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Saving Lake Sofia: From Rescue to Restoration in Madagascar

Published 27 Aug 2025

GCBC

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Wednesday 27 August 2025 marks the UN’s first-ever World Lake Day, celebrating the vital importance of the conservation and sustainable development of lakes, as well as the many benefits lakes provide, from recreation and livelihoods to climate regulation.

For this first World Lake Day, Mark Grindley of the Wildfowl and Wetland’s Trust (WWT), a GCBC delivery partner on the Following the Water project, shares the remarkable story of Lake Sofia.

Lake Sofia is one of a handful of relatively isolated freshwater lakes in the remote uplands of north-west Madagascar and is home to a wealth of endangered and endemic species. During their research, the team faced an unexpected challenge – one that led to the lake’s extraordinary rescue and the restoration of a thriving ecosystem for both people and wildlife.

A series of images of Lake Sofia, captured before the dam’s collapse and during its reconstruction. Photos courtesy of WWT and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (2025) © Durrell Wildlife Trust are the official site management authority for Lake Sofia as recognised by the government.

 

What a Difference a Year Makes!

This time last year, Lake Sofia – a Ramsar site in north-west Madagascar and a key research site for WWT’s current GCBC project, Following the Water – stood at the brink of disaster.

In January 2024, torrential rains had caused the near collapse of the lake. A narrow drainage channel became a breach 120 metres wide, and the water began gushing away. By June, the lake had shrunk by a staggering 90% of its 300-hectare surface area.

The stakes couldn’t have been higher. Recognised as a wetland of international importance and a biodiversity hotspot, Lake Sofia is home to countless species, including the critically endangered Madagascar pochard, reintroduced to the lake in 2020 by WWT, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT), the Peregrine Fund, and the Madagascar government.

Listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, the Madagascar pochard is one of the rarest ducks in the world. Although the total number remaining in the wild is unknown, the Sofia population is almost certainly the largest single community of its kind.

Over time, unsustainable farming and water management practices had put pressure on the lake, leading to poor water quality, rising temperatures, and heavy sedimentation, all of which reduced the Pochard’s ability to feed. WWT and our partners had been working together with local communities to improve the wetland for both people and wildlife.

Image 1: A group of Madagascar pochard swim into view (WWT).  Image 2: The Madagascar pond heron – a timid species at home on Lake Sofia but is still classed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN global Red List. Image by Agami Photo Agency Image 3: Madagascar harriers are impressive but in decline due to loss of habitat – currently classed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN. Image by R E Lewis (WWT) Image 4: Madagascar grebes, like many grebe species, are also in decline. Image by Debbie Pain (WWT).

 

For local communities, too, the loss of the lake would have had dire consequences. Around 10,000 people depend on Lake Sofia for their livelihoods. The lake provides food and income for local fishers and is a vital source of water for growing food, irrigating rice fields and for the farms downstream. As water levels dropped, wells began running dry. Community members were forced to walk four kilometres just to fetch drinking water.

We had to act fast, before the lake was lost forever.

In collaboration with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, local and national government and community groups, we worked with local and international engineers to design a new dam, and launched an emergency appeal to fund it. Our brilliant supporters stepped up, and with a considerable contribution from a new emergency grant from the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) we were able to raise more than £110,000.

Construction started in December 2024, and in just 100 days the 140-metre barrier was complete. The solution was simple but effective: a low-tech earth embankment reinforced with riprarp (rocks) and concrete overflow channel to prevent future erosion. Two channels at either end will enable irrigation downstream. Designed and built by local construction company CEDRE, the dam will be owned and operated by the local community.

Now, at the end of the rainy season, Lake Sofia is fully replenished and the Madagascar pochards have returned.

The ecological collapse of Lake Sofia would have had catastrophic consequences for people and wildlife. We’re grateful to everyone who made this swift intervention possible – including the community resource management groups, the local government authorities and our generous donors. Thanks to their support, we can look forward to a thriving future for Lake Sofia and the people and wildlife who depend upon it.

Harison Andriambelo, WWT’s Country Manager in Madagascar

For WWT and our partners, the loss of Lake Sofia also meant delays to our Nature-based Solutions (NbS) research. Communities, understandably, were focused on the immediate crisis: the loss of livelihoods and, in the worst case, their only reliable freshwater supply. While the emergency dam has restored the lake and safeguarded these needs, it’s important to stress that the problem isn’t entirely solved. Built under immense time pressure, the dam still requires further work, and Lake Sofia remains a powerful case study of the impacts of climate change.

Next Steps

For the project, Lake Sofia now offers a unique opportunity to learn about lake restoration. Working closely with local communities, the aim is to re-establish papyrus, lilies, and other macrophytes – the foundation of the food chain that supports fish, waterbirds, and especially the pochards. Almost all of this vegetation was lost when the lake drained, and restoring it will be key to building a resilient future for both people and wildlife.

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Report by Mark Grindley, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

Following the Water is a Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) led GCBC research project, which uses interdisciplinary and participatory research to uncover the causes of wetland degradation in Madagascar. The project develops practical interventions to tackle the main drivers of wetland loss and poverty, while also exploring transformative strategies to help communities adapt to climate change.

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Weaving Transformative Resilience and Active Hope: An Alliance in the Face of Climate Change in the Gran Tescual Indigenous Reservation

Published 29 Jul 2025

GCBC

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The inclusion of Indigenous Peoples is essential to protecting global biodiversity and is central to GCBC’s mission of advancing climate resilience through nature.

Colombia, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, harbors around 10% of global biodiversity within just 0.7% of Earth’s surface. With ecosystems under growing threat, the sustainable stewardship of Indigenous territories, rooted in Indigenous knowledge, leadership, and rights, is crucial to safeguarding both ecological and cultural heritage

Corporación CIASE, in partnership with the Gran Tescual Indigenous Reservation of the Pasto People, is leading a research initiative to protect local ecosystems, enhance community well-being, and support biodiversity conservation. A recent key output of the project, the Illustrated Botanical Guide to the Gran Tescual Reservation, documents the region’s rich plant diversity and presents ancestral knowledge as a valuable resource for education and conservation.

To mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and to celebrate the guide’s release, CIASE members have contributed a special article, reflecting on their collaboration with the Pasto community and the role of ancestral knowledge in shaping inclusive, sustainable climate action.

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The following article was written for GCBC by Corporación CIASE. 

In today’s world, increasingly affected by the accelerating climate crisis, there is an urgent need to seek collective paths that challenge excessive consumerism, while teaching us about care and empathy for the world’s finite natural resources.

The alliance in Colombia between Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE)—a feminist and mixed-gender organisation—and the Pan-Amazonian Indigenous Reservation of Gran Tescual, inhabited by the Pasto people, forms part of this collective search. This alliance has been consolidated through years of equitable collaboration and the implementation of various initiatives, the most recent being the development of the Climate Plan for the Reservation.

In this process, research oriented towards biodiversity protection and the integration of Indigenous knowledge to preserve biocultural heritage (see The Botanical Guide of the Gran Tescual Resguardo) has opened space for reflections on the safeguarding of strategic ecosystems such as the páramo (high treeless plateaus), food sovereignty, and gender dynamics.

Image 1 shows women from the Pasto community outside their restaurant initiative in the resguardo, with Daniela Torres,  Mama Genith Quitiaquez,  Taita Vicente Obando, Ricardo Ibarguen, Wendy Toro and Rosa Emilia Salamanca from Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE). Image 2 shows the full CIASE team: Mama Genith Quitiaquez, Rosa Emilia Salamanca, Wendy Toro, Germán Niño (behind) Fredy O Chávez, Taita Vicente Obando, Angel E Gamboa, Patricia Luli, Ricardo Ibarguen, Maria Cristina Umbarila and Felipe Imbacuan.

 

Indigenous knowledge and feminist perspectives can walk together and contribute to building futures that are more just, more inclusive, and, above all, allow such transformations to become more embedded in the daily lives of communities.

— Wendy Toro, CIASE Researcher

Extractive industries, agricultural expansion, megaprojects and internal armed conflicts in our country have been historical obstacles to ensuring the quality of life for communities facing multiple forms of exclusion—such as Indigenous peoples, women, and others whose identities have been placed in positions of denial and oppression.

This unfolds within a broader context shaped by Western modernity, which has influenced how we relate to and make sense of the world. These ways of thinking have also informed scientific approaches, which, have at times led to an instrumental perspective on the environment, where everything is seen as a resource.

It is at this juncture that CIASE’s approach centered on gender justice and the Indigenous knowledge of the Pasto People interweave to form an inspiring proposal. In order to understand the roots of today’s climate crisis, this alliance brings the gender–environment intersection to the forefront.

It raises fundamental questions: To what extent does the association of weakness with the feminine—viewed as something to be possessed—sustain and justify violence against women and, to a large extent, against nature? And how does the notion of masculinity as a dominant and possessive force reflect itself in the extractive practices that destroy and exploit vital ecosystems? [1]

Feminism still feels like a somewhat foreign approach. In the Pasto community, it’s often mocked or seen as a loss of manhood—as if men are being feminised. [However], through the feminist lens, we’ve begun to raise awareness about economic mistreatment, and I find it quite striking how an approach like this can bring about transformation and change.

— Taita Vicente Obando, Indigenous Governor of Gran Tescual

Promoting women's participation isn’t just about creating a space for women—it’s about creating a better environment for the entire community. And in that sense, feminism can say: this is not only a struggle for women, it is a struggle for society as a whole.

— Mama Genith Quitiaquez, Authority of Gran Tescual

This experience has also been a space where everyday encounters and practice challenge the illusion of objectivity and the idea of a single truth. It demands situating knowledge, decolonising research processes, and recognising the legitimacy of Indigenous self-governance. This has allowed for mutual curiosity and learning, enabling the weaving of life experiences and knowledge towards a heartfelt construction of peace within the Colombian context—through active listening.

The synergy of knowledge systems, perspectives, and identities—even those within a single person—resonates with the relationship between the Andean and Amazonian ecosystems that converge in the Gran Tescual Reservation. From this interaction emerges abundant biodiversity and essential ecological processes that maintain the balance and vitality of both regions.

The Indigenous knowledge of the Gran Tescual Reservation offers a deeply relational vision, where spirituality, community and territory are inseparable.

— Daniela Torres, Climate Advocacy Specialist at CIASE

The relationship between CIASE and the Gran Tescual Reservation is not a mere coming together of good intentions – it is a novel construction between differences. Here, the “quality of the relationship” becomes the foundation for facing complex challenges of cultural transformation. This collaboration goes beyond technical support; it is based on building mutual trust through dialogue, and for that to happen, both parties have shown a necessary openness.

“Transformation also entails a reworking of everyday and family realities, and that, in turn, shapes how we relate to the territory.”
— Felipe Imbacuan, Researcher from the Pasto People and Municipal Councillor of Puerres

This alliance offers a viable and proactive proposal for addressing the changes brought by the climate crisis from a deeply rooted ethnic and gender analysis—perspectives that challenge historical logics and cultures of discrimination, while calling for the recovery of ancestral thought as a path to restoring the territory.

“This initiative is a powerful and promising pathway to transform power relations in an integral way. It helps build shared visions of peace and drive a deep cultural shift. It is an undeniable intercultural dialogue that weaves together the heart of feminism—one that rejects all forms of discrimination and oppression—with the Indigenous vision of harmony and care for nature and the people who inhabit it, so central to the spirit of Colombia’s Indigenous peoples.”

— CIASE’s Centre for Thought (Patricia Luli and Rosa Emilia Salamanca G.)

Endnote

[1] Questions we have taken from classical ecofeminism.

 

References

CIASE (2025). Recuperar el pensamiento, restaurar el territorio: Diagnóstico participativo de biodiversidad y medios de vida del resguardo El Gran Tescual. CIASE

Brigitte Baptiste-Ballera (2025). TransEcología: Una guía patafísica para habitar las transformaciones del mundo. Ariel.

Maristela Svampa (2015). Feminismos del Sur y ecofeminismos. Recovered from: https://nuso.org/articulo/feminismos-del-sur-y-ecofeminismo

 

Discover More: Gran Tescual Indigenous Reservation Climate Plan

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When Youth Draw What Matters: Native Crops, Climate Change, and Connection

Published 24 Jul 2025

GCBC

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You can feel the shift.

The rains do not come when they used to.
Crops wither.
Pests like the Andean weevil thrive.

In the highlands of Cotopaxi, climate change is not a theory, it is a lived reality. Families rely on farming, and when the land suffers, so do livelihoods, traditions, and entire ways of life.

Ask the youth what they know about potato agrobiodiversity, and most will mention “Super Chola”, a common variety grown for market. But varieties like Coneja Negra or Leona Negra, both known for surviving droughts, often draw blank stares. Mashua, another native Andean tuber with pest-repelling properties, is rarely seen as food anymore. It is remembered mostly for its medicinal use, if at all.

That is the gap this capacity-strengthening event set out to bridge.

In collaboration with the University San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), the Technical University of Cotopaxi, EkoRural Foundation, the INIAP (the National Agriculture Research Center), and the International Potato Center (CIP), a scientific illustration course was launched, not just to teach drawing, but to reconnect youth with their agrobiodiversity heritage and raise awareness of climate resilience. This was done under the project “Andean Crop Diversity for Climate Change” supported by Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC), and the University San Francisco de Quito.

Eleven youth from rural communities and nearby universities joined the five-session course. Three sessions were held in person and the rest were online. Participants visited University San Francisco to learn the principle of botanical illustration: detailed observation and drawing. Drawing nature requires a deep observation of different subjects and breaking paradigms to “draw what we actually see” in place draw what “we have been thought to see”. This is a deep reflection process that makes us appreciate the rich details of nature.

Students also visited the USFQ Herbarium where they learned how plants are documented and preserved and saw firsthand that some native crops are barely represented – even in scientific records. Later, the Technical University of Cotopaxi hosted sessions where participants worked mainly on how to mix colour to capture the details of samples of native potatoes and mashua provided by the International Potato Center.

Some participants chose to illustrate Chaucha Roja, a native potato variety known for surviving even in difficult seasons. One participant shared:

“Chaucha Roja faces many challenges like drought, but it stays resilient to climate change and continues to produce.”

Others focused on other native potatoes after speaking with grandparents who remembered planting them but had stopped due to the labour and pest issues:

“What my grandmother told me is that they used to plant it, but not anymore, because it requires more care and there are more pests. Still, it is a crop that is more resistant to drought… so it could really help with climate change.”

Some insights were straightforward but powerful:

“Yes, it helped us. During the drought season, it held up well with compost. So yes, it helped me for food.” (Referring to the potato)

The resulting illustrations were not just botanical, they were cultural and ecological. Each one carried a story, a memory, and a perspective on how these native crops can support adaptation in a changing climate.

To celebrate these efforts, the youth’s work was exhibited along the work of 19 artists, from 18th to 25th May at QGalery from the San Francisco de Quito University and the Botanical Garden in Quito. This exhibition was part of a global event: Wordwide Bontanical Art 2025, to showcase this discipline across the world. The exhibition placed local crop diversity at the centre, through the eyes and hands of the youth who are reclaiming it.

 

Reflections from the Process

This experience left us with several powerful takeaways:

  • Youth need space to explore. When given the time and tools to connect with their own cultural and ecological heritage, they do not just participate, they take ownership.
  • Dialogue creates change. Conversations with parents and grandparents sparked not just knowledge sharing, but pride in crops and practices that had been overlooked or forgotten.
  • Context matters. Young people do not talk about climate change the same way scientists do, but they understand it deeply through their lived experience. Letting them express that through art made it real, personal, and lasting.
  • Art renews connection with nature: The simple process of observation and drawing creates a powerful link between the artist, the observer and the subject. It helps us to question us about the nature that surrounds us and makes us remember how our lives are linked to nature.

 

This capacity-strengthening event reminded us that young people are not just future leaders. They are current voices. And when they are invited into the conversation with respect and creativity, they draw more than just plants.

They draw connections.
They draw awareness.
They draw change.

 

This blog was written by Israel Navarrete, Associate Scientist, CIP, in collaboration with Bettina Heider (CIP) and Jenny Ordoñez, by San Francisco de Quito University.

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Recognising Indigenous Knowledge in Cambodia’s Biodiversity Management

Published 24 Jul 2025

GCBC

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Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples is essential to safeguarding global biodiversity and is central to GCBC’s mission of leveraging biodiversity for climate resilience.

With a global population of over 476 million, Indigenous Peoples play a vital role in sustainability, managing or holding tenure rights to roughly a quarter of the Earth’s surface – regions that contain a significant share of the planet’s biodiversity. While disproportionately impacted by climate change, Indigenous Communities possess deep, place-based ecological knowledge that complements and enhances scientific research.

Recognising their critical role, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) includes a dedicated Target 22 to ensure the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples. In alignment with this global recognition, GCBC upholds the rights and voices of Indigenous Peoples as a core principle, and as a prerequisite for awarding research grants

The following report has been written by Sam At Rachana, Research Lead, Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization (CIPO)

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During June and July 2025, Cambodia hosted two significant events to launch the GCBC funded project, “Recognizing and Rewarding the Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge for the Sustainable Management of Biodiversity.” These powerful gatherings connected Indigenous communities, researchers, youth, elders, conservationists, and government representatives in collaborative shared spaces.

As a Bunong Indigenous person and lead researcher for this project, I found these events profoundly meaningful. They were not only a celebration of Indigenous knowledge but a practical step toward inclusive, co-designed biodiversity governance in Cambodia.

For context, the Bunong people are one of Cambodia’s largest Indigenous groups. We have a deep connection to the forest, land, and spiritual world, as reflected in our traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices, which center on respect for nature and the spirits of the land.

Images show 1) Rachana Sam At, Lead Researcher, CIPO, at the national project launch in Phnom Penh 2) Rachana Sam At, Lead Researcher, with Indigenous elders and government officials during a panel discussion at the project launch event 3-5) His Excellency Chuop Paris, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment, greets Mrs Yun Mane, CIPO  Executive Director during the traditional opening ritual 6) Project researchers from CIPO, WCS, and the Royal University of Agriculture, with the Chief of the Indigenous community committee of Andong Kraleung village 7) Elders from Andong Kraleung village sharing their perspectives on the value of traditional knowledge.

This project aims to identify innovative approaches to enhance Indigenous stewardship of biodiversity within the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary by exploring the knowledge and sustainable practices of the Bunong people. It is implemented by a consortium which includes the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Organization (CIPO), Monash University, the University of Oxford, the Royal University of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Environment.

 

Shared Beginnings

On June 16, 2025, the project launch took place at Phnom Penh’s Cambodiana Hotel. A traditional Bunong ritual, a symbolic act that grounded the project in Indigenous values and ways of being, showcased to all attendees, including officials and international partners, that Indigenous knowledge systems are living and deeply connected to nature.

A special performance by a young Indigenous man, blended traditional song with modern rap, demonstrating the innovative ways Indigenous youth are keeping their culture alive.

Featuring elders from the three participating communities, the panel discussion which followed marked a positive shift. Their direct address to officials, donors, researchers, and other stakeholders provided a crucial moment to address directly officials, donors, researchers, and other stakeholders. They shared stories, concerns, and ideas rooted in community, lived experiences, and ancestral knowledge, reminding everyone that Indigenous knowledge is a living, evolving spirit, passed down and actively practiced.

The active support of the Ministry of Environment added significant weight to the event. Their representatives not only attended but participated, listened, and expressed strong encouragement. One official even offered a three-day training on Participatory Action Research (PAR), that highlighted the potential for collaboration when understanding and respect are present.

 

Where Knowledge Lives

Following the national launch, a community event took place on July 2nd in Andong Kraleung village. Conducted in the traditional Bunong way, this event was an essential part of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process, ensuring meaningful and culturally appropriate community engagement from the outset.

The Andong Kraleung launch was particularly special as it took place directly in the village, with the community leading. It began with a traditional Bunong dance performed by local students, a powerful display of cultural strength and identity. Mrs. Yun Mane, CIPO Executive Director, spoke about the importance of documenting Indigenous knowledge before it disappears, highlighting that for the Bunong, the forest is not merely a place but their market, bank, school, and sacred ground.

Dr Emiel de Lange, Wildlife Conservation Society, also shared insights, emphazing that Indigenous peoples have cared for the forest for centuries and possess unparalleled knowledge. He presented examples of documented traditional knowledge from Australia, encouraging the community to continue using their own voices to record their wisdom. This event felt like a strong, community-centered start.

 

Next Steps

The project will organize consultation meetings with Indigenous communities to identify research questions, clarify study objectives, and co-develop research questionnaires. These steps are crucial to ensure the research is grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems, supports self-determination, and addresses the communities’ real priorities.

Challenges lie ahead, including ensuring meaningful community participation throughout the research, as well as addressing power imbalances.

These recent events have left me feeling inspired, having witnessed elders, youth, researchers, and government genuinely engaging with one another. It reinforced my belief that efforts to amplify Indigenous voices are gaining traction and reminded me why I do this work: to see our knowledge recognized, respected, and rewarded in meaningful ways.

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Towards COP30: Belém Workshop Explores Forest Restoration in Pará

Published 24 Jul 2025

GCBC

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On 10 June 2025, the city of Belém hosted a key event on the future of forest restoration in the state of Pará. The workshop “Towards COP30 – Integrated and Participatory Planning for Forest Restoration in Response to the Climate Crisis” took place at Embrapa Amazônia Oriental.

Organised by Lancaster University, UK and Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, the workshop was part of the international research project “Enabling Large-scale and Climate-resilient Forest Restoration in the Eastern Amazon,” funded by GCBC and the Centre for Advanced Socioecological Research for Environmental Recovery (CAPOEIRA).

The milestone event brought together scientists, restoration practitioners, policymakers, and civil society organisations to spark dialogue, strengthen collaboration, and help steer forest restoration efforts through the Embrapa–Lancaster University partnership.

Images: 1) From left to right, Jos Barlow (Lancaster University), Leonardo Miranda (Lancaster University), Joice Ferreira (Embrapa Amazônia Oriental), and Erika Berenguer (University of Oxford). 2) Joice Ferreira (Embrapa Amazônia Oriental), with Jos Barlow (Lancaster University) seated beside her. Joice introduced both projects (GCBC and Capoeira) and outlined the day’s agenda. 3) Andrea Coelho (SEMAS-PA) presented perspectives from Pará State’s restoration strategy.

The event was attended by representatives from Pará State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainability (SEMAS), Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Amazon Institute of People and the Environment (Imazon), Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ/USP), International Institute for Sustainability (IIS), WRI Brazil, Socioenvironmental Institute (ISA), and the Amazon Restoration Alliance, among others.

Dr Joice Ferreira, co-founder of the Sustainable Amazon Network, highlighted that the event built on earlier co-construction efforts under the State Plan for Native Vegetation Recovery (PRVN), where Embrapa has played an active role.

“We’re now turning our attention to the spatial planning side of restoration,” she explained. “Our research is focused on identifying where restoration efforts can deliver the greatest impact—boosting climate action, enhancing biodiversity, and addressing critical challenges like water scarcity and food security.”

Professor Jos Barlow, Principle Investigator from the Lancaster Environment Centre, emphasized that the longstanding collaboration with Embrapa, and strong partnerships with Brazilian institutions, has been key to bridging restoration and forest conservation efforts. “Through this workshop,” he noted, “our goal was to sharpen the focus of our research, ensuring it responds directly to local challenges and supports practical, place-based solutions.”

 

Pará Aligns with Global Commitments

Pará currently has around 23.2 million hectares of open areas lacking native vegetation cover, equivalent to 18.6% of its territory. These environmental liabilities are concentrated in private lands (12.8 million ha), rural settlements (5 million ha), Indigenous territories (424,000 ha), quilombola territories (337,000 ha), protected areas (1.6 million ha), and undesignated public forests (2.9 million ha).

Many of these areas are used for low-productivity pasture and agriculture, especially in the eastern and southeastern parts of the state. On private lands alone, 2.88 million hectares are legally required to be restored under the Brazilian Forest Code, including Legal Reserves (RLs) and Permanent Protection Areas (APPs).

As a major South American country facing complex land-use challenges, Brazil has committed to restoring 12 million hectares by 2030, in line with international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, the New York Declaration on Forests, and the Latin American 20×20 Initiative. For Pará, connecting to this global goal and restoring part of its environmental liabilities is both a legal obligation and a strategic move to reduce deforestation, recover ecosystem services, and promote a forest-based economy.

According to Andrea Coelho, Cabinet Advisor at the Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Clima E Sustentabilidade (SEMAS), forest restoration in the Amazon requires a holistic, multi-scalar approach. “This is why coordination among public institutions, the productive sector, local communities, academia and civil society is so critical. Such collaboration allows for harmonisation of data, methodologies and capacities, and alignment of policies, funding programmes and on-the-ground efforts.”

Andrea added that this collaboration also strengthens governance and supports joint restoration efforts aligned with shared goals such as climate neutrality, biodiversity conservation and social inclusion. “It also improves resource allocation efficiency and avoids duplication, ensuring that restoration plans are grounded in technical evidence, social legitimacy, and territorial feasibility.”

Bringing together government, civil society, academia and local organisations is essential to ensuring that restoration strategies are not only scientifically sound but also socially legitimate and practically viable. No single institution has all the answers. Building integrated solutions requires bridges, exactly what this event set out to create.

Dr Leonardo De Sousa Miranda, University of Lancaster

 

COP30: An Opportunity

The workshop offered a vital opportunity to reflect on how Pará’s restoration efforts can align with global climate strategies, especially in the lead-up to COP30, taking place in Belém in November 2025. The event also strengthened the state’s spatial restoration planning and helped identify collaborative actions that could be showcased during the global climate summit.

Dr Leonardo de Sousa Miranda, researcher at Lancaster University and part of the organising committee, said the workshop came at a historic moment for Brazil, and especially for the Amazon, by offering a platform to highlight concrete examples of environmental leadership.

He stressed that large-scale restoration in the Amazon requires coordinated efforts among institutions with different roles and expertise. “Bringing together government, civil society, academia and local organisations is essential to ensuring that restoration strategies are not only scientifically sound but also socially legitimate and practically viable. No single institution has all the answers. Building integrated solutions requires bridges, exactly what this event set out to create.”

According to Leonardo, the approach goes beyond simply sharing data. “It’s about co-creating knowledge. We want to build together; listening to and learning from forest peoples, smallholder farmers, and restoration practitioners,” he added.

 

Programme Highlights

During the event, participants explored key themes such as restoration planning in Pará; key metrics and indicators for a multi-benefit restoration strategy beyond carbon; the incorporation of climate risks, such as drought and fire; and how to ensure genuine participation of producers, communities, technical experts, and public managers.

To foster these discussions, the workshop featured preliminary findings from collaborative projects that are mapping restoration opportunities, challenges, and pathways across Pará.

“This was a crucial step toward strengthening the technical, social, and political foundations for a more resilient Pará—one that is aligned with global climate goals,” concluded Joice Ferreira.

As the region moves toward COP30, the insights and alliances forged here mark an important milestone in the building of a more sustainable and inclusive restoration agenda for the Eastern Amazon.

 

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Pathways to Sustainable Agriculture: Insights from LEAF Indonesia in Gorontalo

Published 20 Jun 2025

GCBC

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One of the things that excites me most about this project is the way it brings together local knowledge, based on lived experience of farming communities with formal scientific data and modelling, all in one innovative platform. It’s a rare opportunity to co-create solutions that are both grounded in community realities and speak the language of planning. The strong early engagement from such a diverse group of stakeholders reflects both the urgency of the challenge and the commitment of our brilliant local research team and partners to accelerate progress toward sustainable land use pathways.

Professor Fiona Marshall, Leaf Indonesia Project Lead, Professor of Environment and Development, University of Sussex

 

On March 13, 2025, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo (UNG) hosted a dynamic workshop as part of the LEAF Indonesia project — Land-Use, Ecosystem, Agriculture, Food Security in Indonesia. This collaborative initiative, involving UNG, Sussex University (UK), and Monash University Indonesia, is dedicated to exploring how land use changes related to Indonesia’s food estate program affect local ecosystems, food security, and rural livelihoods.

The participatory workshop, which brought together 86 participants, 46 in person and 40 online, included researchers, farmers, NGOs, government officials, and students. Together, they examined how Indonesia’s ambitious food estate program intersects with critical issues such as environmental sustainability, spatial planning, biodiversity, and agricultural livelihoods.

Images shows representative corn monoculture landscapes in Gorontalo, Indonesia and rice paddies in Kalimantan, Borneo –  subjects of research into sustainable and diversified agroecological practices by LEAF Indonesia. The other image depicts Professor Fiona Marshall introducing the project to workshop participants.

 

After words of welcome from the project lead, Professor Fiona Marshall from the University of Sussex, and Professor Iswan Dunggio from UNG, the day began with a keynote by Dr. Wahyudin A. Katili, Chief of BAPPEDA Gorontalo, who highlighted the promise of the food estate program to boost national food security and reduce import dependency through modern, mechanized farming. The presentation also acknowledged the challenges such as land conversion, spatial conflicts, and environmental degradation, and emphasized the need for stronger community engagement and sustainable policy frameworks.

Rina Tayeb, from Gorontalo’s Agriculture Agency, emphasized the province’s sustainable food zone approach, focusing on protecting agricultural land and empowering farmers and fishers. Her recommendations underscored the importance of infrastructure, education, and income diversification to ensure long-term agricultural resilience and rural welfare.

Later that day, conservationist Bagus Tri Nugroho of the Ministry of Forestry addressed the delicate balance between food production and biodiversity. Speaking about the potential impacts on Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park, he warned against forest conversion and advocated for eco-tourism and community-based conservation as dual strategies for safeguarding biodiversity and supporting livelihoods.

Finally, Fery Novriyal from the Forest Gazettement Agency explored spatial planning policies under the Food, Water, and Energy Security program, particularly in managing the use of 20 million hectares of forest area. He presented both the risks of deforestation and the opportunities offered by agroforestry and social forestry initiatives that allow for sustainable development without compromising forest integrity.

Key discussion points emphasized that the Food Estate initiative must align with the Spatial Planning Act (Regulation No. 2 of 2024) and prioritize land use based on local wisdom and environmental sustainability. Participants stressed the need for irrigation infrastructure, strategic land identification, and alignment with sustainable agricultural and industrial development goals.

An integrated agricultural market, crop variety management, and the mitigation of critical land degradation were also discussed, alongside the importance of organic farming practices and reduced reliance on chemical inputs.

Next Steps

In summary, the workshop was a crucial step in fostering dialogue among stakeholders and informing more sustainable, inclusive agricultural policy. By engaging local voices and scientific insights, the LEAF project continues to pave the way for pathways that protect both people and the planet, reinforcing that future food security must go hand in hand with environmental stewardship.

Following this workshop, the project has focused on establishing a baseline of what the impact of Indonesia’s food estate programme has been, in Gorontalo and in the projects two other case study sites in West Papua and East Kalimantan.

They are doing this through further stakeholder engagement work, through careful policy analysis and historical research, and through gathering secondary data to feed into their bespoke mapping and modeling platform, LIMMMA. This will allow them to paint a picture of how land use has changed over the last 20 years, and what impact these changes have had on rural livelihoods, local ecosystems, and food security.

Once that baseline is established, the project will work closely with stakeholders to explore alternative land use practices that are realistic options for those communities. It will then investigate whether these alternatives could potentially provide a better path to the Indonesian government’s food security goals, while also alleviating rural poverty and improving climate resilience and biodiversity.

Find out more about this project on their website.

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Rooted Alliances: Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL) Advances Inclusive Access in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Published 20 Jun 2025

GCBC

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By conducting in-depth research, building trust, fostering dialogue, and empowering community leadership, we are advancing a transformation that is deeply rooted in the territory and designed for long-term resilience.

Professor Omar Malagón, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL)

In the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), in collaboration with Terrambiente Consulting and SEDEFA, has reached a major milestone in its efforts to lay a strong ethical, legal, and cultural foundation for sustainable innovation.

Driven by research and the commitment of specialists Ana María Rodríguez and Omar Malagón, the project “Realizing the Potential of Plant Bioresources as New Economic Opportunities for the Ecuadorian Amazon: Developing Climate-Resilient Sustainable Bioindustry” (BIOAMAZ), seeks to establish sustainable bioindustries based on essential oil production. This initiative addresses the interlinked challenges of climate vulnerability, biodiversity loss, and poverty by promoting alternatives to unsustainable economic practices that degrade ecosystems, restrict local development, and deepen poverty in indigenous communities.

Images feature the BIOAMAZ team and stakeholders (image 1), the Terrambiente team during their presentation (image 2), Karla Espinosa outlining the project’s legal scope (image 3), Team Leader Ana María Rodriguez delivering her presentation (image 4), and fieldwork scenes in the Amazon, including a Community Assembly (images 6-8).

 

The project recently reached a pivotal milestone with the signing of a strategic agreement with the Shuar Federation. This marks a key alliance in advancing the project’s goal of an inclusive and participatory approach. The agreement acknowledges the vital leadership of Indigenous peoples in safeguarding and sustainably managing Amazonian biodiversity, setting the stage for ongoing collaboration grounded in mutual respect and equity.

Additionally, the project has secured Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Acts with seven other Indigenous communities: Jatari Ancestral, Kajekai, Cóndor Mirador, Obepare, San Antonio, San Virgilio, and Wita Waya. These agreements ensure respectful, transparent, and community-driven access to biological and genetic resources. The communities represent a rich mosaic of Indigenous nationalities: Obepare is Huaorani; San Antonio and Kajekai are Shuar; and Jatari, Cóndor Mirador, San Virgilio, and Wita Waya are Kichwa.

For these communities, the project represents more than an economic opportunity, it stands for autonomy, resilience, and cultural affirmation. After many years of calling for support, they see this initiative as a way of achieving greater sustainable economic independence, and a viable alternative of generating income for their people. As the project moves forward, they now look ahead to the next phase and the collaborative selection of plant species.

For the researchers, these agreements reflect a core value proposition: building a bioindustry that is equitable, grounded in dialogue, and shaped by the voices of Amazonian communities.

Next Steps

On 12 June, the teams from UTPL, Terrambiente, and SEDEFA delivered a dynamic presentation of their project to a diverse group of stakeholders, including high-level authorities from the Ministry of Environment, the National Congress, the United Kingdom Embassy, as well as members of local and international NGOs and the Ecuadorian pharmaceutical industry.

The next phase of the project will focus on establishing clear criteria for selecting potential plant species, conducting field visits to identify and evaluate promising candidates, conducting detailed studies of their growth cycles, collecting biological samples, and assessing natural populations.

These efforts will support the development of agroforestry systems, build local capacities, and strengthen strategic market connections for the resulting products. Insights from this phase will also inform regulatory recommendations aimed at ensuring the project’s sustainability and enabling its replication in other regions.

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People, Nature, and Resilience: Launching ILWGAWS in Ghana’s Coastal Wetlands

Published 17 Jun 2025

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The Integrated Land and Water Management of the Greater Amanzule Wetland System (ILWGAWS) is an environmental conservation initiative focused on conserving and restoring biodiversity within the Greater Amanzule Wetland, located in Ghana’s Western Region. This critical ecological zone spans over 50,000 hectares and plays a vital role in supporting biodiversity, enhancing coastal resilience, and sustaining local livelihoods.

However, the region faces significant challenges due to increasing pressures such as climate change, changes in land use and land cover, and hydrological and socio-economic dynamics. Funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) through the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC), the project is being implemented by the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), in partnership with Hen Mpoano and the CSIR-Water Research Institute.

Images depict deforestation, polluted rivers, and degraded mangroves in Ghana’s Amanzule Wetland System, captured during a reconnaissance visit by participants of the inaugural ILWGAWS workshop. Images courtesy of the ILWGAWS media team.

 

Project Launch: A Vision for People and Nature

The ILWGAWS project launched in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region of Ghana, marking a critical step in the project’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Led by Dr. Adams Osman, the ILWGAWS project adopts a multidisciplinary, community-led approach that integrates scientific research with local knowledge systems to promote long-term environmental health and economic well-being for communities living within the wetland landscape.

The launch brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, traditional leaders, community members, development partners, researchers, and civil society organisations. Professor Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor of UEW,  delivered a compelling keynote address, emphasising the urgent need for sustainable development that enhances both the environment and human livelihoods.

Professor Mitchual stated, “Our innovations must be directed toward improving human life without compromising nature. As we build faster systems of communication and transport, we must also ensure we protect the very ecosystems that sustain us.”

Dr. Adams Osman provided an overview of the project’s core objectives: to assess the changes in the hydrological systems of the Greater Amanzule Wetlands, evaluate their impacts on ecosystem services and local livelihoods, and co-develop community-based solutions that support both biodiversity and socio-economic resilience.

Mr. Samuel Obosu, the Planning Officer of the Jomoro Municipal Assembly, emphasised the significance of the project to the district’s future, highlighting the value of the multidisciplinary nature of the project and the stakeholders involved in informing comprehensive policy decisions and community-driven restoration efforts.

 

Images show participants at the ILWGAWS launch workshop in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region of Ghana. Images courtesy of the ILWGAWS media team.

 

Reconnaissance Survey: Mapping the Landscape, Understanding the Issues

As part of the initial field activities, the ILWGAWS team embarked on a reconnaissance survey across several wetland communities, to assess baseline ecological and socio-economic conditions and identify hotspots for intervention. The survey began with a visit to the Ankobra River estuary, where pollution from illegal mining and waste disposal is severely impacting water quality. At the Asanta community, the team visited a mangrove nursery and conducted a walk-through of the adjacent mangrove forest, documenting signs of degradation and opportunities for restoration. Conversations with local fishers revealed how mangrove loss is affecting fish populations and, by extension, their livelihoods.

At Kamgbunli, the team engaged with traditional authorities and community leaders on the sustainability of fishing practices and their openness to adopting climate-resilient approaches. There were strong expressions of support for the project, particularly regarding mangrove restoration, pollution control, and environmental education. In Old Kabenla Suazo and Ezilinbo, further assessments were conducted, including visits to a lagoon site and the surrounding areas of a naval base under construction. These visits offered insight into the potential land-use conflicts and the need for multi-stakeholder coordination to align development with conservation.

Stakeholder Engagement: Strengthening Local Partnerships

Following the launch, the project team engaged key community leaders and institutional partners in a series of discussions. These engagements focused on identifying existing environmental challenges, possible solutions, refining project objectives and collective responsibilities. Stakeholders expressed concerns about uncontrolled logging, illicit mining, mangrove harvesting, pollution from agrochemicals and plastics, and the impact of infrastructural development on the wetland ecosystem. The dialogue reinforced the project’s commitment to a participatory governance model where communities are not just beneficiaries, but co-implementers of conservation action.

Looking Ahead: Building a Greener Future

The ILWGAWS project is envisioned not as a one-off intervention but as a long-term commitment to ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation. Over the coming weeks, the project will roll out activities in environmental education, hydrological profiling, biodiversity monitoring, mangrove and tree planting, pollution control, and sustainable livelihood training, including beekeeping for local farmers.

Intending to plant 60,000 trees within the Greater Amanzule Wetlands and train communities in sustainable practices, ILWGAWS aims to serve as a model for integrated wetland management in Ghana and beyond. As environmental threats intensify globally, initiatives like ILWGAWS underscore the power of collaboration, science, and community engagement in restoring ecological integrity and improving lives.

The journey has begun, and its success will be shaped by every voice, every tree planted, and every action toward a more resilient coastal ecosystem.

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Potatoes, People, and Photobooks: The International Potato Center’s (CIP) Climate Response in the Andes

Published 29 May 2025

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As climate extremes increasingly challenge Andean agriculture, the International Potato Center (CIP) is working closely with communities in Peru and Ecuador to strengthen resilience and preserve agrobiodiversity.

At the heart of this effort is the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) project – a multi-faceted initiative that brings together scientific innovation, traditional knowledge, and local engagement to equip farming systems for a changing future.

Mashua plants as natural pest management to protect potato fields from potato weevils in the Andes Potato harvest in Peru. Experimental plots have been protected by a traditional pest management strategy – the use of mashua plants as weevil repellent Potato harvest in Peru. Experimental plots have been protected by a traditional pest management strategy – the use of mashua plants as weevil repellent Potato harvest in the Central Andes of Peru. Experimental plots have been protected by a traditional pest management strategy – the use of mashua plants as weevil repellent (the orange spots are the mashua plants that are left in the fields slightly longer since mashua has a longer maturation period than potato) Participatory trial evaluation at harvest time in the Central Andes of Peru. Farmers rate their preferences based on drought tolerance, yield, and other factors such as texture, taste, cooking time, or pest & disease (late blight) resistance and tolerance to frost. (Farmer vote with seeds and deposit the seeds in little plastic containers which you may see on the potato sacks. Gender preferences are usually captured by using different seed types. The results are then discussed among farmers.)
The images show potato harvesting in Peru’s Central Andes, featuring mashua plants used as natural pest control against potato weevils. During participatory trials, farmers evaluate varieties at harvest based on drought tolerance, yield, taste, cooking time, pest and disease resistance, and frost tolerance. They “vote with seeds,” placing their preferred seeds in small containers on potato sacks. Gender preferences are captured using different seed types, and results are then discussed collectively.

 

CIP’s work begins in the field, where trials are underway to identify native potato varieties that can withstand prolonged drought. These drought-tolerant potatoes offer more than just resilience – they help safeguard the region’s rich potato heritage by keeping a diverse range of varieties in cultivation, even under stress. At the same time, researchers are exploring the promise of mashua, a lesser-known Andean root crop valued for its pest-repelling qualities and nutritional profile. As both a traditional food and a potential ingredient for modern food markets, mashua represents a link between heritage and innovation.

Beyond crop trials, CIP is leading efforts to restore lost agrobiodiversity. Through the repatriation and in vitro propagation of native potato varieties, communities in Peru are reconnecting with crops that had disappeared from their fields. This restoration work is already laying the foundation for community-managed in vitro laboratories – local hubs for conserving potato diversity and advancing climate-adaptive agriculture.

Equally important is building local capacity. CIP supports farmers, students, and indigenous technicians with hands-on training to ensure that scientific advances translate into real-world resilience. One standout initiative is the youth photobook project, which equips young people with cameras and storytelling tools to document the impact of climate change on their lives. These visual narratives elevate local voices, while farmers’ concerns have separately influenced policy and contributed to shaping Ecuador’s national biodiversity policy – an example of how community-centered initiatives can influence broader systems.

Together, these activities form a cohesive strategy grounded in science, collaboration, and cultural respect. CIP’s work through the GCBC project demonstrates that resilience is not just about enduring climate stress – it’s about transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.

By connecting agricultural research with lived experience, CIP is helping Andean communities not only adapt, but thrive.

 

This report was prepared by Dr Bettina Heider, Project Lead and Genetic Resources Specialist, CIP and Joel Ranck, Head of Communications, CIP.

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Tropenbos Colombia Establishes Centre for Intercultural Tree Seed Management

Published 16 May 2025

GCBC

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Earlier this year, Tropenbos Colombia, together with forestry professors from Universidad Distrital and the Puerto Naranjo Indigenous Resguardo, laid the groundwork for the development of an intercultural and biodiverse seed bank.

The initiative, rooted in knowledge exchange on forest restoration and seed use, seeks to honour local leadership and traditional wisdom. The new seed bank, named the House for Intercultural Tree Seed Management, will serve as a hub for research, seed care, and student learning, with full community and elder participation.

Read the full report below kindly prepared by Mabel Martínez, Maria Clara van der Hammen and Catalina Vargas.

Visiting the restoration plots in Resguardo Puerto Naranjo, Solano. Photo courtesy of Mabel Martínez. Socialization of the terms of the project and agreements between the community of Puerto Naranjo and the teams of the Universidad Distrital and Tropenbos Colombia. Foto: Mabel Martínez.

In February, Tropenbos Colombia’s team and teachers of Forestry Engineering from the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas visited the Puerto Naranjo Indigenous Resguardo to establish the basic agreements for the creation of a biodiverse and intercultural seed bank. It was meeting focused on exchanging knowledge about restoration and seeds with the participation of different members of the community, including the local coordinator of the process Didier Pisarro and the traditional elders and leaders of the Resguardo.

The visit highlighted the extensive experience that Puerto Naranjo already has in forest restoration processes. As established in its own management plan, the community has been promoting forest recovery initiatives for more than ten years. There is a commitment among locals to strengthening the knowledge related to restoration and benefiting from the cultural and economic advantages of having a biodiverse territory. Women in particular are very interested in the income possibilities of providing seeds to restoration processes in all the Amazon region.

On this occasion, we visited many areas of the territory, after requesting the permits required by traditional authorities. The first area we visited was the restoration plot surrounding one of the springs in the Resguardo, more precisely the water source used by the self-managed community aqueduct recently established. The locals told us that seven decades ago, when they settled in this land, they found evidence of past settlements in this precise area, as there were remains of clay pots and flutes. More recently, it had become pasture for cattle ranching; and now, we witnessed how many planted seeds —including canangucha and asaí palms, ideal for areas near water sources — are successfully growing.

The second restoration visited was in an area of vendeagujales, a grass that grows in deforested areas and behaves as an invasive species with the peculiarity that it is difficult to restore because fire strengthens it. In this area, we observed how fire management continues to be a challenge for the restoration processes. Finally, the third restoration we visited was a fenced plot further inside the Resguardo where a chagra, the biodiverse indigenous cultivation system, is being planted. In the long term, if the traditional agricultural knowledge is properly applied —a knowledge that is mainly female— the forest will be recovered.

Among the many agreements, all the participants decided to name the new seed bank as a house for intercultural seed management underlining that it will be a space for seed care, research and dialogue, as well as accommodation for the university students. Another agreement was that elders, both men and women, would be part of the research team working as guides and accompanying the development of the proposal. In addition, the creation of a local indigenous research team was consolidated. Last of all, there will be a visit of some members of the community to a well-known nursery of dry forest tree species soon.

The creation of intercultural biodiverse seed banks is an initiative of Tropenbos Colombia, the Resguardo Puerto Naranjo and the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas with the support of the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate.

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