Community-led initiatives in Africa, Asia and Latin America join the Global Landscapes Forum’s GLFx chapter network to tackle land degradation, the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, while advancing sustainable livelihoods
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Bonn, Germany (23 January 2025) – Thirteen community-driven initiatives restoring ecosystems have joined the GLFx network of chapters of the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) in 2025. Led primarily by youth and women, these organizations are advancing projects in Brazil, Bolivia, Chad, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Tanzania and Vietnam.
GLFx is a global network of locally rooted organizations restoring landscapes and advocating for policy change in favor of nature and people. This network connects chapters with strategic partners worldwide. Additionally, GLFx offers access to learning, visibility and funding opportunities to enable communities to further bolster their landscape management, governance and restoration activities.
The new GLFx chapters focus on community-led ecosystem restoration, enhancing food systems and climate resilience. Their initiatives include agroecology, regenerative farming, biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, biocultural approaches, tree planting, waste and water management and knowledge-sharing programs. They also address land tenure policy, governance and gender equity.
In its fifth year, the GLFx network has expanded from 38 to 51 grassroots chapters across the Global South. These new chapters aim to impact over 7,000 families, farmers, women and youth while forging inclusive landscape management in the Andes and Himalayan mountains, the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes in Brazil, coastal areas and islands of Southeast Asia, wetlands in West Africa, and other lake shores, tropical forests and drylands across the world.
“Being part of the GLFx network strengthens our commitment to transforming ecosystems and local communities. It provides a roadmap and global platform to amplify our efforts while collaborating with visionary landscape leaders. Together, we will accelerate the green economy and create a lasting legacy for future generations while safeguarding our land,” said Balbina Andrew, leader at GLFx Mwanza.
The new African GLFx chapters
- GLFx Farankaraina, headed by the women-led Fandroakando NGO, operates in the Farankaraina Forest, located in northern Madagascar, managed by local communities and home of mammals, reptiles and birds, including the iconic lemurs, chameleons and fossas. The chapter seeks a higher protection category of the Farankaraina Forest and works to improve community livelihoods, restore their forest and conserve biodiversity. They also champion environmental education, research and eco-tourism.
- GLFx Mwanza is managed by the women-led organization Nourish Africa in Mwanza, a lake port city in Tanzania. The chapter advances climate mitigation and gender equality through environmental education, youth-led ecosystem restoration, sustainable agriculture and strengthening value chains. They aim to plant five million trees in the region to reverse land degradation.
- GLFx Moyen-Chari is run by the youth-led Consortium pour la Promotion des Initiatives et de Développement in Sarh, a riverside city and the third largest urban center in Chad. The chapter focuses on climate resilient action and combating land desertification. They do this by managing drylands and waters in the Chari basin, advancing land tenure policy initiatives, monitoring ecology, implementing agroforestry and advocating for women inclusion in eco-entrepreneurship programs and other income-generation activities.
- GLFx Calabar is managed by the youth-led Biodiversity Rescue Club (BRC) in the wetlands of Calabar, a port city sitting on a hill and one of the oldest trading centers in Nigeria. The chapter’s community-led mangrove restoration and environmental education efforts benefit local livelihoods, biodiversity and carbon sequestration in Esierebom, a community facing deforestation, pollution and habitat loss.
The new Asian GLFx chapters
- GLFx Aceh, spearheaded by the women-led organization Rumah Relawan Remaja, operates in the Aceh province in North Sumatra, Indonesia, where biodiversity from the Pacific and Indian oceans collide and the economy relies on agriculture, fisheries and tourism. The chapter seeks to foster peace and strengthen a sustainable relationship between people and the environment. This chapter carries out mangrove restoration and environmental education with a focus on women and girls through an extensive network of volunteers, long-term knowledge initiatives, a community forest ranger program and mangrove planting.
- GLFx Quang Nam is run by the youth and women-led organization Green Youth Collective in Quang Nam, a province in Vietnam surrounded by mountains, jungle and coral reefs. The chapter implements a zero-waste management model and a circular food system through regenerative farming and agroforestry. Through their Living-Learning centres and small-scale closed-loop gardening and farming, GLFx Quang Nam engages youth, women, farmers and waste workers.
- GLFx Siargao is managed by the youth-led organization Lokal Lab in Siargao Island, the tear-drop–shaped surfing capital of the Philippines. The chapter envisions a self-sustainable island with social enterprises, eco-conscious practices, agroecology and regenerative farming with a circular approach inspired by the islands’ cultures. GLFx Siargao rolls out knowledge programs on sustainable tourism, farming, handicrafts and waste management, targeting farmers, artisans and youth, in partnership with local authorities.
- GLFx Himachal is led by the Zoo Outreach Organization in the Western Himalayas in India, the most vulnerable side of this mountain range to climate change. Forests and snow are decreasing while landslides and human-wildlife conflicts are becoming more frequent. The chapter focuses on restoring the landscape, conserving wildlife, boosting sustainable livelihoods and bolstering leadership for local communities and Indigenous Peoples, including women and youth groups. They also host a community nursery, conduct research and assess behavioral data.
The new Latin American GLFx chapters
- GLFx Alto Rio Pardo is hosted by the farmer-driven organization Rede de Coletores Geraizeiros in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, a region of forests, grasslands and scrublands within the Cerrado biodiversity hotspot. The chapter aims to enhance socio-economic resilience and environmental sustainability through landscape and soil restoration. They focus on native seed collection and preservation, water security, eco-business and other climate action efforts.
- GLFx Imbabura is spearheaded by Fundación Tierra Viva in the Imbabura province on the Andes of northern Ecuador, a territory covering dry and cloud forests, high altitude wetlands, grasslands, shrublands and drylands. These lands are inhabited by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Ecuadorians and mestizos. This intergenerational chapter aims to scale sustainable farms to broader sustainable landscapes. They address the gradual loss of ancestral knowledge, biodiversity, and cultural identity, and work against the threat to their food sovereignty through implementing agroecology and prioritizing sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, skills enhancement, climate action and knowledge sharing.
- GLFx San Rafael Antioquia, run by the youth-led organization Red Local de Turismo San Rafael, is situated in the tropical Andean rainforest of northwest Colombia. The chapter focuses on regenerative community-led tourism and income-generation initiatives to improve biodiversity conservation and living conditions in this rural agricultural area, home to unique species of birds, primates, felines and native bees. GLFx San Rafael Antioquia strengthens the social fabric of local communities in the face of armed conflict, mining, hydroelectric projects, cattle ranching and urban expansion.
- GLFx Quilombo Lagoas, led by the GM Agropecuária e Assessoria, operates in the Quilombola Lagoas territory in the Piauí state, within Brazil‘s semi-arid Caatinga region. Through sustainable practices, agroforestry systems and agroecology initiatives, the chapter supports rural development and restores lands facing desertification, prolonged droughts and increasing high temperatures. It contributes to strengthening local livelihoods by linking forests and food production, environmental education, landscape monitoring and other community activities, many involving women and youth.
- GLFx Uru Uru is managed by the Indigenous and youth-led Uru Uru Team that cares for the Uru Uru Lake in the wetlands of Bolivia. This area is home to Indigenous communities, dozens of bird species and unique flamingos. The chapter uses native aquatic plants called totoras to absorb heavy minerals from the water due to mining contamination. They address plastic pollution and the climate crisis by using ancestral ecological knowledge, innovative solutions and raising awareness, all to bring back safe fishing, agriculture, and cattle raising. Their community garden is another tool that helps them be ecologically and economically sustainable.
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“By joining the GLFx network, Rumah Relawan Remaja became part of a larger movement to address global challenges collaboratively. It’s an opportunity to share Rumah Relawan Remaja’s unique perspective, learn from others and play an active role in shaping a more interconnected and harmonious world,” said Rahmiana Rahman, leader at GLFx Aceh.
“We are confident that we can improve local community livelihood and restore the Calabar coastal ecosystem in Nigeria, helping it thrive with mangroves and biodiversity for generations to come. Together, we will continue to work towards a sustainable planet, leaving it better than we found it,” said Anna Obi Akpe, a leader at GLFx Calabar.
“Restoring the Cerrado goes far beyond planting trees; it’s about rescuing lost connections between people, the land and their stories. Each seed we plant represents not only the rebirth of an ecosystem, but also the hope of a fairer and more sustainable future for the communities and traditional peoples who call our Cerrado home. By joining GLFx, we can amplify our impact and strengthen our efforts to restore and protect the Cerrado, ensuring its ecological integrity and the well-being of its communities for future generations,” said Nondas Ferreira da Silva, coordinator of GLFx Alto Rio Pardo.
“GLFx is the first international network the Fandroakando has joined. This represents an increased openness to the outside world, allowing the team to strengthen its knowledge, share its experiences and showcase its achievements,” said Razafindrakoto Noromampiandra, a leader at GLFx Farankaraina.
“It is imperative to embrace a landscape approach to foster harmonious coexistence. This is particularly true for the Himalayas, which are experiencing severe impacts from climate change, including flash floods, landslides and deforestation, which directly affect communities, wildlife and vegetation alike,” said Trisa Bhattacharjee, focal point at GLFx Himachal.
“Tierra Viva Foundation is pleased to be part of GLFx, sharing its landscape approach and commitment to sustainability. This partnership offers the opportunity to share our expertise in Ecuador, promoting conservation, community rights and food security, as well as implementing resilient and sustainable processes,” said Mery Montesdeoca, from GLFx Imbabura.
“Joining the GLFx network offers grassroots organizations like the Green Youth Collective an invaluable opportunity to connect and learn from a globally relevant community. Engaging with other members and exchanging ideas on how they tackle their challenges is essential for sustaining hope in the collective efforts we are all striving to achieve,” said Hanh Vu, leader at GLFx Quang Nam.
“We are excited to join communities around the world that, like us, share a concern for the conservation and restoration of their landscapes, be them women, men, youth, traditional peoples or professionals. We hope to bring attention to our beloved Caatinga and inspire others here and worldwide,” said Maria Geane Magalhães, coordinator of GLFx Quilombo Lagoas.
“This is an opportunity to open our territory to others like us—to learn, talk and change our world together. This is the only way it can be achieved. For us, conservation is a way of life, which means it must be sustainable, leading people to land well-being and wellness. That’s our motto.,” said Daniela Daza, member of GLFx San Rafael Antioquia.
“Being selected as a GLFx chapter is a valuable recognition of our commitment to sustainable development. It strengthens our credibility and provides a unique opportunity to collaborate on a global scale while highlighting our local efforts in landscape restoration and strengthening community autonomy in Chad,” said Ganda Bini Djabou, leader at GLFx Sarh.
“Joining the GLFx network feels like becoming part of a bigger family. We now have inspiring mentors and peers to look up to, learn from and grow alongside as we work toward a more sustainable future for our island and beyond,” said Mark-David Pintucan, leader at GLFx Siargao.
“For the Uru Uru Team it is a great honor to have been selected as part of the GLFx network, where we will be able to continue sharing our project with a community focused on healing our Mother Earth, and find solutions to face the negative impacts of mining pollution, plastic and the effects of climate change in our community,” said Mabel Calahuana, member of GLFx Uru Uru.
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NOTE TO EDITORS
For more information, photos and/or to arrange interviews, contact Kelly Quintero (k.quintero@cifor-icraf.org).
ABOUT GLFx
GLFx is a network of independently organized, community-oriented and grassroots initiatives transforming their landscapes from the ground up and advocating for policy change. GLFx is designed to accelerate local action toward global landscape restoration by connecting members with the knowledge, tools and networks necessary to achieve lasting and holistic change. GLFx is supported by the German entities Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as the Robert Bosch Stiftung and International Model Forest Network (IMFN) with support from the Government of Canada. Learn more at globallandscapesforum.org/about-glfx/.
ABOUT THE GLF
The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on integrated land use, connecting people with a shared vision to create productive, profitable, equitable & resilient landscapes. It is led by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), in collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank, and its charter members. Learn more at www.globallandscapesforum.org.
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