Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:52:06 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/cirad-news/news/2026/restoring-biodiversity-in-reunion-by-mappingIn the heart of the Grand Bénare mountains, in Réunion, detailed maps of natural environments and their degree of invasion have become a veritable roadmap. The maps were produced by compiling field data, remote sensing and managers' expertise, and will now enable a shift from diagnoses to concrete planning of conservation and restoration actions.Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:52:06 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/cirad-news/news/2026/knowing-biodiversity-in-french-guianaIn French Guiana, the exceptional biodiversity in the Amazon forest is both an opportunity and a challenge. Many tree species are still difficult to identify, even for specialists, which hinders forest inventories, sustainable resource management and their use in the forest-wood sector. Daniela Florez, a CIRAD researcher based in French Guiana, is working on an innovative approach using near-infrared spectroscopy to find out more about local plant species, improve their traceability and help preserve biodiversity.Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:52:39 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/cirad-news/news/2026/water-governance-in-semi-arid-territoriesThe state of Ceará, in Nordeste, is one of the regions in Brazil that is hardest hit by drought. Agricultural changes in recent years have increased the pressure on water resources, soils and ecosystems. This is what prompted the Sertões project. The aim was to help articulate water governance and territorial dynamics more efficiently, to ensure better coordination between sectors and more effective articulation of levels of decision making.Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:57:53 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/cirad-news/news/2026/cirad-at-ihc-2026The 32nd International Horticultural Congress (IHC 2026) was held in Kyoto, Japan, in late August. In 2024, horticultural exports were estimated at 240 000 billion dollars. However, that economic success is not always reflected on people's plates: consumers are seeing price rises, when most of the world's population already does not eat enough fruit and vegetables. A dozen CIRAD scientists were in Kyoto to take part in the talks, with one key objective: to make sure that research progress is achieved hand-in-hand with farmers and for their benefit.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:43:24 +0200https://www.cirad.fr/en/cirad-news/news/2026/podcast-season-9-women-and-agricultureWomen make up 41% of the agricultural workforce worldwide. However, only 20% of them own their land. These systemic inequalities are compounded by a lack of data on and knowledge of their work and how they live. Most studies focus on "typical farmers" or "farm heads", in the masculine. It is against this backdrop of women being largely ignored that the United Nations has declared 2026 "International Year of the Woman Farmer". For "Nourrir le vivant" (Feeding the living world), the CIRAD podcast, this is an opportunity to discuss so-called "aware" approaches, which look at the different roles associated with men and women in agriculture.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:06:19 +0200