Report

Advancing Forest Landscape Restoration in the Tropics

Experiences and Lessons for Socio-ecological Resilience and Empowerment of Women in ITTO Projects

Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) is a holistic approach to rejuvenate degraded forest landscapes and improve human well-being. This policy report explores the advances made in FLR in the tropics and analyzes 14 FLR projects funded by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). The report highlights the challenges in implementing FLR and how well gender considerations were applied to project activities.  

The report recommends embedding FLR principles in all forestry-related implementation policies, along with appropriate capacity development programs facilitated through innovative mechanisms like peer learning exchanges and social learning tools. It stresses the need for principles of equity, including gender-sensitive plans, to be embedded in policy plans and programmes. 

The publication received financial support from the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), and the collaborative project analysis was conducted by Suneetha Subramanian (Research Fellow, UNU-IAS).  

Recommendations  

  • Promote transdisciplinary research and practice: collaborate with diverse stakeholders for solutions-focused research and transparent analysis, ensuring effective outcomes. 

  • Encourage multi-stakeholder discussions on socio-ecological resilience: systematically address interconnected social and ecological issues, identifying trade-offs to enhance coping and adaptation strategies. 

  • Embed FLR principles in all forestry related policies: use participatory FLR principles to boost socio-ecological resilience, aligning with conservation targets beyond protected areas. 

  • Design and implement capacity development programmes: engage policymakers, NGOs, and academia in comprehensive forest training programs, emphasizing the dynamic nature of socio-ecological systems. 

  • Embed equity principles in policy plans and programmes: integrate equity principles and gender-sensitive policies through participatory planning, ensuring inclusion in project activities and reporting for effective implementation. 

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