Supporting African Landscape Objectives Through Local Landscape Governance

Overview

Key to Effective Integration

As landscape approaches to pursuing multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits in the same place gain favor, challenges in governing these complex systems arise (Brondizio et al., 2009).

A Range of Concerns

Landscape governance is concerned with the institutional arrangements, decision-making processes, policy instruments, and underlying values by which multiple actors pursue their interests in sustainable food production, biodiversity, ecosystem service conservation, cultural and heritage preservation, and livelihood security, resulting in multifunctional landscapes (Kozar et al., 2014).

Determining What’s Needed

Just as landscape governance is concerned with identifying the needs and the responsibilities of all the stakeholders in a landscape, this brief identifies key areas for action to improve landscape governance across Africa. The “Springboards for Action” provided the basis for discussion during the governance session at the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature in Africa Conference, and the foundation for the eventual consensus critical governance actions expressed in the African Landscapes Action Plan.