land management Archives - Resilient Landscapes (RL)

Integrating tenure and governance into assessments of forest landscape restoration opportunities

Key messages

Many countries have adopted the Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM) to guide the development of national and subnational restoration strategies.
This study analyzes ROAM reports for eight countries to determine the extent to which tenure and related governance considerations were incorporated.
Although all of the reports found that lack of rights or weak rights impeded efforts to scale up forest landscape restoration (FLR), none provided robust descriptions of the rights and responsibilities of individuals or communities to trees, forests or land under statutory or customary law.
We propose a rights actualization framework as a diagnostic that can provide a solid foundation to identify policy reforms needed to address rights-related barriers to FLR implementation.
FLR initiatives informed by a robust tenure rights assessment will enhance the likelihood of achieving their twin goals of improving ecological functionality and human well-being.

Criteria and indicators for tropical peatland restoration

Restoring tropical peatlands is essential for achieving sustainable development goals. Yet measuring restoration progress remains a challenge, particularly across diverse landscapes and stakeholder contexts. This working paper presents a structured framework of Criteria and Indicators (C&I) by which peatland restoration initiatives can be monitored and evaluated with scientific rigor and practical relevance.

Developed through multi-stakeholder consultations and field validation in Indonesia, the framework encompasses four key dimensions: biophysical, social, economic and governance. It enables evidence-based decision-making processes with the aim of fostering inclusive peatland management.

By integrating ecological science with local knowledge and institutional analysis, this paper provides both conceptual grounding and applied guidance for researchers, practitioners and policymakers. Insights generated through applying its framework can help to build more accountable and effective peatland restoration programs – both within Indonesia and beyond.

Are traditional agroforestry systems nature-based carbon sinks? Empirical evidence from Tanzania

Traditional agroforestry systems (TAFS) in Tanzania—Alalili, Ngitili, and Faidherbia parkland—play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, rural livelihoods, and climate change mitigation. This study quantified their carbon sequestration potential using field data from 48 plots. Results showed significant variation in total carbon stocks, with Faidherbia parkland storing the most (151.91 Mg C ha⁻¹) due to large-diameter trees, while Ngitili stored the least (17.96 Mg C ha⁻¹) despite higher stem density. These findings highlight TAFS as valuable nature-based carbon sinks and support their integration into climate strategies such as REDD+ and carbon farming. Strengthening TAFS can yield co-benefits for carbon storage, ecosystem services, and sustainable development.

Land degradation, investment, information and incentives in Kenya’s Lake Victoria basin

This paper is part of a strudy on ‘Improved land management in the Lake Victoria basin being implemented jointly by ICRAF and kenya ministry of agriculture and rural development within the national Agriculture and livestock extension programme (NALEP).

Systems Scaling in Land Restoration. What is it and how do we do it?

This report synthesizes insights from a Regreening Africa Community of Practice (CoP) session held on 25 February 2025, where 46 programme partners and stakeholders explored systems scaling as a strategy for amplifying impact in Phase II of the initiative. Participants engaged with experts, shared experiences, and examined practical tools to enhance their capacity and collective thinking on scaling.

Evidence in Ecosystem Restoration: Insights and Recommendations

The scope of this brief is the restoration of terrestrial landscapes, focused on the Global South. Landscapes are understood as geographical spaces but also as social-ecological systems whereby interactions between bio-geophysical components and associated social actors shape the overall system.

Land suitability evaluation with a case map of Aceh Barat District

Land evaluation is a process for matching the characteristics of land resources for certain uses using a scietifically standardized technique. The results can be used as a guide by land users and planners to identify alternative land uses. Land Suitability is the degree of appropriateness of land for a certain use. Land suitability could be assessed for present condition (Actual Land Suitability) or after improvement (Potential Land Suitability). Actual Land suitability is a land suitability that is based on current soil and land conditions, i.e. without applying any input. The information is based on physical environment data generated from soil or land resources surveys. The information is based on soil characteristics and climate data related to growth requirements of crops being evaluated. Potential Land Suitability is the suitability that could be reached after the land is improved. The land to be evaluated can be natural (conversion) forest, abandoned or unproductive lands, or land currently used for agriculture, at a sub-optimal level of management in such a way that the productivity can be improved by changing to more suitable crops

The impact of formalizing rights to land and forest: Indigenous community perspectives in Madre de Dios and Loreto

Key Messages

The impact of the formalization of collective rights to land and forest in Peru is linked to a clear perception of tenure security: 80% of those surveyed consider their rights are stronger since titling, although this percentage is higher in men (85%) than women (75%).
83% of the members of communities analysed in Madre de Dios consider that livelihoods have become more constrained since titling took place.
Despite progress, only 35% of those surveyed in Madre de Dios and Loreto say they participate in forest management. Titled communities are more actively involved (39%) than untitled ones (13%), and men more so than women.
51% of those surveyed in the communities analyzed in Madre de Dios feel that the formal rules and legislation on the use of resources are well known, clear and fair. The percentage drops significantly amongst women.

A Transdisciplinary Framework to Bridge Science–Policy–Development Gaps in Global Land Management Initiatives

The effective implementation of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) remains a global challenge due to its weak integration across science, policy, and development practice. This study proposes a transdisciplinary framework to address soil erosion through SLM, based on global analyses of soil erosion risk and SLM research, policy, and practices at the country level. Using indices of policy-development, science-policy, and science-development interfaces, the study evaluates the science–policy–development interface (SPDI) in 236 countries. Findings indicate that over 190 countries (81%) face moderate or high soil erosion risk, while 182 countries (77%) have a SPDI level below their erosion risk, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive framework. The proposed seven-stage transdisciplinary framework, ranging from shared research framing to ex-post evaluation, aims to enhance SLM implementation and support soil erosion mitigation efforts. Its practical application, illustrated through a recent project, highlights the necessity of country-specific studies to tailor effective frameworks for sustainable land management.

Gender consideration in land restoration initiatives, Cameroon

Empowering women is essential for the success and sustainability of land restoration efforts in Cameroon, a country with rich ecological diversity but facing significant environmental challenges. This study examines how gender-sensitive approaches are integrated into restoration projects across the Bimodal Humid Forest, Western Highland, and Sudano-Sahelian zones, aiming to enhance researcher and practitioner engagement in gender inclusion. Despite women’s central roles in agriculture and natural resource management, they are often excluded from decision-making, limiting their ability to fully contribute to restoration. While women actively participate in agroforestry and tree planting, systemic barriers—such as restricted land access, limited resources, and leadership roles—hinder their involvement. Some projects have made progress in incorporating gender perspectives, but implementation remains limited. This study emphasizes the importance of gender-responsive project design to create more inclusive, effective, and sustainable land restoration initiatives.

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