From Planning to Action: Forest Landscape Restoration Implementation Momentum Builds Across Partner Countries

The FLR Hub supports implementation of forest landscape restoration (FLR) across seven countries in Africa and Latin America, specifically Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Mozambique, Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, by (i) strengthening enabling conditions for FLR, (ii) facilitating the catalysation of finance for FLR, and (iii) strengthening capacities for restoration monitoring. Over the next five years, the Hub aims to bring 200,000 hectares of degraded forest landscapes under restoration globally and develop roadmaps for the sequestration of 500,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent, contributing meaningfully to climate mitigation efforts. The initiative is supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI), funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). 

Building on this support, countries are now transitioning from planning to implementation and early-scale action. In 2026, Madagascar and Uganda marked this shift by advancing implementation on the ground, while Peru joined the global rollout with the launch of its national activities.

Madagascar Advances FLR Implementation at Scale

In February 2026, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), together with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), led the official launch and operationalization of the FLR Hub in Madagascar, marking a decisive shift from planning to large-scale implementation. The initiative reflects a strong international commitment to Madagascar’s restoration agenda.

The launch, held in Antananarivo and followed by regional engagements in Diana and Menabe, brought together government, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to strengthen coordination and align priorities for restoration.

Madagascar’s globally significant biodiversity is under evere pressure from deforestation and climate change. The FLR Hub addresses these challenges through a coordinated, investment-oriented model designed to strengthen governance and mobilize finance at scale.

As consortium lead, IUCN anchors restoration within national institutions, particularly the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, and strengthens the National Forest Landscape Restoration Platform as a central coordination mechanism. The Hub also supports the transition from ROAM assessments to on-the-ground implementation and contributes to the development of bankable restoration investment pipelines.

In partnership with WWF and the World Resources Institute (WRI), the Hub will promote agroforestry, assist natural regeneration, reforestation, and sustainable land management, while also supporting livelihoods, strengthening land tenure systems, and enhancing community engagement, including youth participation.

Uganda Launches National FLR Implementation Hub

On 14 April 2026, Uganda officially launched its FLR Implementation Hub in Kampala. The event, officiated by Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Water and Environment, underscored the government’s commitment to restoring degraded landscapes and strengthening climate resilience.

Implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment in partnership with IUCN, WWF, and WRI, the Hub extends beyond tree planting to integrate biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and long-term ecosystem resilience.

Uganda’s forest landscapes are under increasing pressure from population growth and unsustainable land-use practices. The FLR Hub responds by shifting from fragmented interventions to a coordinated, investment-driven restoration approach.

Initial restoration efforts will focus on the Northern Moist Farmlands and Western Mid-Altitude Farmlands, identified through national ROAM assessments. With an estimated 8 million hectares of restoration potential, Uganda presents significant opportunities for large-scale impact.

A key feature of the initiative is the establishment of a National Forest Landscape Restoration Multi-Stakeholder Platform, bringing together government, civil society, private sector actors, and development partners to enhance coordination and develop a pipeline of bankable restoration investments. 

Peru Expands Global Momentum

Momentum is also growing in Latin America, where Peru launched its FLR Implementation Hub in Lima on 26 March 2026. Led by the World Resources Institute (WRI), with support from IUCN and WWF, the initiative focuses on priority regions such as Madre de Dios and San Martín.

Toward a Global Restoration Movement

The FLR Implementation Hubs in Madagascar, Uganda, and Peru reflect a broader shift toward integrated, investment-ready restoration models that combine strengthened governance, multi-stakeholder coordination, and enhanced finance mobilization.

By moving beyond fragmented interventions toward scalable landscape approaches, these initiatives aim to accelerate restoration outcomes while delivering measurable benefits for climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable livelihoods across regions.