The African Landscapes Action Plan

Overview

Turn Promises into Action

In July 2014, nearly 200 highly regarded experts, practitioners and policy makers from across Africa and around the world came together over three days to synthesize lessons learned from research and experience in integrated landscape management to jointly achieve food security, biodiversity and climate objectives. The gathering was called the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature in Africa Conference.

We generated a powerful set of policy and programmatic recommendations for national, regional and international action. And we committed to moving these plans forward.

Now we need your help.

Direct Responses to Climate Change and Population Pressures

The African Landscapes Action Plan is a blueprint for sustainable rural development in direct response to the challenges of climate change and rapid population growth on the continent.

Broad coalitions, active partnerships and dedicated investments are needed to ensure that this agenda is achieved. Conference organizers and participants have begun to build all three.

Join us.

What You Can Do – The Menu of Actions

These action titles belie the detail in each action plan. For details, download the plan.

Policy

• Present the evidence to policy makers
• Synthesize lessons learned for policy implementation
• Develop impact indicators
• Involve grassroots communities

Governance

• Develop a landscape learning and action platform
• Expand landscape action from rural to urban areas

Business

• Introduce landscape labeling
• Support landscape action by large companies
• Build business awareness and capacity
• Develop landscape tools for business

Research

• Translate landscape research into action
• Set priorities for appropriate landscape research

Finance

• Coordinate finance across sectors and initiatives
• Mainstream landscape investment into financial institutions
• Mobilize microfinance and local finance
• Bring an investment mindset into landscape initiatives

Capacity Development

• Establish and promote an online marketplace of tools and courses
• Build a globally accessible curriculum
• Develop a policy and implementation framework

Actions support existing efforts

The African Landscape Action Plan was devised with the best current work and ongoing efforts across the continent in mind. To that end, the Action Plan is designed to support NEPAD’s Sustainable Land Management, Desertification, Biodiversity and Ecosystems-based Adaptation to Climate Change (LDBE) flagship program and other key initiatives.