated event. The report emphasizes the role of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) as the primary framework for coordinated regional responses, focusing on long-term structural improvements over short-term reactionary measures.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the global tea market, focusing on the growth of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) and the potential for expanding sustainable production in Low Human Development Countries (LHDCs). It examines production trends, trade flows, and the systemic challenges facing the tea industry, such as climate change and inequitable wealth distribution.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the necessity and current state of leadership training for young professionals in the sustainable development sector. It identifies a critical leadership gap driven by the retirement of senior practitioners and a growing demand for 'green jobs' that exceeds the current training capacity. The document surveys various non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations to analyze existing training models, identify essential cross-cutting skills—such as communication and innovation—and propose collaborative frameworks for networking alumni and evaluating program effectiveness.

This fact sheet provides a brief overview of irrigation and water stress in Canadian agriculture, highlighting the scale of water use and the risks posed by climate change.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that international security in the 21st century has shifted from state-on-state military conflict to 'human security', where threats include terrorism, climate change, and resource conflict. The author contends that current international trade and aid policies, often designed by wealthy nations, can systematically undermine peace and development in poor states by reinforcing power disparities and creating economic instability.