Forest Restoration within a Landscape/Ecoregion Context Jeffrey Sayer and Mark Aldrich WWF Forests for Life Programme Hämeenlinna, Finland 6 th October 2004 Forest Landscape Restoration in Central and Northern Europe

Introduction: Where are we with FLR? For WWF, forest landscape restoration means implementing forest restoration within a landscape context - i.e. to complement our core targets for protected areas and improved forest management… …versus restoring forest cover across a whole landscape...versus large scale reforestation projects

Progress to date Restoration Initiatives underway in: Annamite Range Moist Forests – Vietnam Borneo Forests – Kinabatangan, Malaysia Forests of the Upper Yangtze – China New Caledonia Dry Forests Nusa Tenggara Dry Forest – Rinjani, Indonesia Eastern Africa Coastal Forest – Kenya and Tanzania Madagascar Forests and Shrublands Mediterranean Forests/Woodlands - Portugal and Morocco Danube River delta - Bulgaria(/Romania) Plus those in LAC….

What entry points or initial interventions are we using ? Policy changes that can promote natural regeneration or near-natural forest management Stakeholder negotiations at a landscape scale to guide restoration Development and dissemination of technical expertise to facilitate restoration Small scale strategic tree-planting or agroforestry to restore tree cover – e.g. to improve connectivity between patches of intact forest and/or protected areas

WWF's Forest Restoration target (May 2004) is: By 2020, restore forest goods, services and processes in 20 landscapes of outstanding importance within priority ecoregions to regain ecological integrity and enhance human wellbeing.

Forest Restoration Milestones (2005 – 2007) 1.By 2007, 20 detailed landscape restoration programs with clear biodiversity and socio-economic goals are integrated within ecoregion action plans. 2.By 2005, develop and pilot a tracking tool that measures improvements in landscape values through protection, management and restoration. 3.Multi-year funding secured and demonstrable progress achieved on Forest Landscape Restoration in at least 5 landscapes by 2007

Tracking Tool: Landscape Values You cannot manage what you cannot measure Forcing clearer thinking on "landscapes" Most M&E systems emphasise project inputs and outputs or process - not "state or condition of the resource Simplicity seems to be essential for adoption

Tracking Tool: Landscape Values For Rinjani in Indonesia we propose annual measures of: Total forest extent Areas of community forests Change in Village Development Index Water discharge from catchment Amount of environmental service payments

Some issues for Northern and central Europe CAP Reform = Payment for Environmental Services Multi-functional landscapes

Restoring landscapes that are resilient to fire

For European Biodiversity too much forest is more often a problem than too little Lynx in Iberia – Orchids in Mediterranean grasslands Water birds on Scottish moorlands

How can we help? Providing technical advice and support on restoration techniques, ongoing preparation of a manual on Forest Restoration – working draft on WWF Connect at: D=52081 Targeted advocacy/research activities aimed at influencing changes in reforestation/restoration policies; Developing a monitoring and learning platform, and support to regular exchange of experiences between restoration initiatives

WWF Forests for Life Programme: Some lessons learned Clear objectives – realistic attainable goals Field interventions focussed but within landscape vision If you cant measure it you cannot manage it – tracking tool Understand the system be part of policy narrative Realism about participatory processes – tyranny of special interest groups Strategic partnerships needed – we do not have all the skills You cannot plan FLR – its a constant process of learning and adaptation – you need short feedback loops External drivers important – climate change and WTO

WWF Forests for Life Programme: Pre-conditions Better institutional arrangements at the scale of the problem or the opportunity New roles for private and public sectors Decentralisation and subsidiarity Clarity about property rights Mechanisms for environmental payments

WWF Forests for Life Programme: Thank you