Sharing Knowledge Across Landscapes

Challenge Details

Connecting landscape leaders

Most of the knowledge about integrated landscape action resides with those who are currently undertaking initiatives on the ground. There is a need to connect these leaders together to share knowledge on approaches, tools, experiences, and lessons learned across communities of practice.

Contextualizing lessons learned

This sharing focuses particularly on tools and processes for landscape approaches to help collaborating landscapes initiatives evaluate how landscape approaches can be optimized in their respective settings.

While the challenges of cross-landscape knowledge sharing are daunting (from the costs and logistics of travel to language barriers), the rewards are often staggering.

World Bank video describes a successful international knowledge exchange

Mobilizing Networks for Knowledge Sharing

Driven by our learning network model, which convenes leaders from integrated landscape initiatives in various stages of development together to develop solutions to common regional challenges, share approaches to common landscape issues, and plan ongoing collaborations, our knowledge sharing efforts multiply the impact of innovations in integrated landscape management. To collectively build a strong international platform of learning around landscape approaches, the Initiative engages in a variety of collaborative learning activities in landscapes.

  • Thematic and regional leadership courses bring together leaders from learning landscapes to build competencies in domains such as landscape governance, landscape labeling and other marketing innovations, landscape planning and design, monitoring and evaluation, leadership development  and others that  support integrated landscape approaches;
  • Regional knowledge events and networking , including exchange visits, the exchange of tools and resource materials, regional conferences, and thematic workshops allow leaders to share experiences and lessons learned;
  • Case studies developed together with landscape initiatives document and communicate landscapes’ defining experiences within their respective contexts from which others stand to learn;
  • Collaboratively produce knowledge products, so far including a training manual on monitoring and evaluating sustainable land management from a landscape perspective, a review of the state of landscape governance, a landscape labeling guide, a spatial planning guide, a ground based photo-monitoring guide.
  • Contributing to this online knowledge sharing portal, which includes profiles of landscapes, lessons learned, landscape tools and methodologies, ideas for developing financial resources and more.

Network Events

African Institute for Capacity Development, Jomo Kenyatta University June 2, 2015 - June 3, 2015

East African Learning Landscape Regional Knowledge Exchange

Bringing together leaders from the learning landscapes in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania to exchange knowledge and experiences on integrated landscape management (ILM) and to learn about tools to enhance their implementation of ILM.

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May 12, 2015 - May 13, 2015

Kenya Learning Landscape Dialogue

In the second in the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature-led series of Kenya landscape dialogues, landscape leaders gather to report back on lessons learned since the last meeting and focus on building a shared agenda for the future of the Kenya Learning Landscape Network.

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Related Publication

Related Tool

Landscape Experiences

Aba Gerima Learning Watershed, Ethiopia • Aba Gerima, Ethiopia

This watershed in the Lake Tana sub-basin has a mixed crop-livestock farming system and its residents are focused on restoring ecosystem services through integrated watershed management.

Visit Landscape

Debre Yakob Learning Watershed, Ethiopia • Northwestern Ethiopian Highlands within the Lake Tan Basin, Ethiopia

The Debre Yakob Learning Watershed is located in the northwestern Ethiopian Highlands within the Lake Tana Basin. The farming system in the areas is cereal-based mixed farming system and livestock.

Visit Landscape

Alianza del Pastizal, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil • Pampas of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil

Agricultural activity, especially livestock, is the primary source of rural employment and is the base of the most traditional and emblematic markets of the country: meat, dairy and leather. Raising livestock while preserving and enhancing pasturelands preserves bird habitat and biodiversity and helps ranchers build resilience to climate change.

Visit Landscape

Useful Resources

1

International Model Forest Network (IMFN)

The International Model Forest Network (IMFN) is a global community of practice whose members and supporters work toward the common goal of the sustainable management of forest-based landscapes through the Model Forest approach.

2

The Ibero-American Model Forest Network (RIABM)

The Ibero-American Model Forest Network (RIABM) links territories in Latin America that drive responsible forestry and natural resource management initiatives. It is a voluntary alliance between Model Forests, supported by national government representatives from each member country. Model Forests are sustainable development territories that contribute to the realization of global objectives such as poverty reduction and climate change. The 29 Model Forests comprise of 31 hectares across 15 Ibero-American countries.

3

GPFLR Learning Network

The Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration (GPFLR) Learning Network is a discussion platform for Forest Landscape Restoration and a place to share experiences with other practitioners and landscape leaders.

4

LPFN's Listing of Additional Networks

The Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative Learning Landscape Network complements strong and experienced international networks. This page lists other networks partnered or allied with the Initiative. Find and connect with these useful partners here.