Forest Underground, The : Hope for a Planet in Crisis

How do you regreen millions of hectares of land without planting a single tree? The remarkable discovery story of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is told in Tony Rinaudo's new autobiography, The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis, to be published in April 2022 by ISCAST–Christians in Science and Technology.This book offers tangible hope for climate change through a powerful testimony. In a seemingly hopeless crisis, this is the good-news story that will move hearts and hands to care for the planet. About the Author:In his 17 years in Niger, Australian agronomist Tony Rinaudo discovered an embarrassingly simple method of regreening land without planting a single tree. This is not some green fantasy. The technique he pioneered-together with local farmers-came to be known as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, or FMNR. It has since regreened more than 25 million hectares of land across 27 countries, reduced our carbon footprint, and transformed millions of lives and livelihoods.For his influential contributions, Tony has received the Right Livelihood Award and was appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia. He is now the Principal Climate Action Advisor with World Vision.

"For years, I have longed to see this biography written. And it lives up to my every hope. Having travelled with Tony I knew he was a magician of forests and a modern miracle worker of environmental regeneration. But because he is softly spoken and so humble it was difficult to fully piece together this extraordinary vision. Until now. From Sicilian family roots, settling in rural Victoria, this is a story of breathtaking global impact. Indeed, it may yet save us all!"

- Tim Costello AO

CEO World Vision Australia 2004-2016

"FMNR is probably the largest positive environmental transformation in the Sahel and, perhaps, in all of Africa."

- Chris Reij

Sustainable Land Management Specialist at the World Resources Institute

"Tony Rinaudo presents practical solutions to counter desertification, famine and despair."

- Ole von Uexkull

Executive Director at Right Livelihood

"No research program-no matter how well funded-would have come up with this idea, because it expertly combines the subtleties of location-specific tree selection with farmer-specific opportunities and constraints."

- Richard Stirzaker

Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO, Australia's national science agency

"This is a gift from Almighty God. Everywhere you visit you bring life and joy."

- Yamdaan Zimbil Longmoate

Chief of Yamenga, Ghana

Australian agronomists Tony and Liz Rinaudo arrived at the edge of the Sahara in 1981 to plant trees. While contemplating the futility of their endeavours, Tony discovered an embarrassingly simple method of restoring degraded landscape without planting a single tree. Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), the sustainable system of land management that Tony pioneered, has revolutionised reforestation across Africa and beyond. Tony is a Right Livelihood Award Laureate and Principal Climate Action Advisor with World Vision.

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