Large-scale Forest Landscape Restoration in Africa

Land degradation and loss of forests exacerbated by climate change and unsustainable land use practices in Africa threaten primarily the vital ecological functions of land, its productivity, food and water security. Poor resource governance, little access to innovation and resources and unfavorable policies prevent countries from bringing FLR to scale. The project thus aims at increasing the economic, ecological and climate-related benefits from large-scale FLR in the partner countries. The project will provide field support, capacity building and policy advice to restore FLR at ground level, unblock large-scale FLR, leverage resources for FLR, share FLR experiences and monitor FLR results. By establishing new carbon stocks and reducing pressure on existing ones, this project mitigates climate change, increases resilience and protects biodiversity.

Project data

Countries: Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda
IKI funding: 23,500,000.00 €
Included preparation phase: 509,162.49 €
Duration: 09/2019 till 06/2025
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Political Partner: 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/content/alliance-restoration-forest-landscapes-and-ecosystems-africa-areeca

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State of implementation/results

The AREECA project supported the 7th AFR100 Annual Partnership Meeting in Lagos.
AREECA has finalized baseline studies for all four countries that were the starting point for the participative Restoration Plans. Restoration monitoring capacity assessments have been conducted. National Programme Steering Committees as well as Community Restoration Committees have been established to ensure inclusive and participatory landscape restoration.
AREECA co-manages the Restoration Community on the global PANORAMA Platform.
The Land Accelerator commenced the 2023 cohort program in May 2023 with 103 restoration enterprises from 27 countries, including 30 enterprises from AREECA countries.
Malawi:
- Farmer Field Schools have identified suitable soil fertility and climate resilient livelihood practices including conservation agriculture with trees (CAWT). Measures combating soil and streambank degradationare are ongoing. Mapping of the Mvai Forest Reserve has been finalized. A roadmap on harmonisation of policies has been completed. Engagement meetings supported the outreach to the private sector for increased investments in FLR. A national FLR opportunity map is currently produced with support of the World Bank. Capacity building for Monitoring has been finalized in Ntcheu district.
- In August the first National Chiefs Forum on Improved Natural Resource Management was oeganised by AREECA and hosted by Malawis State President in Lilongwe.
Rwanda:
- The project focuses its activities on local participation and ownership schemes, as well as rehabilitation of forests, agroforestry schemes and roadside restoration measures. Over 3 Mio seedlings have been raised in 8 nurseries. Capacity-building efforts to organise farmers in cooperatives for community-based tree seedling production have been conducted. Around 2,882 hectares of degraded land /forests were identified, mapped, and validated to be restored during 2023 -2024. The urban forestry and roadside plantations guideline was elaborated and approved as a guiding document to all restoration actors in Rwanda.
Kenia:
- A Community Forest Association (CFA), a Water Resource User Association (WRUA), a County Beekeepers Union and County Natural Resources Network have been established. A model tree nursery was constructed in Loitokitok forest. Capacity building activities comprise trainings in tree and nursery management, water resource restoration and fodder pasture. AREECA supported the finalization of the national forest restoration strategy (FOLAREP). In the last 6 months the project planted over 50,000 trees and constructed 5km of soil and water conservation terraces.
Cameroon:
- In cooperation with the traditional authorities an inventory about existing Sacred Forests (Forets Sacrés) was conducted to support the protection of these culturally relevant primary forests. Data collection and analysis for the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) study was finalized. The agroforestry mobilization campaign started through the dissemination of avocado seedlings to lead farmers. Restoration monitoring capacity assessment has been completed.