Key Messages

• Holistic Framework: Territorial approaches foster coherent governance by integrating social, environmental, and economic dimensions.
• Inclusive Development: These approaches address inequalities, prioritizing women, youth, indigenous peoples, and marginalized communities.
• Resilience and Sustainability: They support sustainable food systems, climate adaptation, and biodiversity protection.
• Lessons Learned: The updated 2023 White Paper builds on key milestones since 2018, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers, donors, and practitioners.
• Global Importance: Territorial approaches are essential for bridging rural-urban divides and aligning local actions with global SDG ambitions.

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These guidelines draw from local government experiences and examples, in a range of geographical and politico-administrative contexts. They are designed to assist local government practitioners and policy- makers in managing biodiversity and are flexible to the level of resources and experience available. They should be of as much use to technically-advanced local governments wishing to hone their existing plans, as they should be to relative newcomers wishing to initiate strategic biodiversity planning. Actionable suggestions are posited to guide and inspire users, but will not be equally relevant or feasible in every local government.

Users should therefore exercise some discretion in identifying the most appropriate suggestions for meeting their respective needs. In all cases, users are encouraged to be ambitious whilst prioritizing what is realistic and achievable. Capacity, in particular, will determine what is possible but even a single individual with scarce resources can make a catalytic start. Section 1 provides a background to local biodiversity management issues and introduces the concept of a Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (LBSAP) and the rationale for developing one. Section 2 provides practical suggestions on how to begin compiling an LBSAP, from assempling a team to conducting a biodiversity assessment, and explores the concept of biodiversity mainstreaming. Section 3 identifies the standard information that an LBSAP should contain and suggests how to construct a vision, guiding principles, goals, targets and actions. It examines a number of extracts taken from existing LBSAPs of leading local governments. To further inspire the design of actions proposed in an LBSAP, section 4 outlines the various tools and approaches that can be applied at the local level to effectively manage and mainstream biodiversity. Finally, section 5 provides a short conclusion.

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About GLF Africa 2024

On 17 September, thousands of participants gathered at ‘GLF Africa 2024: Greening the African Horizon’ in Nairobi, Kenya, and online for a global conference focused on forging a prosperous and sustainable future for Africa’s land- and seascapes, driven by local solutions.

About Elizabeth Mrema

Elizabeth Mrema is Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Ms. Mrema was appointed to this role by the UN Secretary-General in 2022.

Ms. Mrema is also co-chair of the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, aimed at guiding companies in assessing, disclosing, and managing nature-related risks and impacts.

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About GLF Africa 2024

On 17 September, thousands of participants gathered at ‘GLF Africa 2024: Greening the African Horizon’ in Nairobi, Kenya, and online for a global conference focused on forging a prosperous and sustainable future for Africa’s land- and seascapes, driven by local solutions.

About this session

Africa holds key potential to advance global climate, biodiversity, and land degradation goals, yet it faces severe impacts from these crises despite contributing the least. This plenary gathers experts to explore the links between global environmental challenges and why Africa’s local solutions are vital to global success. It will also address the gap between top-down targets and local action, highlighting pathways to accelerate global impact.

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Land degradation impacts over 3.2 billion people globally. Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) aims to restore ecosystems and improve human well-being but faces challenges, especially regarding property rights and governance. Global initiatives, such as the Bonn Challenge and AFR100, aim to restore millions of hectares of degraded land by 2030. Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Togo have committed to specific restoration targets. This policy brief focuses on how land tenure systems in these countries affect FLR implementation and highlights best practices for improving restoration efforts.

Key messages

• Tenure and land governance models are decisive factors of FLR success.
• Tenure arrangements and who benefits from FLR must be well-defined prior to implementation. Different approaches exist from individual land tenure to communal.
• Significant gaps in communal land use policies still exist and need to be addressed.
• There is a lack of inter-sectoral cooperation between land and forestry authorities, creating need to improve coordination and transparency between sectors and stakeholders.

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The policy recommendations in the document emphasize the importance of integrating customary land tenure systems into forest landscape restoration policies. It also highlights the need for inclusive governance that respects cultural heritage and supports the long-term interests of communities, including marginalized groups. Additionally, the document recommends considering the drivers of deforestation and degradation, as well as the interaction between tenure rights, relations, and security with incentives for either deforestation or restoration. Furthermore, it suggests that restoration initiatives should be based on the preferences and needs of local communities and smallholder farmers to ensure sustainability.

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Key Messages

• The report proposes a two-phase TCA assessment process: initial national-level assessments to raise awareness, followed by detailed evaluations to prioritize solutions and drive transformative actions.
• Preliminary assessments across 154 countries suggest global hidden costs from agrifood systems exceed 10 trillion 2020 PPP dollars.
• Low-income countries are disproportionately affected by these hidden costs relative to their national incomes.
• There is an urgent need to integrate these hidden costs into decision-making processes to facilitate the transformation of agrifood systems.
• Scaling the application of TCA requires innovations in research, data, and capacity building, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
• This effort aims to enable transparent and consistent decision- and policymaking in agrifood sectors worldwide.

The post The State of Food and Agriculture 2023 appeared first on Global Landscapes Forum.

• Deforestation and Climate Pressures: Deforestation is slowing, but forests are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related stressors like wildfires and pests, leading to significant carbon emissions.
• Innovation Imperatives: Innovations in technology, policy, social engagement, and finance are critical to enhancing forest conservation, restoration, and sustainable use.
• Inclusive and Responsible Approaches: Addressing barriers to innovation and ensuring inclusive, gender-responsive strategies are essential for equitable and effective forest sector advancements.

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About GLF Peatlands 2024

Peatlands cover 3-4% of Earth’s land but store a third of global soil carbon. Despite their importance, 12% are degraded, contributing 4% of human-induced emissions.

Degradation, driven by agriculture and forestry, causes environmental and social issues like fires and economic damage. Managing peatlands effectively requires collaboration across sectors.

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Peatlands 2024 Hybrid Conference brought together global stakeholders to address gaps in peatland science, policy, and practice. Held alongside the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Change Conference, it explored peatlands’ roles in carbon storage, biodiversity, and water regulation.

Exploring Global Peatlands: Mapping, Challenges, and Strategic Actions

This session provided an overview of the Global Peatlands Assessment (GPA), the most comprehensive assessment of peatlands to date. It explored the global distribution of peatlands, showcasing the Global Peatland Map and other hotspot maps to discuss mapping methodologies and identify existing gaps. Key challenges for decision-makers were highlighted, along with policy and governance recommendations. Additionally, peatland action and stakeholder engagement strategies were explored, emphasizing the vital role of the private sector and civil society in effective conservation, restoration, and sustainable management. Key activities and partnerships were outlined for future planning and action.

Speakers

Fabrice Inkonkoy, Global Peatlands Initiative Coordinator, UNEP; Patrick Scheel, Research Specialist, Global Peatlands Initiative, UNEP; Kristell Hergoualc’h, Senior Scientist, CIFOR-ICRAF; Alexandra Barthelmes, Senior Researcher, Greifswald Mire Centre; Rosie Everett, Associate Researcher, Scotland’s Rural College; Jan Peters, Managing Director, Michael Succow Foundation.

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