Operationalising the landscape approach for biodiversity and benefits: Policy, practice and people

Landscape approaches offer solutions to avoid utilisation competition and conflicting goals while enhancing potential synergies. However, the implementation and – above all – evaluation of the landscape approach has yet to be broadly established. This project is using a variety of partners and stakeholders to operationalise the landscape approach and ensure its implementation in practice. Key players are being networked at several levels to ensure they benefit from the implementation of the landscape approach. The main focus of this project is on national policy and processes, so as to increase awareness of the value of biological diversity. The project is funding resources and skills aimed at improving the integration of biodiversity into national policies and land development planning. This is being achieved by the organisation of a comprehensive public relations programme, as well as cooperation with political decision-makers and other target groups at the national and international level.

Project data

Countries: Ghana, Indonesia, Zambia
IKI funding: 5,921,712.00 €
Duration: 06/2018 till 08/2025
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
Political Partner: Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Indonesia

Forestry Commission - Ghana

Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection - Zambia*
Implementing Partner: Community Based Natural Resources Forum (CBNRM-Forum)

Community-Based Rural Development Program – Phase 3 (PNGT2-3)

Directorate-General for the Green Economy and Climate Change (DGEVCC)

Riak Bumi

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State of implementation/results

James Reed and Terry Sunderland from the project for the operationalization of landscape approaches for biodiversity benefits (known as COLANDS) are working on a special issue on integrated landscape use in the journal Ecology & Society, showcasing COLANDS research and external contributions. Reed gave a keynote at the Landscape Sustainability Science Forum in May 2024 and is now co-authoring an editorial on the challenges of integrating landscape sustainability and landscape architecture.
Ghana:
- A manuscript on bird species assessment in the Western Wildlife Corridor has been submitted for publication.
- Further manuscripts are being prepared on landscape resources, gender issues, and the theory of change in the WWC.
- PhD candidate Samuel Adeyanju conducted interviews in three CREMAs to investigate the effectiveness of livelihood interventions.
- Plans for an extended project implementation and new project proposals have been developed.
Indonesia:
- A video on indigenous knowledge and biodiversity has been produced.
- Support for the development of local curricula and capacity building for biodiversity training is ongoing.
- Engagement with stakeholders to finalize a management plan for the Danau Sentarum catchment area has continued.
Zambia:
- Two manuscripts on vegetation and biomass in Miombo and Mopane woodlands have been submitted for publication.
- COLANDS participated in a meeting in Livingstone, where an MOU between CIFOR-ICRAF and WWF was proposed.
- Plans were made for the establishment of Community Forest Management Groups (CFMGs) with traditional leaders and communities in Kalomo.
Further research reports and policy briefs, especially on gender dynamics and integrated landscape approaches, are in progress.