Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge 2025

Malena Bonilla

Carbon Cutters

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
414 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

32

locally sourced meals

consumed
UP TO

63

more servings

of fruits and vegetables
UP TO

60

minutes

spent outdoors
UP TO

60

minutes

spent learning

Malena's actions

Electricity

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

Ocean Power

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Visit the Coast

Macroalgae Protection and Restoration

I will visit a coastal or ocean site to experience the ecosystem and look for the presence of macroalgae/seaweed.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

More Fruits And Veggies

I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 3 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.

COMPLETED 22
DAILY ACTIONS

Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

Cook With Seaweed

Seaweed Farming

I will use seaweed in a new recipe.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Support Local Food Systems

Plant-Rich Diets

I will source 10 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 25
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn about Local Indigenous Practices

Indigenous Peoples' Forest Tenure

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land by participating in a training, workshop, or presentation.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Find a Local Climate-Friendly Supermarket

Refrigerant Management

I will explore the interactive map in the links below to find a supermarket that does not use HFC refrigerants near my home.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Industry

Practice the 5 Rs

Recycling

I will practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

COMPLETED 23
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Dairy Consumption

Choosing to be dairy free or consume as little dairy as possible at a daily basis. Making a conscious effort to avoid is when eating at home and outside. Helping to reduce contributing the greater greenhouse gas emissions related to the production and process of dairy. Including all animal based dairy production switching to better plant alternatives.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

Malena Bonilla 3/26/2025 10:47 PM
Today was the last day of my Eco challenges, I have personally learned a lot and have been more mindful of my actions. I have always strived to lead a more sustainable lifestyle and I found that this gave me the motivation to be better with my choices. I found that perfection is not easy but it is a continuous effort of improvement from where I started, which I think is the most important.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

What did you learn about indigenous peoples' land management that you can apply in your own life?
Malena Bonilla 3/26/2025 10:38 PM
I learned how while only 4 to 5 percent of the world's population is native, they manage and use a quarter of the world's land surface and 11% of the world's forests. I think it is very insightful and interesting how scientist have connected and researched Native methods on the natural world. An example being looking into Australian natives on kites and falcons that fly with flaming branches from a forest fire to start other fires. Which I had not known about previously. I enjoyed learning about the relationship many natives hold to the natural world and how they view it. This connection to spirituality and the natural world is something that can be viewed across many cultures and it can be a greater insight to view the significance the natural world holds.
https://e360.yale.edu/features/native-knowledge-what-ecologists-are-learning-from-indigenous-people
https://drawdown.org/solutions/indigenous-peoples-forest-tenure

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Malena Bonilla 3/26/2025 10:23 PM
While it can be difficult to avoid dairy I have found the best method is just making food at home. While going out is a good option it can always be difficult to find plant based options at certain locations. While I struggle with that strongly as a vegetarian I found that avoiding dairy was another challenge on top. I try to avoid dairy regularly as it does no good to my body and the planet. I have found better vegan alternatives and have worked to be more conscious about my dairy consumption.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Coastal, Ocean, and Engineered Sinks

What coastal site did you visit and what did you learn while there?
Malena Bonilla 3/26/2025 10:18 PM
I went to Lovers Point in Pacific Grove with lunch and enjoyed the costal area as I reflected on the environment around me. I found lots of seaweed and shells upon the shore. Seagal trying to snatch up my food. Many families and individuals all enjoying the coastal area and spending time together outdoors.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Industry

What are some more "Rs" you could add to your daily practice to reduce your waste?
Malena Bonilla 3/26/2025 10:14 PM
Repurposing items gives them a new life as much as I try my best to do that with all I own I think sometimes others would have a better use for it such as clothing. I had some older clothing that I no longer wanted. I found out that my club on campus that I am apart of was doing a clothing swap. A clothing swap is where you bring items to exchange or give away to others as you can look around and find items that others brought to take with you. I was able to donate a basket full of items and left with three new items. All the left over pieces were donated to the local Women's Shelter by the club.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come from eating/serving smaller portions?
Malena Bonilla 3/26/2025 10:07 PM
When cooking just for yourself proportions can be a bit too much as I have gotten used to a bit more back at home. Now I have gotten better at cooking for just myself and making sure I am making enough for just one meal. If I happen to make more I just save it in a container and have it the next day. Here I made vegan tacos that I had as my dinner.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Dependable fresh food, supporting local farmers and building resilient communities are just a few benefits of local food systems. Which of these (or other) advantages inspire you the most?
Malena Bonilla 3/26/2025 9:55 PM
Me and my boyfriend visited this local winery restaurant in Sacramento that had great vegan options with ingredients that were locally sourced. It is so cool discovering restaurants that pride themselves for using local sourced organic ingredients!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

How does eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat positively affect yourself, other people, and our planet?
Malena Bonilla 3/26/2025 9:47 PM
It makes me feel better about my life style choices and how I can make an impact with the way I eat. I love trying new vegan restaurants it is a fun adventure trying different styles of cuisine made vegan as well.

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