19 March 2021, Rome – To achieve ambitious international targets related to forest and landscape restoration (FLR), significant investment is required. Annually, more than USD 36 billion is needed to meet the Bonn Challenge and USD 318 billion to reach land degradation neutrality. While investment mechanisms for forest conservation are well established, mechanisms that specifically target restoration objectives are still being explored and developed.

The role that financing mechanisms play in supporting FLR activities in the ground is underlined in a new FAO publication launched today during the virtual celebration of the International Day of Forests.

Entitled Local financing mechanisms for forest and landscape restoration: A review of local-level investment mechanisms, this publication examines the pathways available to financing restoration for a positive local-level impact.

This guide provides an in-depth study of how financial mechanisms can be coordinated to maximise the leverage of finance and the adoption of practices at scale across the landscape.

Specifically, this paper addresses the following topics:

• an overview of mechanisms for financing FLR;

• a review of local financing mechanisms and sources for FLR;

• examples of the use of local financing mechanisms and the incentives they provide to local stakeholders;

• the coordination of financing mechanisms for FLR and the enabling environment required.

By examining some of the accessible investment mechanisms and planning strategies, the publication aims to support discussions, thinking and decision-making on how to effectively find, select and use investments to provide appropriate incentives and maximize forest and landscape restoration actions.

Finally, it also underlines how facilitators can bridge the gap between smallholders and investors, boosting investments, while promoting local ownership.

Click here to download the publication.

For more information:

• Read the leaflet: FAO support to finance forest and landscape restoration.

• Access the e-learning course through the FAO e-learning Academy at: https://elearning.fao.org/course/view.php?id=675.