Restore Local, an initiative dedicated to accelerating locally led land restoration across Africa, has officially been launched in Nairobi.
Convened by the World Resources Institute (WRI), this drive provides critical support to community organizations and entrepreneurs— helping these “restoration champions” revitalize degraded landscapes, strengthen community resilience and drive environmental conservation at scale.
The initiative focuses on three key
landscapes — Kenya’s Greater Rift
Valley, the Ghana Cocoa Belt, and the Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin spanning
Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Restore Local works with these groups to
expand access to finance, strengthen technical capacity, secure policy reforms
and improve impact monitoring.
“Community-led organizations are the
beating heart of Africa’s land restoration efforts, but they can't do it alone
— they need more support to take their impact to the next level,” said Dr. Susan Chomba, Director of
Vital Landscapes at WRI.
“That's where Restore Local comes in. We're
bringing in new partners, unlocking new resources, and amplifying their voices
so that restoration efforts are not just expanded, but deeply rooted and widely
embraced.”
Building on existing programs established
since Jan 2023, Restore Local has already supported restoration champions in growing 21.6 million trees, restoring over
50,000 hectares of degraded land and creating more than 62,000 jobs, to drive
local economic growth, boost biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The initiative is building on its momentum
by expanding its reach, rallying even greater support for locally led
restoration efforts and growing a broader movement.
This means bringing in new partners beyond
those already supported by TerraFund, Restore Local's financing arm, to drive
greater impact.
Among those bringing Restore Local's vision
to life is Afrex Gold, an avocado company in Kenya that bridges agriculture and
restoration.
“Since partnering with Restore Local, we
have increased seedling production from 6,000 to 500,000 annually", said
Shiro Ndirangu, Managing Director, Afrex Gold.
“Being a part of this initiative means
restoring the environment while strengthening the community around you. Restore
Local is turning action into impact, and I'm proud to be a part of it.”
Tropenbos Ghana echoed these sentiments,
emphasizing the restoration work their organization has been doing in the
degraded Ghana Cocoa Belt.
"It is exciting to see more people
getting involved,” said Kwame Sekyere, Tropenbos’ Project Manager.
“With Restore Local's support, we're not just
planting trees — we're nurturing a movement that transforms communities and
rebuilds our environment. Every tree planted is a step toward sustainable
growth, empowering local farmers and ensuring a greener future for generations
to come.”
As Africa faces increasing climate
challenges, Restore Local is proving that locally led restoration is not just
possible — it’s essential.
By mobilizing communities, policymakers,
and investors, the initiative is turning grassroots action into large-scale
impact, ensuring that Africa’s landscapes are not
