Alliance for Restoration of Forest Ecosystems in Africa (AREECA)

Land degradation and forest loss, exacerbated by climate change and unsustainable land use practices in Africa, threaten ecological functions, land productivity, food and water security. Inadequate resource management, limited access to innovation and resources, and inappropriate policies prevent countries from restoring forest landscapes on a large scale. The project increases the economic, environmental and climate-related benefits of large-scale forest restoration (FLR) in partner countries. The project provides capacity building on the ground and policy advice. It also involves the exchange of FLR experiences and the follow-up of FLR results. The creation of additional carbon stocks and the reduction of pressure on existing stocks contribute to climate protection, increasing resilience and protecting biodiversity.

Project data

Countries: Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda
IKI funding: 23,500,000.00 €
Included preparation phase: 509,162.49 €
Duration: 09/2019 till 12/2025
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Political Partner: Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry (MECCF) - Kenya

Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED) - Cameroon

Ministry of Environment - Rwanda

Ministry of Environment and Forestry - Kenya*

Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife - Cameroon

Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Environment - Malawi
Implementing Partner: African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) - Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office

The World Bank Group

World Resources Institute (WRI)

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Germany
Online: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/100397.html

https://afr100.org/alliance-restoration-forest-landscapes-and-ecosystems-africa-areeca

Skip to Project data

State of implementation/results

AREECA has implemented restoration activities on 16,252 ha and is supporting further planning processes on 5.7 million ha.
The project co-manages the Restoration Community on the PANORAMA Platform.
In 12/24 AREECA held its 7th Steering Meeting (virtual).
AREECA implemented restoration capacity assessments and training.
AREECA conducted a training on Ex ACT as means of verification for the carbon sequestration potentials of the implementation sites and for key stakeholders from the countries (held in December 2024, in Cameroon).
WRI disbursed $17.8 million in grants and loans via TerraFund to 92 community projects in three priority landscapes for restoration in AFR100.
AREECA implemented restoration capacity trainings in Rwanda, Malawi and Kenya.
Malawi:
- 360 beehives were distributed to 225 beneficiaries.
- 1.110 people trained in nursery establishment, woodlot management, beekeeping, climate-smart agriculture, and resource management.
- 200.977 seedlings were grown and 20 fishponds constructed.
- 14 environmental clubs (280 members) were established in schools.
- Farmer Field Schools received inputs, including 360 kg maize and 180 kg pigeon peas.
- 10.000 bamboo trees were planted on 10 ha and 201,4 ha were restored with native and nitrogen-fixing tree species.
- A National FLR (Forest Landscape Restoration) platform meeting validated stocktaking and a partnership with UNFF (United Forum on Forests) was established for FLR financing.
- 23 government and NGO staff were trained in tropical tree cover data analysis.
Rwanda:
- Using Restoration Opportunity Assessment Method (ROAM,) FLR contributed to district FLR strategies, informing annual plans and the 2024-2030 provincial strategy.
- Local farmers were trained in nursery setup and tree survival monitoring.
- A total of 480 community members (209 women, 271 men) were employed in seedling production and planting, earning 136,8 Mio Rwanda-Franc (RWF).
- Community groups produced 8.033 fruit tree seedlings, distributed to farmers in Kirehe and Nyagatare.
Cameroon:
- Over 6.000 native trees from sacred forest nurseries were planted in six Sacred Forests (Forêts Sacrés).
- Two local Conventions were signed for sustainable management (one for a Sacred Forest, one for riverbank stabilization).
- Three communities (Fongo Tongo, Batcham, Babadjou) received FLR planning support.
- A national-level training on FLR was conducted.
Kenya:
- The project reviewed restoration plans for five coordination platforms, leading to 11.046,15 ha of indirect FLR restoration in this period.