Executive Summary
Climate change, land degradation, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural practices are undermining ecosystem services, food security, and rural livelihoods worldwide. Landscapes that once acted as carbon sinks are increasingly becoming sources of greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating climate risks for vulnerable communities. Agroforestry and ecological restoration offer proven, nature-based solutions to reverse land degradation while enhancing carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
This proposal presents an integrated approach to developing carbon-smart landscapes through agroforestry systems and ecosystem restoration. The project combines climate-smart agriculture, tree-based systems, degraded land restoration, and community-led governance to create multifunctional landscapes that store carbon, improve livelihoods, and strengthen resilience to climate shocks. Implemented over five years, the initiative will support smallholder farmers and local communities to transition toward sustainable, low-carbon land-use systems aligned with global climate and development goals.
Background and Rationale
Land-use change and agriculture account for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions while also being highly vulnerable to climate impacts such as droughts, floods, heat stress, and soil degradation. Conventional monocropping systems have reduced soil organic carbon, biodiversity, and water retention, increasing vulnerability for smallholder farmers.
Agroforestry—integrating trees with crops and/or livestock—enhances carbon sequestration both above and below ground, improves soil fertility, regulates microclimates, and diversifies farm incomes. When combined with landscape-level restoration of degraded forests, grasslands, and watersheds, agroforestry becomes a powerful tool for building carbon-smart landscapes.
This project aligns with the Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), SDGs 1, 2, 13, and 15, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and climate finance priorities focused on mitigation–adaptation co-benefits.
Problem Statement
Rural and forest-edge communities face multiple, interconnected challenges:
- Declining soil fertility and productivity
- Loss of tree cover and ecosystem services
- Increasing climate variability and extreme events
- Limited access to climate finance and carbon markets
- Weak land governance and fragmented landscape management
Without integrated, landscape-scale solutions, land degradation and emissions will continue to undermine livelihoods and climate goals.
Project Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To transform degraded and vulnerable landscapes into carbon-smart, climate-resilient systems through agroforestry and ecosystem restoration.
Specific Objectives
- Increase carbon sequestration through agroforestry and restored ecosystems
- Enhance climate resilience and productivity of smallholder farming systems
- Restore degraded forests, rangelands, and watersheds
- Strengthen community-based land governance and stewardship
- Enable access to climate finance and carbon-smart incentives
Target Areas and Beneficiaries
The project will focus on degraded agricultural landscapes, forest margins, and climate-vulnerable regions. Primary beneficiaries include:
- Smallholder and marginal farmers
- Forest-dependent and indigenous communities
- Women farmers and land managers
- Youth groups and community institutions
Special emphasis will be placed on areas with high restoration potential and poverty vulnerability.
Project Components and Activities
- Component 1: Agroforestry System Development
- Promotion of diversified agroforestry models (agri-silviculture, silvopasture, alley cropping)
- Integration of fruit, timber, fodder, and nitrogen-fixing trees
- Climate-resilient species selection and nursery development
- Farmer field schools and demonstration plots
- Component 2: Landscape Restoration and Nature-Based Solutions
- Assisted natural regeneration of degraded forests
- Restoration of riparian buffers, watersheds, and commons
- Soil and water conservation measures
- Biodiversity-friendly restoration practices
- Component 3: Carbon Accounting and Climate Finance Readiness
- Baseline carbon stock assessments
- Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems
- Capacity building on carbon-smart practices
- Linkages to voluntary carbon markets and results-based finance
- Component 4: Livelihood Diversification and Value Chains
- Value chains for tree-based products (fruits, timber, NTFPs)
- Support for agroforestry-based enterprises
- Market linkages and certification support
- Women- and youth-led green businesses
- Component 5: Governance, Capacity Building, and Policy Integration
- Strengthening community land and forest management institutions
- Participatory landscape planning and land-use zoning
- Policy dialogue aligned with NDCs and restoration commitments
- Knowledge sharing and replication strategies
Implementation Strategy
The project will adopt a participatory, landscape-based approach:
- Baseline assessments and stakeholder mapping
- Co-design of agroforestry and restoration plans
- Phased implementation with pilots and scaling
- Continuous learning and adaptive management
Partnerships will include local governments, forestry and agriculture departments, research institutions, NGOs, and community organizations.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
The MEL framework will track environmental, social, and climate outcomes:
- Indicators on carbon sequestration, tree survival, and soil health
- Livelihood and resilience indicators
- Community-led monitoring and GIS-based tracking
- Mid-term and final evaluations
Expected Outcomes and Impact
- Increased carbon sequestration and reduced emissions
- Improved soil fertility, biodiversity, and water regulation
- Enhanced farm productivity and diversified incomes
- Strengthened community stewardship of landscapes
- Contribution to national and global climate targets
Sustainability and Exit Strategy
Sustainability will be ensured through community ownership, long-term land-use planning, viable agroforestry value chains, and access to climate finance. Restored ecosystems and strengthened institutions will continue delivering benefits beyond the project period.
Risk Analysis and Mitigation
- Climate variability: diversified species and adaptive management
- Land tenure risks: participatory planning and tenure-sensitive approaches
- Market risks: diversified products and buyer linkages
Budget Overview
The budget will support agroforestry establishment, restoration activities, capacity building, carbon MRV systems, and project management. Detailed budgets will be developed based on landscape scale and geographic focus.
Conclusion
Carbon-smart landscapes created through agroforestry and restoration offer a scalable, cost-effective solution to address climate change, land degradation, and rural poverty simultaneously. By empowering communities to manage land sustainably, this project delivers long-term climate, environmental, and socio-economic benefits while advancing global restoration and climate goals.
