Heinz Vögeli – EPI
When green areas are seen as a added value: the perspective from a real estate manager on the integration of green areas with a long-term horizon in a large property in a prime location in Zurich.
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WeForest
Large-scale reforestation and sustainable land use initiative, dedicated to climate change mitigation. The organisation is focused on multiple lands, combining reforestation with land use, economic empowerment, education and capacity-building.
Reforestation and sustainable land use projects are developed for degraded tropical areas around the world. Increasing the amount of vegetation that can absorb and keep (capture) CO2 is seen as a cost-effective way to combat climate change. Restoring the integrity of ecosystems in conjunction with stakeholders is seen as a way to regain and preserve their function, value and usefulness.
Besides aiming for greater tree coverage, the focus is on working with communities to ensure that the development of the new forests is cared for locally and that their use brings concrete short- and long-term benefits both for the environment and the livelihoods of people.
Vivamos Mejor
Vivamos Mejor works with local farmer communities and authorities in Guatemala, to improve how they manage water, forests and soil – the basis of their livelihoods. They take an integrated approach based on the implementation of watershed management plans, education and capacity building, recovery of deforested areas to reduce erosion, use of efficient stoves to reduce firewood consumption, and adoption of organic farming for better yields and income.
Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRCC)
Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRCC) is a Nigerian NGO active in the southeastern rainforest region of the country and in the Niger delta. It works closely with the local communities, building capacity and implementing pilot projects focused on sustainable resource use and habitat restoration. Besides developing alternative livelihood options compatible with conservation efforts, it also conducts tree planting work with multipurpose native species, and develops educational activities with the communities and schools.
SEEDS Trust
The SEEDS Trust has been working with communities in the Tamil Nadu region of India for over 20 years. They combine practical measures for the regeneration and conservation of endangered habitats and species with concrete improvements to the livelihoods of surrounding communities. Their approach includes reforestation work in and around conservation areas, developing sustainable usage of forest products, better agricultural practices and a strong involvement of different stakeholders.
Taking Root / Enracine
By combining reforestation in Nicaragua with carbon-compensation programs, Taking Root creates long-term income opportunities for farmers while restoring the local ecosystems.
By planting local tree species, which are more resistant to increased drought and extreme weather conditions, the local ecosystems can be restored. By managing these new plantations in a sustainable way, the small landowners and farmers can have an extra income from the forest products to complements the one from agriculture, thus improving their livelihoods.
Sankandi Youth Development Association
Following the destruction of the mangrove forests around their village, the people of Sankandi felt the direct consequences of their loss: less fish to catch and farmland lost due to salt accumulated in the soil. Under this grassroots project in rural Gambia, the community organised itself to revert their fate. They started a large scale mangrove replanting effort, with 200’000 plants so far, and additional activities to empower the rural communities and improve their socio-economic situation while advancing several sustainable development goals.
Plan Vivo
Project Teaser
Plan Vivo provides an accessible certification scheme for smallholder- and community-based projects focused on sustainable land use, allowing them to be financed via payments for ecosystem services (PES) programmes.
The Plan Vivo Standard is a tried and tested certification framework for projects supporting the rural poor with natural resource management, using payments for ecosystem services. It includes requirements and processes to ensure Plan Vivo projects benefit livelihoods, ecosystems and provide ethical and fairly traded climate services.
The Plan Vivo Standard certifies the implementation of project activities that enhance ecosystem services and allow communities to formally recognise and quantify carbon sequestration, biodiversity or watershed protection.
Grupo Ambiental Natureza Bela
Working to restore the world-important Atlantic Forest (“Mata Atlântica”) of Brazil, through forest restoration, creation of ecological corridors, and the improvement of the livelihoods for the local traditional and indigenous communities.
International Association for Mediterranean Forests
Creating a collaboration platform between practitioners and decision-makers focused on the protection, management and restoration of forest sites of high ecological value in the Mediterranean Basin.
The network (currently) includes nearly 20 sites in 12 different countries of the Mediterranean basin, covering different ecosystems, land uses and environmental conditions and seeks to facilitate the exchange of know-how and the development of projects and actions in this region.
