Developing a Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) Implementation Action Plan and Monitoring Framework

TRI’s Kenya ASAL team supported the development of Forest and Landscape Restoration Implementation Plan (FOLAREP), an FLR strategy and monitoring framework formulated through a multi-stakeholder consultation process engaging experts from national institutions, the Council of Governors, County Governments, and non-state actors. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) established a diverse technical working group (TWG) in 2019 to develop FOLAREP. The draft was then subjected to public participation in seven clusters involving key stakeholders before being validated in a National stakeholders forum. The plan will ensure sustainable restoration of targeted landscapes and outlines the the key activities to be carried out, resources required, coordination framework  and a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to promote an effective and efficient FLR programme in the country. TRI’s role included providing technical input as part of the national technical working group, as well as helping hold public consultations to ensure input from local communities was integrated. Additionally, TRI’s monitoring and enforcement (M&E) officer played a critical role in developing an M&E framework, which will track outcomes on policy and regulatory frameworks.

To help successfully prepare FOLAREP, TRI also contributed to drafting the Roadmap for an FLR Action Plan, which outlined the process for elaborating the policy. With a coherent strategy, the TRI team was able to facilitate KFS’s drafting of FOLAREP. Additionally, without a participatory process that included county consultations and input from numerous stakeholders, the elaboration of the policy would have been less inclusive and left out the priorities of the local communities, which in turn, would have made it much harder to implement.

Through the process of elaborating FOLAREP, the team gained many lessons, including the various parts of the policy process, county priorities, and the potential strategies for promoting FLR. By taking part in developing, validating, and approving the policy, TRI learned how participatory processes better facilitate the creation of FLR-based policies and where in the process barriers exist. The participatory process also highlighted county priorities, provided information about how the policy could be more effectively implemented, and enhanced local communities' participation and ownership of FOLAREP. Additionally, through input from the national technical working group in meetings such as the National Landscape Restoration Scaling Conference, TRI gathered information on what actions should be taken in the policy to further FLR action in Kenya.

Implementation
National
Reviewing Policy and Regulatory Frameworks to Promote the Use of Innovative and Sustainable Financial Mechanisms

TRI Pakistan reviewed policy and regulatory frameworks to identify, understand, and facilitate the use of innovative and sustainable financial mechanisms such as payment for ecosystems and services and targeted funs at district level for providing incentives for ecosystem services (PES). This includes an initial scoping mission to assess the feasibility of payment for ecosystem services, which includes training 26 participants on ecosystem services valuation, incentives, and PES. This PES scheme was piloted in Chitral with a consultant engaged in studying the various options for generating resources for conservation and sustainable land management of the Chilgoza Forest. TRI Pakistan also produced an economic valuation study of the Chilgoza Forest ecosystem services, which outlined to the government how much economic gain FLR and sustainable land management can provide and pushed decision makers to allocate greater resources to forest restoration. Additionally, TRI Pakistan convened capacity building workshops of hundreds of staff on the use of fuel-efficient stoves and gasifiers. Together, this review allowed TRI Pakistan to learn more about potential FLR interventions and conservation incentives.  

To be able to review frameworks that facilitate the use of innovative and sustainable financial mechanisms, TRI Pakistan needed to train participants on schemes like the payment for ecosystem services and on the use of technology like fuel efficient stoves and gasifiers. With trainings, participants could implement the interventions and provide enough data on their feasibility. Additionally, providing government bodies with an economic valuation study that shows the value of restoration will prove invaluable in pursuing FLR policies.  

Reviewing policy and regulatory frameworks that could promote innovative and sustainable financial mechanisms taught TRI Pakistan about the feasibility of potential interventions to facilitate restoration and sustainable land management in Chilgoza Forest ecosystems. Studying the effects and implementation of payments for ecosystem service as well as the use of fuel-efficient stoves and gasifiers, TRI Pakistan learned how the mechanisms affected restoration and whether they were interventions worth pursuing. Using these findings, the team was able to make better recommendations for policies being elaborated. Additionally, the economic valuation study of the Chilgoza forests ecosystem services provided TRI Pakistan with critical information showing the economic value restoration and sustainable land management could provide for communities. This further allowed TRI Pakistan to provide recommendations and pursue policy development as the study also shows government bodies drafting policy the economic potential of FLR.  

Implementation
Subnational
National
Developing policy and regulatory frameworks to promote restoration, sustainable land management, and emissions reductions

TRI CAR is actively working to facilitate the development of policy and regulatory frameworks that promote restoration, sustainable land management, the maintenance and enhancement of carbon stocks in forests and other lands uses, and emission reductions from the land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector and agriculture. This includes initiating discussions with the Ministry of Water, Forests, Hunting, and Fishing on the revision process of CAR’s forest policy. TRI CAR will bring all of the stakeholders together to define and plan the process of revision and provide the ministry with technical input. TRI CAR is also conducting documentary analysis of local development plans of five forest communities – Mbata, Mongoumba, Nola, Pissa, and Yobé – and is in discussions with the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Territorial Planning to develop a joint management plan for the southwest territory so the local development plans can be implemented in a broader vision. Additionally, TRI CAR is helping upgrade the Wood Energy Supply Plan (WISDOM) in Bangui with recommendations developed from research on wood energy production and market.  

TRI CAR is able to help develop policies support FLR and sustainable land management because of the political will of CAR’s major ministries to improving laws and regulations to support its restoration goals. It is also possible because of TRI CAR’s ability to bring together the various stakeholders implicated in the LULUCF sector and restoration activities in CAR. Without input and recommendations from the numerous actors, the policies could not as adequately address the diverse priorities of everyone affected by FLR.

Through the process of helping CAR’s various ministries update policies related to restoration, sustainable land management, and emissions reductions, TRI CAR has learned multiple lessons around the process of policy elaboration in CAR and how policy updates can better address the needs of the various stakeholders. Between working with the Ministry of Water, Forests, Hunting, and Fishing on the revision of the country’s forest policy and the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Territorial Planning on developing a joint management plan for the southwest territory to better implement the local development plans, TRI CAR is learning how the different ministries approach policy development and how the team can work with them all to ensure policy cohesion across sectors. Additionally, in its work to provide information on the market and practices of wood energy production in Bangui, TRI CAR has gained knowledge around how wood energy can affect restoration and how best to approach its management.  

Implementation
Subnational
National
Agroecology Field School
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Group of participants in the El Nogal Agroecology Field School.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Young people are trained in sustainable production techniques.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Participants discuss the importance of organic agriculture for the biosphere reserve.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde

The El Nogal Agroecology Field School arose from the need to create a space where women can learn and learn about the good practices implemented by their owners, but above all to empower them in agroecological production techniques that allow them to move from the conventional agrochemical production model to a more friendly and sustainable one. El Nogal is part of the group of Model Farms that PROCAMBIO promoted in the biosphere reserve, which are a productive unit that integrates good agricultural practices (GAP), where the family produces a diversity of agricultural, forestry and energy products to meet basic needs, while promoting sustainable development and applying measures to adapt to climate change.

  • Create an agroecological training center where women can be trained in agroecology, environmental resilience and climate change, among others.
  • Implement a training model for learning by doing, on organic fertilizers, biofoliars, soil recovery, native seeds and others.
  • The leadership of the owners of the Agroecology School has inspired students, producers and technicians from other organizations to become agents of change in a more participatory and sustainable biosphere reserve.
  • Creating learning spaces allows women to be empowered in conservation and agroecological production, as well as to become involved in the sustainable development of their communities.
  • The training processes not only generate competencies in the participants, but also self-confidence and agribusiness skills.
  • The Model Farms can be used as centers for the transfer of production methodologies with measures to adapt to climate change, such as soil protection, crop diversification, integration of agroforestry systems, agricultural production without the use of agrochemicals, production of organic fertilizers, among other adaptation measures.
Implementation
Local
Production in the hands of women
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Women participate in agroecology workshop.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Group of participants in organic fertilizer preparation workshop
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Women produce solid organic fertilizers to be applied to different crops.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde

It is important to recognize the fundamental role of women in agriculture and rural development, as they are responsible for food production and household food security. However, they often face challenges and inequalities in access to resources, knowledge and economic opportunities. Given this reality, PROCAMBIO adopted a gender mainstreaming strategy to promote capacity building on various topics to all family members, in order to ensure women's participation in agroecological practices and provide tools to contribute to their sustainable livelihoods and empowerment.

  • Promoted the knowledge and application of organic agricultural practices in workshops and diploma courses.
  • Workshops were organized on mushroom production as an alternative for sustainable income generation.
  • Agroecological field schools were established for the training of women, as spaces for learning and generating livelihoods in harmony with the environment.
  • Despite the fact that women are responsible for the family gardens, cultural patterns limit their participation in training processes; therefore, the projects should include guidelines that encourage their inclusion in order to provide tools and knowledge on more sustainable production alternatives for women.
  • Women's participation is important in agriculture and generates pride and personal satisfaction among producers, as well as promoting the participation of young women as part of the generational relay in the biosphere reserve.
  • Agroecology promotes safe production for consumption, implements ecologically balanced, socially just and economically viable production systems, and is based on knowledge and appreciation of natural processes through the use of organic and sustainable practices that contribute to reducing the impacts of climate change.
Implementation
Local
Women's Network
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Participation in training spaces
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Swearing in of the board of directors of the Women's Network.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
GIZ/Fabiola Budde
Indigenous Women's Meeting.
GIZ/Fabiola Budde

The Women's Network of the Cacique Lempira Lord of the Mountains Biosphere Reserve (RBCLSM) emerged as a need for a group of women leaders and technicians from the Municipal Women's Offices (OMM) to involve women in the management of the biosphere reserve. It functions as an operational body of the biosphere reserve's Local Management Committee, developing activities that empower and involve women in natural resource management and sustainability. Another of the network's attributes is to strengthen not only the technical team of the municipalities on biosphere reserve issues, climate change and its link to their rights as women, but also women's groups organized by the territory's WMOs.

  • Increased impact on events, workshops and meetings that contribute to training on issues that affect women, such as migration due to climate change, as well as biosphere reserve management, indigenous women and biodiversity, among others.
  • Creation of a digital magazine to promote women-led entrepreneurship in the biosphere reserve.
  • The network has contributed to strengthening the leadership of young women as part of the generational relay, so that they can assume leadership positions in the management of the biosphere reserve.
  • Creating training opportunities for women allows them to become involved in agrifood production and contribute to the generation of family income.
  • Involve women in the different local organizations, allowing women to be inserted and participate with voice and vote in spaces that, due to the historical context, have been very masculine.
  • Revaluing the ancestral knowledge of indigenous women, who participate not only in the care of their families, but also in the care of common goods, i.e. water, soil and biodiversity.
Implementation
Local
Improving strategic and regulatory frameworks for mangrove restoration

To further develop a restoration strategy, TRI has worked to improve the regulatory frameworks in Guinea-Bissau. This includes supporting the elaboration of the National Mangrove Law and National Mangrove Strategy. Although an initial draft of the law produced in 2016 was ultimately unsuccessful because of too few resources, TRI brought in jurist and socio-anthropologist experts to develop a new draft that integrated all parameters of mangrove restoration learned from the participatory assessment phase. Once formulated, the law was presented to PLANTA (National Platform for Mangrove Restoration) members to provide feedback. The platform, which was created by TRI in 2021, includes , includes national and international partners working on mangrove landscapes, such as the Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas, the Directorate General for Forest and Fauna, and the Ministry of Agriculture. Since receiving feedback, TRI assisted in producing a second draft in July 2023, which must now go through the approval process. Similarly, the first draft of the national strategy was developed by the TRI team and submitted to national stakeholders in the PLANTA network for feedback. Once finalized, the policies will need to be approved or taken up by government bodies to ensure a restoration strategy is in place.  

The drafts of the mangrove policies have been enabled by the participation and technical input from the PLANTA members. Without the participation of national stakeholders, the policies would not be robust or complete and would have extreme difficulty passing through the approval process. While most members provided technical assistance and feedback, international NGOs Bosque Communidad and Wetlands International also provided financial assistance necessary to hire consultants and elaborate the draft policies.  

Through developing, reviewing, and negotiating mangrove restoration policies, TRI has been able to gather valuable information regarding what gaps exist in mangrove management and ensure the involvement of various stakeholders to elaborate a robust and sustainable policy framework. With each round of input, PLANTA members ensure the finalized National Mangrove Law and Strategy will address every aspect of mangrove restoration. Similarly, working with a socio-anthropologist whose task included integrating community knowledge into the law allowed the process to avoid excluding vital community input and traditional knowledge.  

Implementation
National
Identifying mangrove restoration opportunities in three intervention regions

Through participatory Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM)assessments in Guinea Bissau’s three geographical zones, Cacheu, Quinara, and Tombali, TRI was able to identify mangrove restoration opportunities in ten sites (five in the Cacheu, two in Quinara, and three in Tombali) and confirm the 1200 ha of mangrove landscape to be restored during the project’s implementation. The ROAM processes, which took place between 2020 and 2021, included all parts of the community discussing what the village priorities are, especially in regard to rice farming, one of the main competing priorities for mangrove restoration. Additionally, the processes also facilitated the development of the definition of intervention zones and the initiation of mangrove and rice field restoration. The implementation of the ROAM assessments ultimately contributed to the development of the project’s policy tools such as the National Mangrove Law and National Mangrove Strategy by enabling the actors and stakeholders involved in mangrove landscapes to move away from singular sites and consider the landscapes as a whole. Providing community input into village priorities and what a buffer zone in the law should look like, localized information was able to help develop the national policies.  

In order to conduct the ROAM assessments, TRI conducted trainings in November 2019, providing technicians with theoretical training in participatory territorial diagnosis tools. Guaranteeing those who were conducting the assessments were properly informed on the processes, TRI ensured the assessments adequately identified restoration opportunities and village priorities. 

The ROAM assessments provided valuable lessons, including what restoration opportunities existed in the three landscapes, as well as what the various village priorities were. The participatory diagnoses also provided information on what buffer zones in the National Mangrove Law and National Mangrove Strategy should be designed. As rice production involves the use of mangroves, a buffer zone and process for negotiation over rice production and restoration is necessary for the sustainable implementation of mangrove policies. The ROAM processes further enabled the landscape approach to be applied to mangrove restoration and rice field rehabilitation and to define the overall restoration strategy at a national level. Ultimately, the implementation of the ROAM tools has enabled the actors and stakeholders in mangrove restoration to move away from singular sites and to consider the landscapes as a whole.  

Implementation
Local
Establishing Local Development Plans Incorporating Restoration in South-West DRC

To further facilitate the implementation of FLR, TRI DRC worked to integrate major policies and restoration in general into the local development plans of the Kabre and Ngweshe Chiefdoms in South Kivu province. Though the local development plans were supported by GIZ without technical input from TRI DRC, the team successfully worked to add annexes to the plans that incorporate data received from the ROAM assessments and restoration caveats. Additionally, TRI DRC has also worked to integrate the Provincial Strategy for the Restoration of Forest and Landscapes in South Kivu as well as the two legal documents (one on bushfires and one on FLR) into the local development plans to help upscale restoration on the ground. These local development plans will be finalized at the end of September, 2023 and with the new inclusion of FLR, will be instrumental in the strengthening of FLR frameworks on the ground.  

TRI DRC was able to integrate the provincial strategy and legal documents as well as restoration in general into the local develop plans of Kabre and Ngweshe because of the team’s push to ensure that local policies further work to enhance and facilitate FLR and do not just leave these concepts at the regional or national level.  

Through TRI DRC’s push to integrate FLR into local development plans to help upscale restoration at the local level, the team learned valuable lessons in how broader restoration strategies and policies like the Provincial Strategy for the Restoration of Forest and Landscapes in South Kivu and the two legal documents can be incorporated at the local level to create a robust and cohesive FLR legal and regulatory structures. Additionally, TRI DRC gained insight into how restoration measures can be added to existing policies originally drafted without TRI DRC’s input. Although the plans were originally created by GIZ, with push from TRI DRC, they now promote restoration and sustainable land management in the two chiefdoms and provide for policy cohesion with wider-reaching subnational policies.  

Implementation
Local
Creating Legal Documents Supporting FLR Strategy in South Kivu

To further strengthen DRC’s legal and regulatory framework to ensure it is supportive of FLR, TRI DRC worked to develop two legal documents that will work with the provincial strategy to facilitate FLR in South Kivu. One of the documents outlines the management of bushfires, including when and how they should be dealt be with, while the other document focused on sustainable land management and the promotion of FLR. To help produce the two legal documents, TRI DRC worked with Rights Empower, an organization holding expertise on legal affairs, provided technical input to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, which created the drafts. In a similar timeline to the provincial strategy, the two legal documents have received technical validation and now waits provincial approval and a signature from the governor. To ensure these documents move through, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has confirmed it will provide funding to guide the approval process.  

TRI DRC was able to provide technical input and assist the development of the two legal documents because of the help and legal expertise from Rights Empower as well as the commitment from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. Working with an organization with legal expertise, TRI DRC was better able to provide input on the documents and push from the Ministry will help ensure the documents are enacted.  

Working to develop the two legal documents to enhance the FLR regulatory landscape, TRI DRC learned the ways in which supporting policies can further facilitate the uptake of FLR and aid the implementation of major policies such as the provincial strategy. Having supporting legal documents has also shown that while major strategies can be comprehensive and work to address any gaps, additional legal structures will further outline priority actions and aid the implementation of FLR policies on the ground. Additionally, working with Rights Empower, TRI DRC also gained insight into the legal aspects of FLR policy and how legal documents can differ from overarching strategies and masterplans.  

Implementation
Subnational
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