“My research into understanding the social and institutional factors that drive land degradation and deforestation led me to trying to understand restoration, what people do at a local level to reverse the degradation of land and resources vital to their livelihoods. I have learned that restoration by local smallholder farming communities becomes a strategy that can achieve multiple objectives—at the local level for vital sustainability needs, but also at the global level with respect to climate change mitigation and biodiversity protection imperatives. 

“There are many examples of the positive impacts of land restoration at the local level. In the Sahel, especially in Burkina Faso, farmers have developed farmer-managed natural regeneration. Creating small stands of forest here and there across mosaic landscapes also helps at a broader level by increasing carbon sequestration and enhancing biodiversity. Farmers in West Africa also use zai pit technology: They dig a hole and fill it with manure to enhance water retention and nutrient availability for crops. This helps in times of drought and contributes to maintaining agricultural production to supply foods to households in need during the lean season.

“All over the world, we see people in different geographical places and ecosystems employing different methods to restore land at the local level. We should include these people in restoration decision-making, creating narratives and actions that center those who depend on the lands and make sure restoration efforts benefit them.”