Integrated Landscape Management in Africa

Synthesized research is needed to develop and manage successful integrated landscapes initiatives in Africa. This brief brings together relevant knowledge and provides recommendations for actions for the develepment of knowledge sharing platforms.

This brief summarizes the latest research and best practice in integrated landscape governance in Africa, identifying key knowledge and practice gaps or areas for improvement. It provides the foundation for the governance actions in the African Landscapes Action Plan.

Summarizing and synthesizing the latest policy research on the state of land management in Africa, this brief provides a foundation and suggests major avenues for the critical policy action needed to launch integrated landscape management into the mainstream on the continent.

This brief explores the ways in which the business sector can be further engaged in African landscapes now and in the future.

Working from a landscape perspective requires a broad spectrum of capacities. A recent study of integrated landscape initiatives (ILIs) in Africa exposes challenges, however, in realizing the capacities required (Milder et al., 2014). This paper summarizes available knowledge about developing capacities for managing integrated landscapes and proposes ways to accelerate the capacity development process.

Financing systems must yield public goods and private financial returns while mitigating investment risks. This brief puts ILM finance into context and provides recommendations for actions to improve financing opportunities in Africa.

In July 2014, nearly 200 highly regarded experts, practitioners and policy makers from across Africa and around the world came together over three days to synthesize lessons learned from research and experience in integrated landscape management to jointly achieve food security, biodiversity and climate objectives. The gathering was called the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature in Africa Conference. We generated a powerful set of policy and programmatic recommendations for national, regional and international action. And we committed to moving these plans forward. Now we need your help. [également disponible en Français]