We back the people already fighting for their land and help them build the social and ecological resilience to shape their own future.
Landscape degradation is at the heart of the world's biggest problems. Affecting a third of the world's population, it is a major contributor to food insecurity, water scarcity, climate change and biodiversity loss, destroying the ecosystems we all rely upon to survive. We facilitate landscape restoration from the ground up. From farmers to business owners, policymakers to NGOs, we work with a diverse range of partners to protect and restore landscapes across the world. To make the greatest impact, we are also building a global movement to accelerate holistic landscape restoration via our 4 Returns Framework.
The world’s ecosystems are degrading at an unprecedented pace. We support partners in around 20 countries to restore landscapes. Together, we create worldwide impact.
Spain
Altiplano Estepario, Andalucía / Murcia
Uniting farmers, entrepreneurs, and communities to restore soil, water, and biodiversity in one of Europe’s driest landscapes
South Africa
Baviaanskloof - Langkloof
Local communities use business to restore a unique biodiversity hotspot and regenerate a city’s water supply.
We measure restoration by more than hectares. The 4 Returns Framework delivers natural, social, financial, and inspirational returns. Why inspiration? Because restoring people's belief that their land is worth fighting for is where everything starts.
Planting seeds of hope for a better future and giving PEOPLE a sense of purpose.
Bringing back jobs, education, and social connections: the building blocks of thriving COMMUNITIES.
Restoring biodiversity for healthy and resilient landscapes: reviving NATURE.
Creating long-term, sustainable income for communities: new BUSINESS models tailored to each landscape.
A better future isn’t just possible, it’s already happening. We’ve watched one farmer and one idea become a network of 550 people restoring a million hectares. And that’s just one landscape.
Across 20+ countries, local people and organisations are proving that degraded landscapes can come back – when people are supported to lead, equipped to stay, and trusted to know what their land needs.
Landscape restoration is the improvement of degraded land on a large scale. It rebuilds ecosystems and enhances people’s lives. Restoration aims to improve water quality, protect and restore biodiversity, and create healthier soil (and, in turn, healthier plants). To be successful, landscape restoration must be long-term and holistic. In other words, it must address the interests and needs of all local stakeholders over time.
Regenerative agriculture recognises that working with nature, rather than against it, is necessary for the long-term sustainability of life on our planet. While most conventional farming practices devastate biodiversity, regenerative agriculture positively impacts the health of the land. Find out more about regenerative agriculture by clicking the link below.
Explore Commonland's latest news, publications and events, and get inspired to restore the Earth.
This publication is a part of the Restoration Cases Flagship Collection by Forestoration International, ETH Zurich, Crowther Lab and Restor The Altiplano Estepario in Southeastern Spain was once home ...
As the world turns its attention to the UN Biological Diversity Conference COP17, the focus shifts from targets to implementation. This year’s conference, held in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 ...
What do we see if we pause as a network, or as an eco-system, and look back at ourselves and what we’ve achieved—say, over the last year? The Noongar Land Enterprise Group found out.
Menorca’s population doubles every summer as visitors flock to its shores from around the world. This seasonal surge places real strain on the island’s land, water, and agricultural system ...
