Tony Rinaudo

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Tony Rinaudo
AM
Born (1957-01-19) 19 January 1957 (age 67)
Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
CitizenshipAustralian
OccupationAgriculturist
SpouseEliabeth Rinaudo
Children4
AwardsCommandeur du Merit, Agricole (Niger)
Right Livelihood Laureate 2018
Member of the Order of Australia 2019

Anthony Thomas Rinaudo AM (born 19 January 1957) is an Australian agriculturist and missionary.

Early life and education[edit]

Tony Rinaudo was born in the northern Victorian town of Wangaratta and raised in nearby Myrtleford.[1]

After completing high school he studied at University of New England, Armidale (Bachelor of Rural Science) and later at Bible College of New Zealand (Bible in Missions course).[1][2]

Career[edit]

Following University and Bible College, Rinaudo served initially at a Farm School/Preparatory Bible College in Maradi, Niger and later in the Maradi Integrated Development Project with the Sudan Interior Mission, now known as SIM from 1981 to 1999.[1][3]

Since 1999 he has worked for World Vision Australia[3] in several roles, initially as a Program Officer and now as Principal Climate Action Advisor.

Rinaudo is the subject of a 2022 documentary by German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff called 'The Forest Maker'.[4][5][6] which was shown at the Film Without Borders film festival in Bad Saarow Germany 2022.[7]

Achievements[edit]

Rinaudo served as an agriculturalist and missionary with 'Serving in Mission' in Niger Republic from 1981 to 1999. There, he oversaw long-term rural development and periodic, large-scale relief programs. In this Sahel region of Niger, where tree-planting efforts were failing, he "discovered root systems remained alive underground, even in the harshest, desert-like landscapes. To encourage the 'underground forest' to grow into trees, he just needed to prune and manage the tree shoots. He inspired farmers to carry on this work over the years. Rinaudo's pioneering technique is called Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, or FMNR."[8] The FMNR website describes the technique as a "low-cost land restoration technique used to combat poverty and hunger amongst poor subsistence farmers by increasing food and timber production and resilience to climate extremes".[8][9][10] He consequently earned the nickname "the Forest Maker".[11] At the UN's global climate talks in Katowice, Poland, in 2018, it was recognised that "6M hectares of land have been regenerated under FMNR, totalling 240M trees [and that] the reforestation of the landscape can be seen on satellite images from space".[12]

Through these he contributed to a transformation in how Nigerians farm, and the reforesting of over six million hectares of land, which still inspires re-greening movements globally. For his 18 years' service to humanity and the environment, the government of Niger awarded him its highest honour for an expatriate "The Order of Agriculture with Merit" (Merite Agricole du Niger).[13]

Since joining World Vision Australia in 1999, Rinaudo initiated and/or oversaw important land regeneration projects, worldwide. Serving now as Principal Climate Action Advisor, he promotes forestry and agro-forestry initiatives globally within the World Vision partnership, and beyond,[3][14][15] for example in East Timor[16] and Ethiopia.[17]

Awards[edit]

  • Commandeur du Merit, Agricole awarded by the Government of Niger for his contribution to environmental restoration and services to humanity. This is the "highest decoration which Niger bestows on expatriates, for his contribution to environmental restoration and services to humanity".[13]
  • 2018 Right Livelihood Award (Alternate Nobel) "for demonstrating on a large scale how drylands can be greened at minimal cost, improving the livelihoods of millions of people".[1][18]
  • Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, 2019, "For significant service to conservation as a pioneer in international reforestation programs".[19][13]
  • FMNR being recognised by the World Future Council under the Outstanding Practice in AgroEcology 2019.[20]
  • 24th Fervent Global Love of Lives Award 2021, awarded by the Chou, Ta-Kuan Cultural & Educational Foundation, Taiwan ROC[21][22][23]
  • Victorian 2024 Australian of the Year Nominee.[24]

Recognition[edit]

Rinaudo is listed as a contributor to natural resource management and conference speaker by organisations around the world:

  • European Leadership Forum[25]
  • Global Earth Repair Foundation[26]
  • Global Evergreening Alliance[27]
  • Global Landscapes Foruum[28]
  • Initiatives of Change Switzerland[29]
  • Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology (ISCAST)[30]
  • Permaculture Research Institute[31][32]
  • Reforestation World[33]
  • TEDx Sydney 2023[34]
  • The Blue Tribe Company[35]
  • United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs[36]

Published works[edit]

Books[edit]

  • Autobiography The Forest Underground: Hope for a Planet in Crisis (2022) - ISCAST ISBN 0645067113, ISBN 978-0645067118 (Awarded Australian Christian Book of the Year 2022[37][38]). The book is the subject of book reviews,[39][40][41] a radio interview[42] and an interview in conservation news web portal Mongabay.[43] After launching in Melbourne earlier in 2022, Rinaudo launched the book in his home region of north east Victoria on 21 August 2022.[44] In 2023, an audiobook version of The Forest Underground, narrated by Tim Dehn, was produced and launched by ISCAST in partnership with the Australian audiobook production company, Voices of Today.[45]
  • eBook Unsere Bäume der Hoffnung (2021) - Rüffer & Rub Sachbuchverlag ISBN 978-3-906304-66-3 Volker Schlöndorff (Préface), Tony Rinaudo (Auteur), Dennis Garrity (Auteur), Corinna von Ludwiger (Traduction)[46]

Articles[edit]

Scholia has a profile for Tony Rinaudo (Q73380325).
  • Rinaudo, T (1992), The use of Australian Acacias in the Maradi Integrated Development Project, in House, APN and Harwood, CE (Editors), Australian Dry Zone Acacias for Human Food, pp. 82–92. Canberra, Australian Tree Seed Centre, CSIRO Division of Forestry. 145 pp.
  • Rinaudo, T., Burt. M and Harwood, C. (1995). Growth and seed production of Australian Acacia species at Maradi, Niger. ACIAR For. Newsl. 19:1-2.
  • Rinaudo, T. (2001). Utilizing the underground forest. Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration of trees. pp. 325–336. In: D. Pasternak and A. Schlissel (eds.), Combating Desertification with Plants. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York.
  • Rinaudo, T; Patel, T. and Thompson, L.A.J. (2002), Potential of Australian Acacias in combating hunger in semi-arid lands, Conservation Science W. Aust. 4 (3) : 161–169
  • Rinaudo, T and Cunningham, P.J. (2008). Australian acacias as multi-purpose agro-forestry species for semi-arid regions of Africa. Muelleria 26(1): 79-85.
  • Cunningham, P.; Nicholson, C.; Yaou, S.; Rinaudo, Tony; Harwood, Christopher (2008) Utilization of Australian acacias for improving food security and environmental sustainability in the Sahel, West Africa, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255457447
  • Griffin, A.R.; Midgley,S.J.; Bush, D.; Cunningham, P.J.; Rinaudo, A.T. (2011), Global uses of Australian acacias – recent trends and future prospects, Diversity and Distributions, (Diversity Distrib.) 17, 837–847
  • Tougiani A, Guero C, Rinaudo T (2009), Community mobilisation for improved livelihoods through tree crop management in Niger. GeoJournal 74:377-389
  • Bacaller, S. with Rinaudo, T. (20 June 2023). The Forest Maker: In Conversation with Tony Rinaudo. Eureka Street online.[47]

Presentations[edit]

  • Rinaudo, Tony (2023), An Underground Forest: a solution to restoring degraded land at our feet,[48] TEDxSydney [49]

Biography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Tony Rinaudo - Right Livelihood". Right Livelihood. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  2. ^ Rinaudo, Tony (2022). The Forest Underground. ISCAST. ISBN 0645067113.
  3. ^ a b c "Turning deserts into farmland: how an Australian agronomist has employed an ancient farming practice to change the lives of millions". Sight Magazine. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  4. ^ Greb, Verena (5 April 2022). "Documentary 'The Forest Maker' portrays a reforestation pioneer". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  5. ^ "The Forestmaker". IMDb. 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  6. ^ Blaney, Martin (14 May 2022). "Patra Spanou Film boards Volker Schlöndorff eco-documentary (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  7. ^ Hermersdorfer, Ralf (2022). "Und alle sind gefragt, ohne Ausnahme. Ein Gespräch mit Volker Schlöndorff". FILM OHNE GRENZEN (Films without borders). Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration - FMNR Hub". World Vision Australia. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  9. ^ "The forest makers – Tony Rinaudo and Ruth Jerotich". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  10. ^ Heath, Nicola (24 July 2022). "Australian agronomist Tony Rinaudo is turning African deserts into forests". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  11. ^ Adams, Phillip (18 December 2019). "Australian agronomist Tony Rinaudo earned his nickname, "the forest-maker", from 35 years of ground breaking work in Africa". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  12. ^ Doherty, Ben (14 December 2018). "Reforesting the world: the Australian farmer with 240m trees to his name". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  13. ^ a b c "Tony Rinaudo has been appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia!". FMFR. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  14. ^ Ruse, Sean (1 October 2020). "Regenerating Our Planet // Interview with Tony Rinaudo". FROCKUP. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  15. ^ Khadka, Navin Singh (24 May 2022). "Why Africa couldn't get urgent global deal on drought". BBC. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  16. ^ Baker, Mark (26 April 2014). "The tree whisperer". The Age. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  17. ^ Phillips, Tunicia (14 June 2021). "Over-exploitation has degraded billions of hectares of land". Mail & Guardian South Africa. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  18. ^ Hannam, Peter (24 September 2018). "'Blessed': Tree regeneration pioneer Tony Rinaudo gets global gong". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Award Extract Anthony Thomas Rinaudo". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Outstanding Practice in AgoEcology: FACTSHEET - Global – Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR, 1983)" (PDF). World Future Council. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  21. ^ "The Agricultural Genius—Tony Rinaudo". Chou, Ta-Kuan Cultural & Educational Foundation, Taiwan. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Nine winners of the Global Love of Life Award appeared to share". Liberty Times via Google Translate. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Global Love of Life Medal 9 Winners Share Life Stories". China Times via Google Translate. 8 December 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Anthony Rinaudo AM". Australian of the Year. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Tony Rinaudo - European Leadership Forum". European Leadership Forum. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Tony Rinaudo". Global Earth Repair Foundation. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Tony Rinaudo: 'The Forest Maker'". Global Evergreening Alliance. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Tony Rinaudo (speaker)". Global Landscapes Forum. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Tony Rinaudo". Initiatives of Change Switzerland. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  30. ^ "Tony Rinaudo". ISCAST. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  31. ^ Mackintosh, Craig (3 October 2011). "Tony Rinaudo: "Against the odds: Reversing desertification in arid and semi arid lands" (IPC Presentation – Video)". Permaculture Research Institute. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  32. ^ Gornall, Jonathan (14 August 2013). "It's a Forest, You Just Can't See It". Permaculture Research Institute. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Tony Rinaudo, Principal Advisor Natural Resources at World Vision Australia". Reforestation World. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Tony Rinaudo - TEDx Sydney 2023". TEDxSydney Limited. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  35. ^ McGregor, James (24 February 2020). "Tony Rinaudo, The Forest Maker from World Vision". The Blue Tribe Company. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  36. ^ "Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR): a technique to effectively combat poverty and hunger through land and vegetation restoration". United Nations: Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  37. ^ Abbott, Rebecca (2 September 2022). "Book of the year offers hope for a hurting planet". Eternity News. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  38. ^ Adams, David (2 September 2022). "Agronomist's autobiography wins Australian Christian Book of the Year". Sight Magazine. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  39. ^ Adamson, Judy (20 July 2022). "[Review] The Forest Underground: Hope for a planet in crisis". Sydney Anglicans. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  40. ^ Cauchi, Stephen (3 May 2022). "Tony Rinaudo has helped millions, now he wants to inspire the next generation". The Melbourne Anglican. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  41. ^ Everist, Brodie (30 August 2022). "Rinaudo's alpine tour a success". Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  42. ^ McEachen, Ben (3 June 2022). "The Forest Underground and the Tony Rinaudo Revolution: Meet 'The Tree Whisperer'". Hope 103.2. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  43. ^ Hoffner, Eric (17 August 2022). "Let it grow: Q&A with reforestation and land restoration visionary Tony Rinaudo". Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  44. ^ Ellis, Victoria (22 August 2022). "Tony Rinaudo AM presents book talks in Myrtleford, Bright and Wangaratta". The Border Mail. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Celebrating the Audiobook Launch of "The Forest Underground" by Tony Rinaudo - ISCAST". 8 August 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  46. ^ Rinaudo, Tony; Garrity, Dennis (2021). Unsere Bäume der Hoffnung. Translated by Corinna; von Ludwiger. ISBN 978-3-906304-66-3. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  47. ^ "The forest maker: In conversation with Tony Rinaudo". Eureka Street. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  48. ^ "An Underground Forest: a solution to restoring degraded land at our feet". TEDxSydney. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  49. ^ "TEDxSydney". Retrieved 9 November 2023.
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