Author name: The Restoration Initiative

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The Restoration Initiative (TRI): Uniting for Nature to Build Climate Resilience and Combat Land Degradation

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In response to pressing climate and environmental challenges, The Restoration Initiative (TRI) is advancing conservation, restoration, and sustainable land management on a global scale. With the forest and land-use sector (excluding agriculture) responsible for roughly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, TRI underscores the potential for nature-based solutions—such as forest and mangrove restoration—to reduce emissions and remove carbon from the atmosphere and ensure that these ecosystems’ degradation is halted and recovered to be a harbor of biodiversity.

Since 2018, TRI has launched ten projects across nine countries, collaborating with three Global Environment Facility (GEF) agencies—the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—alongside governments and strategic partners. These collaborations address biodiversity loss, climate impacts, and land degradation, supporting global restoration targets like those of the Bonn Challenge.

To date, TRI has implemented projects across Africa and Asia, bringing over 355,672 hectares of land under restoration and placing more than 715,164 hectares under sustainable management. These initiatives have positively impacted over 810,526 people, reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 27.4 million tCO2eq, and supported the adoption of over 62 policies to strengthen forest and landscape restoration efforts. “TRI represents a significant advancement in global efforts to combat biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Through science-based strategies and community engagement, TRI is building resilient ecosystems that can better withstand climate challenges,” said Prof. Lu Zhi, Executive Director of the Peking University Center for Nature and Society and UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration Advisory Board member.… Read the rest

TRI Tanzania

From Degradation to Rejuvenation: Tanzania’s Restoration Journey

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In Tanzania, the Restoration Initiative (TRI) is leading efforts to restore degraded landscapes in the Greater Ruaha and Lake Rukwa Basins, areas severely impacted by unsustainable land uses. The project focuses on integrated natural resource management, sustainable agriculture, and livestock keeping to enhance ecosystem services and improve community resilience. By engaging local communities and promoting sustainable practices, TRI aims to restore soil fertility, increase biodiversity, and uplift local livelihoods.

Restoring the Greater Ruaha and Lake Rukwa Basins

Since its inception, the TRI’ Tanzania project has progressed by leaps and bounds in the way of restoring degraded landscapes. The project has restored 43,384 hectares of land and brought 62,805 hectares under improved management, which has subsequently enhanced the ecological health of the region significantly. TRI Tanzania has made a profound social impact on the region, benefiting and uplifting the lives of thousands of Tanzanians. 91,358 individuals have directly benefited by way of training, capacity building, economic empowerment, and ecological upliftment. By equipping such an extensive group of local communities with the necessary skills and knowledge to further expand restoration efforts, the project has fostered a tangible sense of longevity in environmental sustainability and best practices. 

One of the innovative practices introduced by the TRI project is the establishment of tree nurseries. The project has supported the establishment of 12 nurseries, producing over 1,006,838 seedlings, which have been planted in degraded areas. These nurseries not only support reforestation efforts but also provide an additional source of income for local communities.

The project has also paid close attention to developing alternative income-generating activities to reduce dependence on forest resources.… Read the rest

TRI Kenya (Tana Delta)

Restoring Biodiversity in Kenya’s Tana Delta

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In the biodiverse Tana Delta of Kenya amongst the Lamu Counties, the Restoration Initiative (TRI) is making significant strides to restore degraded landscapes and support sustainable livelihoods. This critical area, which provides essential ecosystem services and supports local communities, faces threats from unsustainable resource use. TRI’s project focuses on integrated natural resource management, promoting sustainable land use, and developing green value chains. 

The Tana Delta, Kenya’s largest delta and the second largest in East Africa, is a critical area for biodiversity and local livelihoods. However, unsustainable resource use has led to significant degradation. TRI’s project in the Tana Delta focuses on integrated natural resource management, promoting sustainable land use, and developing green value chains. The project builds on a land-use plan developed with local community participation, identifying priority areas for restoration and sustainable management.

Progress and Key Achievements

The Tana Delta TRI project has brought 60,299 hectares of land under restoration and 116,000 hectares of land under improved management, which has drastically enhanced the ecological health of the region. Local communities have been significantly impacted, with 85,464 direct beneficiaries experiencing upliftment through various training sessions and capacity-building activities. Moreover, the project facilitated investments in green value chains that boost household income and provide an alternative livelihood. Eleven functional cooperatives for six value chains have been established to scale up production of honey, milk, poultry products, chilli, sesame (sim-sim) and sunflower, with six business plans developed. In total, 5,045 households (2,369 males 2,674 females) benefited from nature-based livelihoods, earning US$ 280,223. In addition, products valued at US$ 460,077 were consumed at the household level.… Read the rest

TRI DRC

Rebuilding and Restoring the forestry of the DRC

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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Restoration Initiative (TRI) addressed severe forest degradation in the Walungu territory of South Kivu Province. This region, once teeming with rich forest cover and biodiversity, has been degraded due to unsustainable agricultural practices and overexploitation of timber resources. Furthermore, these forests serve as one of the last remaining habitats for the endangered Eastern Lowland Gorilla. TRI’s project focused on agroforestry, reforestation, and erosion control to restore these degraded landscapes, relying heavily on the guidance of indigenous knowledge to inform decisions and restoration strategies. 

Restoration and Upliftment 

TRI DRC achieved notable progress in restoration and reforestation throughout its course, bringing 2,163 hectares of land under restoration and 3,145 hectares of land under improved management, subsequently restoring the value of essential ecosystem services including soil stabilization, water retention, and increased biodiversity. The project worked closely with the indigenous communities and local engagement was central to the project’s prosperity. A total of 57,086 direct beneficiaries were impacted by TRI DRC, through upskilling, the diversification of income-generating activities, and playing pivotal roles in the restoration process. The meticulous process of selecting suitable restoration species was guided by traditional knowledge courtesy of specific locals. 

One of the innovative practices of the TRI project was working through the local Dimitra Clubs to increase their reach in communities . These clubs raise awareness and mobilize both communities and local authorities around environmental issues and the need to implement restoration. Dimitra Clubs contribute to reawakening community dynamics around restoration and strengthen inclusive community engagement, collective action, and gender equality.… Read the rest

TRI Pakistan

Chilgoza Pine Revival: Restoring Pakistan’s Forests and Protecting the Pine Nut

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The chilgoza pine forests of Northern Pakistan, located in the Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalaya region, are undergoing a significant transformation through the efforts of the Restoration Initiative (TRI). These forests, which provide valuable resources such as pine nuts, face threats from illegal harvesting and overexploitation. They are also essential for local biodiversity, including endangered species like the snow leopard, and provide valuable resources such as chilgoza pine nuts, which are a significant source of income for local communities. TRI’s project aims to restore these vital ecosystems by promoting sustainable harvesting practices, establishing forest protection committees, and supporting natural regeneration.

Sustainable Harvesting of Chilgoza Pine Nuts

Since its inception, the TRI project in Pakistan has made notable progress in restoring degraded landscapes. The project has successfully brought 5,279 hectares of land under restoration, and improved the management of 66,756 hectares. These restoration efforts have provided essential ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, and enhanced biodiversity.

Community involvement has been a cornerstone of the project’s success. The project has benefited 30,388 direct beneficiaries through various training sessions, capacity-building activities, and support for income-generating activities. The introduction of chilgoza pine nut processing units has been a game-changer for local communities. These units have enabled locals to add value to their harvests, significantly increasing their income. In 2021 and 2022, the collective production and processing units yielded 24,709.3 metric tons of chilgoza, generating a noteworthy revenue of Rs. 149.07 million (roughly USD 1.8 million) for the local communities and stakeholders involved in this value chain.

To address varying contextual challenges to effective restoration, the project has employed a central focus surrounding the development of community forests and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.… Read the rest

TRI CAR

Forest Restoration in the Heart of Africa: Community Efforts in CAR

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In the heart of Africa, The Restoration Initiative (TRI) is addressing severe forest degradation in five different zones in the southern regions of Bangui, Mbaïki, Bayanga, and Pissa, Central African Republic. This region, once teeming with biodiversity, has been degraded due to unsustainable agricultural practices and overexploitation of timber resources. TRI’s project in CAR focuses on the development of nurseries, public-private partnerships, agroforestry, governmental capacity building, and enabling and engaging local communities. 

TRI’s restoration efforts in CAR are centered around addressing severe forest degradation caused by unsustainable agricultural practices and overexploitation of timber resources. These areas in CAR once boasted some of Africa’s most extensive rainforests, and are now threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture and logging. The project has been working to uplift and sustain the protected remains of what once was the third largest forest cover in Africa. TRI’s approach combines public-private partnerships and direct community engagement to restore degraded lands and rehabilitate abandoned agricultural areas, aiming to restore soil fertility and biodiversity.

Agroforestry and Community

The TRI project in CAR has made notable progress in restoring degraded landscapes. The project has successfully restored 501 hectares of degraded land through the planting of local tree species. These efforts have significantly improved the ecological health of the region, increasing the value of essential ecosystem services such as storm protection, improved soil productivity, and increased carbon storage.

The project’s progress has largely been accounted for by the involvement of the indigenous community. A large component of TRI’s restoration efforts entails community upliftment and engagement, and reforesting CAR has been no different.… Read the rest

TRI Sao Tome and Principe

Rejuvenating Forestry and Farmland: São Tomé and Príncipe’s Restoration Initiative

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The small island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is often referred to as the ‘Galapagos of Africa’ due to its rich and diverse forest ecosystems. However, these forests face significant threats from agricultural expansion and overexploitation. The Restoration Initiative (TRI) is working to address these challenges by implementing the first large-scale Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) programme in the country. By fostering partnerships with local cooperatives and enhancing the capacity of local institutions, TRI is promoting sustainable forest management and creating new value chains that benefit the local economy.  

Restoration and Resurrection 

TRI’s project in São Tomé and Príncipe represents a significant step forward in the country’s restoration efforts. Historically, reforestation and restoration activities were scattered and lacked a cohesive strategy. However, with the introduction of the first large-scale Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) programme in 2019, the project set forth ambitious goals to restore significant patches of the country’s landscape. The project involves a diverse range of stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, and the private sector, all working together to guide and promote restoration activities.

Bounds and Strides 

TRI has made remarkable progress in restoring degraded landscapes in  São Tomé and Príncipe. 9,683 hectares of degraded secondary forest and agroforestry land have been brought under restoration, and 23,226 hectares of land have been brought under improved management. In 2023 alone, 91,401 seedlings belonging to 61 different tree species were produced by a network of public and private nurseries. These restoration efforts have significantly enhanced the ecological health of the region, providing essential ecosystem services such as improved soil productivity, increased biodiversity, and enhanced carbon sequestration.… Read the rest

TRI Kenya (ASAL)

Community-Driven Restoration in the Vast and Arid Landscapes of Kenya

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The arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) of Kenya, home to millions who depend on pastoralism and small-scale agriculture, are undergoing a significant transformation through the efforts of the Restoration Initiative (TRI). These regions face challenges such as land degradation, deforestation, and overgrazing. TRI’s project employs community-driven approaches to restore degraded lands and promote sustainable land management practices in the Mount Kulal Biosphere Reserve in Marsabit County & Mukogodo forest landscape in Laikipia County. By introducing innovative practices like beekeeping and pasture seed banks, the project aims to enhance ecosystem services, uplift the livelihoods of local community members, and build resilience against climate change.

The TRI project in Kenya focuses on the ASAL regions, which are characterized by low rainfall and are home to approximately 16 million people who rely on pastoralism and small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods. These areas are particularly vulnerable to land degradation due to deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices. TRI’s approach combines community engagement, sustainable land management, and policy support to restore degraded lands and enhance the resilience of local communities. The indigenous peoples of Kenya have been a driving force behind TRI’s Kenya ASAL project, providing insightful knowledge and getting active in implementing restoration strategies. 

Significant Impacts and Progression

Since its inception, the TRI project in Kenya’s arid landscapes has been making significant strides in restoring degraded landscapes, bringing 2,408 hectares of land under restoration and 193,931 hectares under improved management. Working with the local community has been a prominent theme in Kenya, with active community engagement propelling restoration efforts and the diversification of income generation receiving significant attention.… Read the rest

TRI China

Innovative Reforestation: China’s Journey to Sustainable Forest Management

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The Restoration Initiative (TRI) worked to pioneer sustainable forest management in China’s state-owned forest farms (SFFs), which cover a whopping 77 million hectares of the country’s landscape and employ roughly 750,000 people. These forests have traditionally been mismanaged and utilized for excessive timber harvesting, leading to soil degradation and fragmented ecosystems. TRI’s project, piloted in Chengde, Ganzhou, and Bijie, aimed to reverse these trends by implementing forest landscape restoration (FLR) practices. 

Transforming State-Owned Forest Farms

TRI’s project in China centered around working with State Forest Farms (SFFs) to develop and implement sustainable forest management and restoration plans. These plans were designed to integrate forest ecology with diversified production beyond timber, aiming to deliver ecosystem services such as biodiversity conservation, soil stability, and carbon sequestration. The project spans three distinct sites—Chengde in Hebei, Ganzhou in Jiangxi, and Bijie in Guizhou—across seven state-owned forest farms.

Major Milestones and Impact

Over a five year lifespan, TRI’s project in China yielded significant achievements in restoring degraded landscapes. The project successfully brought a total area of 229,831 hectares under restoration, with the same astounding amount of landmass undergoing improved management. Surpassing the initial targets, this restoration work has greatly improved the ecological health of the regions, providing essential ecosystem services such as clean water, enhanced soil productivity, and increased carbon storage.

The involvement and active engagement of local communities were pivotal to the project’s success, with 63,000 direct beneficiaries reaping the rewards of holistic ecosystem restoration. These community members participated in various capacity-building activities, training sessions, and workshops aimed at enhancing forest management practices and promoting sustainable livelihoods.… Read the rest

TRI Cameroon

Bamboo and Beyond: Restoring Cameroon’s Forest Landscapes

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The Restoration Initiative’s (TRI) project in Cameroon tackled ecosystem degradation in a diverse array of landscapes across the magnificently biodiverse coastal country. The restoration, maintenance and sustenance of the degraded Sudano-Sahel Savannah of the Waza Landscape, forest margins and agroecosystems in Mbalmayo, and the vast mangrove ecosystems in Douala-Edea spanning over 400,000 hectares, is essential for conserving ecological balance and a symbiosis between the land and its people. However, these vibrant ecosystems of Cameroon have suffered degradation as a result of numerous different threats, such as a lack of governance, harmful agricultural practices, rapid urbanization, and exploitative land use. TRI worked to mitigate the negative impacts of these challenges by way of multiple restoration efforts and strategies, largely involving the introduction of indigenous bamboo species. 

A National Treasure

TRI’s project in Cameroon aimed to restore degraded ecosystems by developing a local industry of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), including bamboo. Bamboo, once considered a worthless resource, is now regaining its importance due to its ecological and economic benefits. Indigenous to Cameroon, bamboo grows rapidly in rough soils, stabilizes loose earth, and prevents erosion. It can also be harvested for construction material, furniture, food, and fuel, providing an alternative income stream that reduces pressure on natural forests. Uncovering the ecological utility of this abundant resource presented the locals of Cameroon with the means to relieve the pressure on overly exploited ecosystems and gradually veer from structurally engrained land misuse.   

Innovative Approaches and Milestones

The TRI project in Cameroon made remarkable progress in restoring degraded lands and supporting local communities.… Read the rest

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