On November 7, 2024, the Landscape Partnership Asia (LPA) held its third and final webinar in the 2024 series, titled “Restoring Land and Livelihoods in the Era of Climate Change.” Organized by the Global EverGreening Alliance (GEA), this webinar brought together experts and practitioners to explore innovative approaches for ecosystem restoration that support both environmental resilience and community livelihoods. The session highlighted successful case studies and underscored the importance of policy alignment and community engagement in achieving sustainable restoration outcomes.
The webinar opened with remarks from Ms. Sally Armitage, Media and Communications Lead at GEA, who moderated the event. She introduced the LPA initiative as a collaborative platform focusing on the restoration of Asian drylands and enhancing livelihoods across the region. Ms. Sally emphasized the urgency of ecosystem restoration in combating the effects of climate change and improving resilience for communities dependent on degraded landscapes.
Speaker 1: Tony Rinaudo – Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR)
Principal Climate Advisor at World Vision, Global EverGreening Alliance Ambassadar
Mr. Tony Rinaudo, Principal Climate Advisor at World Vision and renowned advocate for Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), delivered the first presentation. Mr. Tony discussed the transformative potential of FMNR, a low-cost, scalable method of assisted natural regeneration, which has shown success in regions such as Niger and East Timor. He highlighted the critical role of “mindset change” among local communities and stakeholders, underscoring that FMNR succeeds when communities view tree regeneration as a personal and collective benefit. His presentation demonstrated how FMNR contributes to increased food security, improved incomes, and greater resilience to climate impacts.
Speaker 2: Dr. Lalisa Duguma – GEA’s Comprehensive Restoration Approach
Project Development and Partnership Manager and Nature-Based Solutions Impact Advisor, Global EverGreening Alliance
Dr. Lalisa Duguma, Nature-Based Solutions Impact Advisor at GEA, shared GEA’s approach to land and livelihood restoration. His presentation outlined the organization’s strategic pillars, including a focus on smallholder farmers, multifunctional restoration, and sustained community engagement. Dr. Lalisa stressed the importance of aligning restoration projects with local policies and strategies to ensure long-term success. He also addressed the challenges of balancing environmental and economic outcomes, explaining how GEA’s projects incorporate diverse stakeholder interests to build resilient and sustainable landscapes.
Speaker 3: Sokhim Phat – Institutional Policy Frameworks in Restoration
Portfolio Manager, Project Development and Partnerships, Global EverGreening Alliance
The final speaker, Mr. Sokhim Phat, Portfolio Manager for Asia-Pacific at GEA, discussed the role of policy frameworks in supporting restoration and carbon initiatives. Sokhim emphasized the importance of aligning restoration projects with national and sub-national policies to secure stakeholder buy-in and maximize impact. He provided a case study from GEA’s projects in Vietnam, illustrating how policy alignment facilitates effective institutional coordination and supports long-term project sustainability. Phat also discussed the role of secure land tenure, cross-cutting policies like gender inclusion, and climate commitments in shaping successful restoration programs.
Following the presentations, an interactive Q&A session allowed participants to engage directly with the speakers. Questions centered on the practical challenges of implementing restoration projects, such as ensuring market access for community-produced goods and balancing environmental and livelihood outcomes. The speakers underscored the need for sustainable financing and continuous engagement with local communities to build trust and ensure project longevity.
The 2024 LPA Webinar Series successfully provided a platform for knowledge exchange on ecosystem restoration and resilience-building across Asia. Through insightful presentations and discussions, the series highlighted the role of nature-based solutions, community involvement, and policy alignment in addressing pressing environmental challenges. As LPA continues to foster regional collaboration, the learnings from this series will guide future initiatives aimed at creating resilient landscapes and sustainable livelihoods across Asia.
