Considerable amounts of public and private funding are needed to halt the ongoing degradation and promote forest and landscape restoration (FLR). Under The Restoration Initiative, the three Global Environment Facility agencies, FAO, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are collaborating to strengthen the capacities of future entrepreneurs for developing sustainable business plans that can attract potential investments in restoration-minded businesses. In collaboration with Bridge for Billions, an e-learning training programme has been developed and motivated mentors engaged to train a first cohort of restoration-minded entrepreneurs.

On 29 April 2021, FAO organized two events to examine the potential of restoration as a business opportunity. A first event was organized during the Global Landscape Forum (GLF) digital forum on nature-based solutions, bringing experts and practitioners together to explore how to identify and establish bankable or investible restoration projects that can attract and mobilize significant investment. The event presented several ongoing initiatives aiming to show the benefits of a sustainable economy, such as the Land Accelerator, The Restoration Factory and The Economics of Ecosystem Restoration. Entrepreneurs from around the world shared their practical experience on how to develop successful small businesses and create much needed local employment opportunities through the implementation of restoration interventions.

During this event, FAO also launched the publication Developing bankable business plans: A learning guide for forest producers and their organizations. The guide aims to improve the capacity of small-scale producers and enterprises for accessing private investment and finance for sustainable forest-based businesses and, as such, contributing to global restoration goals and commitments.

A second event was co-organized by FAO and UNEP at the 16th Session of the UN Forum on Forests. The event presented and discussed the e-learning programme The Restoration Factory, an innovative business incubator for accelerating the achievements of the UN Decade on the ground and boosting action on FLR at scale. The event was opened by His Excellency Mr. Martin Kimani, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN, who highlighted the importance of forests and trees and the benefits of the environment for people’s well-being. Ambassador Kimani explained how FLR is a cost-effective option for providing these multiple benefits, including enhanced food security, improved air and water quantity and quality, and he shared some initiatives happening in Kenya, harnessing public–private partnerships (such as Adopt a Tree and the Forest Investment Facility). The event was a success: 473 people registered, and 165 people attended to learn more about how The Restoration Factory is bringing restoration and business experts from around the globe together to support qualitative business training along the model developed by Bridge for Billions. The Restoration Factory is enhancing the capacities of rural eco-entrepreneurs through a global online mentorship programme to test and validate their business ideas showcasing the feasibility of restorative enterprises. The first cohort of The Restoration Factory consists of 13 eco-entrepreneurs and 26 mentors currently enrolled to receive training and advice through online masterclasses and bilateral and multilateral calls.

For more information contact us at: [email protected].

Benjamin De Ridder (FAO)