This report synthesizes the shared experiences, challenges, and solutions suggested by several dozen young landscape practitioners and experts across Africa who participated in a series of consultations centered on the restoration of African ecosystems. Co- written by several experts in the field, this report covers gaps and solutions across policy, finance, capacity building, and communication to show how landscape restoration can be scaled for long-term impact on people and the planet. The report identifies 4 opportunities for transformative change:

1. Finance: create flexible financing and resources for community-led restoration.
2. Policy: commit to a paradigm shift, ensuring youth and excluded groups are meaningfully represented in decision-making.
3. Capacity development: support the capacity of young experts and restoration practitioners across Africa.
4. Communications: use clear, culturally appropriate methods and platforms to co-create and communicate about restoration.

Are you attending UNCCD COP16? Join us on 9 December at 09:00 local time (UTC+3) at the Restoration Pavilion for the session “How are young visionaries rewriting the future of Africa’s landscapes?“

Join 1M+ youth on the Youth in Landscapes Initiative, driving change for people and landscapes worldwide!

The post Rooted in restoration Youth-led transformative change for regreening Africa appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About this session

On October 11-12, PROGREEN co-sponsored the World Bank’s “Landscapes for a Livable Planet” pavilion at the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Nairobi. In partnership with the FOLUR Impact Program, the World Bank pavilion served as an opportunity for the PROGREEN team to convene partners, share latest knowledge products, and co-host side events.

Dr. Minang is the Director for Africa and Global Coordinator, ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins at CIFOR-ICRAF. An Established Scientist and Senior Management professional with 26 years of progressive experience in science and practice in the areas of REDD+, Ecosystems-Based Adaptation, Climate Smart Landscapes, landscapes governance, payments for ecosystem services, community forestry, agroforestry, conservation, and environmental education.

Join Dr. Minang in his enlightening discussion titled “Everything You Wanted to Know About Integrated Landscape Management But Were Afraid to Ask.” In this talk, he debunks landscape management myths and offers practical tips for a better understanding of integrated landscape management.

The post Everything you wanted to know about integrated landscape management appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About the Landscapes for a Livable Planet pavilion

On October 11-12, PROGREEN co-sponsored the World Bank’s “Landscapes for a Livable Planet” pavilion at the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Nairobi. In partnership with the FOLUR Impact Program, the World Bank pavilion served as an opportunity for the PROGREEN team to convene partners, share our latest knowledge products, and co-host side events.

The post Tools for transformation: Accelerating progress towards sustainable food production appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

Insights from PROGREEN landscape programs in Sub-Saharan Africa

Today, Sub-Saharan Africa’s landscapes are some of the most threatened on the planet. About 20% of the continent’s land is degraded. PROGREEN delivers investments and promotes knowledge activities in support of landscape restoration and rural resilience globally, with a majority-African portfolio.

On October 11-12, PROGREEN co-sponsored the World Bank’s “Landscapes for a Livable Planet” pavilion at the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Nairobi. In partnership with the FOLUR Impact Program, the World Bank pavilion served as an opportunity for the PROGREEN team to convene partners, share our latest knowledge products, and co-host side events.

The post Unlocking partnership for restoration appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About this session

The G20 Global Land Initiative/UNCCD spreading the Land Restoration Challenge, spotlighted forthcoming activities within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Presenters also featured ongoing initiatives from the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and various other Restoration Challenges.

The post Introducing the Land Restoration Challenge appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About Vivienne Yeda

Vivienne Yeda is the Director General of the East African Development Bank.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of an extraordinary experience at the GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, as we take you on a remarkable journey with our must-see speakers campaign.

Learn more about the GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference here 

The post Vivienne Yeda: My new vision for Earth appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

About GLF Nairobi 2023: ‘A new Vision for Earth’

The GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, held on October 11 and 12, convened global thought leaders to set the stage for COP28, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference. This pivotal event mobilised action on critical issues affecting humanity, biodiversity, and our planet.

The conference featured two focused days: Day 1 centered on “Africa’s Sovereign Solutions,” exploring pathways to a sustainable and prosperous future for the continent. Day 2, dedicated to climate, aimed to craft a “Survival Guide for a Planet in Crisis,” paving the way for a fairer world ahead of COP28.

GLF Nairobi brought together a diverse coalition of influential voices, ranging from scientists, activists, and Indigenous leaders to financiers, women, youth, policymakers, and private sector representatives. As a united front, we collectively championed change and passionately advocated for meaningful action in these pivotal times.

About Ibrahim Thiaw

Delve into this inspiring vision for Earth from Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Don’t miss the chance to be part of an extraordinary experience at the GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference, as we take you on a remarkable journey with our must-see speakers campaign.

Learn more about the GLF Nairobi 2023 Hybrid Conference here 

The post Ibrahim Thiaw: My new vision for Earth appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

About GLF Africa 2022

GLF Africa 2022: How to build an equitable, resilient food future brought together over 8,500 participants from 122 countries and featured 182 leading scientists, activists, Indigenous leaders, financiers, youth and government leaders, and 68 incredible partners to explore African solutions to the global food crisis caused by climate change, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. 

Across 31 plenaries, interactive sessions, launches, virtual tours, dialogues, performances, and a job fair, the digital conference explored ways to transform the future of food through healthy landscapes, equitable access to land, and shorter, greener value chains. Messages spread on social media rallied 26 million people around concrete ways for Africa to regain its food sovereignty.

Ensuring equitable land access for everyone

This session brings together researchers, environmental activists, and local actors from the ground to discuss how inequitable land tenure arrangements affect the daily lives of local people and how different communities have approached the issue. They also provide examples of existing collaborations that ensure landscape rights for everyone: 

• Diane Ndarbawa, a young activist from north Cameroon who works in the promotion of access to land for girls and women, states that ensuring equitable land access, use, and governance to women and youth can’t be achieved without including them both in the decision-making process.
• Busari Kunle, an environmentalist, and a registered Surveyor in Construction firms in the Niger Delta believes in giving women and youth power to land use and governance without any interference, and promoting cooperatives for women’s banking as a tool for investment.
• Irene Ojuok, a senior researcher at the Right Livelihood College (RLC) in Kenya, speaks about the challenges women and youth face to access land and how granting access to them can help to build resilience against climate change. Kenyan dryland advocate, Charity Lanoi also adds to the importance of addressing cultural context by seeking permission from the elders and husbands in the community to carry out such projects.

Don’t miss this amazing Virtual tour through Cameroon and Kenya’s beautiful landscapes

The post Land tenure rights: a reality check appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

About GLF Africa 2022

GLF Africa 2022: How to build an equitable, resilient food future brought together over 8,500 participants from 122 countries and featured 182 leading scientists, activists, Indigenous leaders, financiers, youth and government leaders, and 68 incredible partners to explore African solutions to the global food crisis caused by climate change, COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. 

Across 31 plenaries, interactive sessions, launches, virtual tours, dialogues, performances, and a job fair, the digital conference explored ways to transform the future of food through healthy landscapes, equitable access to land, and shorter, greener value chains. Messages on social media rallied 26 million people around concrete ways for Africa to regain its food sovereignty.

The post Virtual Tours: Cameroon and Kenya appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

UNCCD COP15

The Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the largest and most influential event on how governments are handling land.

For two weeks in May of 2022, leaders ranging from presidents, ministers, and financiers to heads of the community and youth representatives gathered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire for the COP15 to strategize how to limit land degradation, raise funds for sustainable land management, and further the land rights of marginalized groups, women and young people.

GLF at COP15 along with TMG Research organized a series of side events in English and French, white papers, Q&As with experts, and more. Viewed by thousands of people, the side events provided critical insights on some of the most critical issues of our time: desertification, land degradation, and drought.

United for land restoration

Africa Week marked the moment in which the UNCCD became officially welcomed as GLF’s latest Charter Member. “The UNCCD Secretariat and the GLF have been working closely on advancing our shared vision of land restoration as a prerequisite for bringing about a sustainable future for all,” says UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw. “I appreciate the support and commitment that the GLF has brought to the land agenda and look forward to taking our collaboration to the next level, starting with the UNCCD COP15 in Côte d’Ivoire.”

Mr. Thiaw has almost 40 years of experience in sustainable development, environmental governance, and natural resource management. He served in many senior roles in United Nation Agencies. Before joining the United Nations, he was the Regional Director for West Africa, and later Acting Director General, of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

He’s a great advocate of the potential drylands hold against the dominant narratives of drylands as unproductive of biodiversity and economic benefits.

Learn Everything you need to know about drylands 

The post United for land restoration, UNCCD and GLF join agendas appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.