Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme’s Post

This week, the FSC Africa team gathers for a transformative retreat, where strategy meets inspiration, and collaboration drives action. From December 4th–8th, 2024, we’re coming together to reflect on our journey, align on priorities, and set bold ambitions for the future of responsible forestry in Africa. What makes this retreat special? It’s not just about planning—it’s about reimagining how we can deliver lasting impact for forests, communities, and businesses. Across these days, we’ll tackle critical themes such as: 🌿 Innovating in Forest Certification: Exploring new ways to protect and manage Africa’s forest landscapes. 🤝 Deepening Partnerships: Building alliances to amplify sustainability efforts across the continent. 📈 Driving Excellence: Strengthening market readiness, governance, and operational strategy for the challenges ahead. ✨ Envisioning the Future: Charting a shared vision of what the future of responsible forestry in Africa can look like—and how we’ll get there. We’ll also take time to reconnect as a team through collaborative sessions and a field visit to witness FSC’s impact on the ground. At FSC Africa, we believe in the power of people to drive change. This retreat is a testament to the dedication of our team and partners in ensuring forests continue to thrive for generations to come. Follow along as we share insights, milestones, and stories from this pivotal gathering. Together, we’re building a future where forests are for all, forever. Charles Msonge,Paul Stephen Opanga,Israel Bionyi Nyoh,Hypp Renaud BOUMI MFOUBAT NIONGUI,Bilha Asunda,Meseret Shiferaw,Peter O. Alele, Ph.D.,Siphelele Masondo,Jose Tagle,Agasha Annah,carmen stephanie wandja mbianda,Gerard Busse,Nana Darko Cobbina,Richard F.,Patrick Epie,gertrude ogwok,Marion Barriskell,Frida Salim. #FSCAfrica #Sustainability #ForestsForAllForever #Teamwork

🌿 To preserve its natural heritage, #Peru invests in nature-positive projects. Public financing mechanisms, such as "Invierte.pe" and "Work for Taxes," along with microfinance initiatives, have incorporated #biodiversity criteria into their standards and guidelines with the support of BIOFIN and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Since the adoption of these updated standards in 2016, Invierte.pe has identified and developed a pipeline of US$30 million for eight projects, of which US$8 million has already been allocated to four key initiatives. One of these, the Recovery of Ecosystem Services for Water Regulation in Ayabaca, Piura, received US$1.9 million to support forestry, ecosystem restoration, and water harvesting, essential for maintaining ecological balance and water resources in the region. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dJ8Pntca PNUD Perú PNUD en América Latina y el Caribe

🔔🌳 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱! Call for Contributions: Tropical Forest Issues #63 – Women as Stewards of Forests   We encourage everyone with a case example or #story about the impact of women’s participation in forest management to contribute to this issue!   Every day, #women face gendered barriers and challenges in tropical forest #landscapes, restricting them from participating in decision-making processes and forest governance. Despite these barriers, women and girls across the tropics are at the forefront of driving transformative change in #forest management, benefiting both people and ecosystems. This edition of our Tropical Forest Issues (TFI63) will highlight the #impacts of women’s participation in forest management, conservation, and use.   TFI63, led by Todora Rogelja, will explore how women overcome these challenges and what enabling conditions are necessary for their success.   🌱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀: ✔️ Gendered barriers to forest landscape management ✔️ Inclusive forest governance and women's leadership ✔️ Impact of women's participation on environmental and social outcomes ✔️ Conditions for successful women’s engagement in forest management   🔍 We are looking for a wide range of contributions, including stories from practice, early career researchers or impactful project examples. If you have a case study, research, or story that aligns with these themes, we invite you to contribute! Submission of abstracts may be done in English, French or Spanish.   📅 New submission deadline: 17 November 2024 📝 Submit a half-page abstract (max 400 words) to: Luca Kroese - luca.kroese@tropenbos.org   Let's share and learn from experiences that can inspire gender-responsive approaches to forest landscape #governance!   👉 For full details, see the Call for Contributions: https://lnkd.in/eppz4qBU   #WomenInForestry #ForestGovernance #GenderEquality #SustainableForestry #CallForContributions #TropenbosInternational Tropenbos Vietnam | Tropenbos Indonesia | Tropenbos RD Congo | Tropenbos Ghana Programme | Tropenbos Colombia | Tropenbos Suriname | Ecological Trends Alliance | Forest Foundation Philippines | IBIF Bolivian Institute of Forest Investigation | Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA)

Transforming #agriculture and #ecosystems through low-carbon solutions isn’t just about reducing emissions—it’s about building lasting change. At VNV - Value Network Ventures and Bôndy, we’re showcasing how sustainable livelihood initiatives ensure the longevity of our projects, add to permanence by incentivising farmers on ground and the ecosystems they support. Join us at our second #COP29 event through Bôndy Africa! Discover how Social Forestry, Agroforestry, Regenerative Agriculture, Blue Carbon projects, and #ClimateFinance come together to decarbonize value chains while driving resilience and adaptation at scale. By embedding climate-smart practices and strengthening connections between communities and markets, these initiatives create sustainable pathways for environmental and social impact. If you’re in #Baku, join us at the Madagascar Pavilion to connect and collaborate.

Axum and Bamboo Village Trust are thrilled to announce a new partnership to scale the impact of bamboo in unlocking climate-smart forest economies across East Africa.🌍   This collaboration combines Axum’s deep-rooted connections and expertise in East Africa and DIT (Design, Incubation, and Transfer) expertise with the valuable insights gained from the Bamboo Village Initiative (BVI)—a pioneering program promoting bamboo-based social forestry across 11 countries in its first round of implementation, with plans to expand to more countries in future rounds. Together, we aim to adapt and scale the bamboo village model to meet the unique needs of communities across East Africa.   This partnership marks a significant step towards building resilient, sustainable landscapes that foster ecological balance and economic transformation. Follow our journey as we empower communities and landscapes through this transformative partnership!🌳   #sustainability #bioeconomy #bambooimpact #climatesmartsolutions #eastafrica #bamboovillages #climateaction #SDGs #bambooarchitecture #climateresilience #greenpartnerships #foresteconomies #bambooinnovation #regenerativeeconomy #circulareconomy #communitydevelopment #naturebasedsolutions #carbonsequestration #landscaperestoration #biodiversityconservation

🌱 Unlocking the Power of Community for Soil Regeneration: Case Studies in Post-Conflict Settings 🌍 In the aftermath of conflict, communities worldwide face the daunting task of restoring soils degraded by violence and neglect. Today, I shine a light on successful initiatives that harness collective action for soil rejuvenation, fostering resilience and sustainability in post-conflict regions. Case Study Insights: Rwanda's Agroforestry Resurgence: Following the Rwandan genocide, agroforestry initiatives engaged local farmers in tree planting and soil conservation, yielding improved soil health, increased crop yields, and empowered livelihoods. #Rwanda #AgroforestrySuccess Colombian Biodiversity Revival: In war-torn Colombia, reforestation projects and organic farming practices united communities for land restoration, resulting in vibrant ecosystems, increased biodiversity, and enhanced agricultural productivity. #Colombia #LandRejuvenation Afghanistan's Water Management Triumph: Ravaged by conflict, Afghanistan's watershed management projects empowered farmers to protect soil, water, and crops through sustainable practices, rejuvenating lands, and revitalizing communities. #Afghanistan #WatershedSuccess Liberia's Farming Cooperatives Evolution: In post-war Liberia, sustainable agriculture cooperatives fostered regenerative farming techniques, nurturing healthy soils, diverse crops, and resilient communities for a sustainable future. #Liberia #AgriculturalCoops As we witness the transformative impact of community collaboration in restoring soil health post-conflict, let's champion sustainable practices, empower local stakeholders, and drive positive change in our shared environmental journey. How can we apply these insights to cultivate sustainable landscapes in today's challenging environments? I invite you to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityEngagement #SoilRegeneration #PostConflictRecovery #LinkedInForGood

🌿 Axum and Bamboo Village Trust are thrilled to announce a new partnership to scale the impact of bamboo in unlocking climate-smart forest economies across East Africa.   This collaboration combines Axum’s deep-rooted connections and expertise in East Africa and DIT (Design, Incubation, and Transfer) expertise with the valuable insights gained from the Bamboo Village Initiative (BVI)—a pioneering program promoting bamboo-based social forestry across 11 countries in its first round of implementation, with plans to expand to more countries in future rounds. Together, we aim to adapt and scale the bamboo village model to meet the unique needs of communities across East Africa.   🌍 This partnership marks a significant step towards building resilient, sustainable landscapes that foster ecological balance and economic transformation. Follow our journey as we empower communities and landscapes through this transformative partnership!   #sustainability #bioeconomy #bambooimpact #climatesmartsolutions #eastafrica #bamboovillages #climateaction #SDGs #bambooarchitecture #climateresilience #greenpartnerships #foresteconomies #bambooinnovation #regenerativeeconomy #circulareconomy #communitydevelopment #naturebasedsolutions #carbonsequestration #landscaperestoration #biodiversityconservation

🌳🌍 Let's take a look at a recent addition the More Trees platform projects: Tanzania's Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions! 🌳 Forest Type: Mangrove and Agroforestry 🌲 Tree Species: Mango, East African Tulip, Fig, Lemon, Avocado, Natal Mahogany, East African Mahogany, Lauvolfia caffra, Axfelia Africana 💰 Price: £1/tree Situated in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, this initiative is dedicated to reversing tree and biodiversity loss caused by traditional farming methods, offering locals alternative sources of income, resources and food. 🌳💚 🏞️ Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions, known for their diverse ecosystems, face challenges from traditional ginger farming, extreme poverty, and climate change. This project, in collaboration with Forest Focus, aims to plant 4.5 million native and agroforestry trees, restoring lost biodiversity and providing sustainable solutions for local communities. 🌱🌏 Join us and learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ea4YedFq #MoreTrees #Agroforestry #MangroveRestoration #Tanzania 🌿

Decarbonizing Value Chains! All about livelihoods, socioeconomic impact, sustainable businesses and value chains and how carbon markets can transition mitigation funding to adaptation efforts! At the Madagascar Pavilion | 15:00 See you then!

As the 🌎 grapples with #ClimateChange, embracing #SustainableLandscape practices has become a crucial step towards a #GreenerFuture. Sustainable landscapes not only enhance the beauty of our surroundings but also offer multiple benefits that extend far beyond aesthetic appeal. Check out to see GGGI Rwanda work and achievements in this regard. #Staytuned #ClimateResilience #SustainableCities #UrbanHeatIsland #AirQuality #CarbonFootprint #WaterConservation