Many efforts to manage landscapes in an integrated fashion begin in response to a particular problem, purpose or focus such as conserving tropical rainforest, reducing poverty, promoting agroforestry, or diversifying food crop production. People responsible for managing single focus activities often quickly learn that the tight linkages between livelihoods, sustainable production, and ecosystem management require attention to all of these dimensions if the effort is to be successful in the long term. They also need to engage partners and stakeholders at the larger landscape scale in order to succeed. A landscape perspective offers a framework to help local leaders be deliberate about building useful linkages and limiting potential conflict among people and activities that can contribute to multi-sector, multi-stakeholder management of the landscape.
Leaders of landscape initiatives from around the world came together online to share their experiences and ideas about ways to build a shared framework and action strategy for realizing multiple performance objectives from landscape management. The Landscape Strengthening Working Group of the LPFN organized the learning event to highlight the experiences of three multi-stakeholder landscapes. Each landscape shared their challenges and successes in broadening endeavors that were relatively narrowly focused in the beginning that grew to encompass a broader suite of collaborators and desired outcomes. Presentations by leaders of these landscapes illustrated pathways and tools that their organizations used to help form collaborative visions, engage new actors, and manage landscapes for multiple benefits. These three landscapes are:
Pamoja, Tanzania: World Vision
Lombok, Indonesia: Fauna and Flora International
Laikipia, Kenya: Natural Capital East Africa; Laikipia Wildlife Forum
A predominant theme of the discussion was recognition that the involvement of a broader set of actors was required to help address challenges, reduce risks and capture promising opportunities. This recognition led to a re-thinking of impact pathways, as well as explorations of learning and communication processes that could lead to shared understandings about ways to realize livelihood security, conservation and restoration goals simultaneously. A variety of approaches and tools were described and discussed that have helped to bring about this ‘change in mind-set’ that was central to the success of the three landscapes’ efforts. Highlights of the presentations are available to leaders of landscape initiatives from around the world came together online to shareview in pdf format along with other resources.
Participants in the online learning event indicated interest in carrying on the discussion about this and related topics. There are several immediate options for continuing the conversation, including:submitting tools used for creating collaborative visions; submitting a landscape profile that describes on-the-ground experiences in this process; and contributing ideas for future online learning events. To participate in any of these opportunities, please contact Chris Planicka at cplanicka@ecoagriculture.org.
LPFN Introduction – Presentation
World Vision Tanzania – Andrew Mwakisu – Framework
World Vision Tanzania – Andrew Mwakisu – Presentation
Lombok, Indonesia – Anna Lyons – Presentation
Laikipia, Kenya – Richard Hatfield – Presentation
The Biodiversity Risk and Opportunity Assessment (BROA) tool was developed British American Tobacco Biodiversity Partnership and utilized in Lombok, Indonesia. It helps users to identify and assess impacts and dependencies on biodiversity and ecosystem services. It also helps users prioritize and create Action and Monitoring Plans that address biodiversity risks and opportunities. For details on Lombok’s experience, see their presentation below.
The Landscape Measures Resource Center is a collection of ideas and tools to aid in managing areas where interests in protecting biodiversity, producing food and securing rural livelihoods converge. In particular, see the following sections: Landscape Measures Approach and Engaging Stakeholders
The Multi-Stakeholder Processes Knowledge Co-Creation Portal is developed by the Centre for Development Innovation, part of Wageningen University and Research Centre. The tools provided here enable practitioners to collaborate and share knowledge, experiences and strategies.
The Partnering Initiative is a collection of resources and services for developing effective collaboration between civil society, government and companies towards a sustainable future.
GPFLR Learning Network is a discussion platform for Forest Landscape Restoration and a place to share experiences with other practitioners and landscape leaders.
ICRAF’s Negotiation-support toolkit for learning landscapes is a collection of tools (methods, approaches and computer models) to assist the complex process of negotiations among stakeholders for working towards smarter landscape management.
