Livable Landscapes

Land degradation is a pressing global issue with far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, economies, and social resilience. Approximately 40% of the world's land is degraded, with an additional 100 million hectares lost annually. This degradation results in severe environmental consequences, including biodiversity loss, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced agricultural productivity. Economically, the loss of healthy landscapes poses a significant threat. Land degradation has the potential to lower global GDP by 10% between 2021 and 2030, affecting the livelihoods of 3.2 billion people, particularly the poorest 40%.

The Livable Landscapes Academy Impact Program accelerates and scales investments that avoid, reduce, and restore degraded landscapes.

Building on knowledge curation and knowledge exchange pillars of the broader Livable Landscapes Knowledge Platform, senior public and private sector representatives, technical experts from local universities and NGOs will focus on leveraging innovative approaches (technology, financing, multi-sectoral synergy) to:

build global and regional coalitions for change
pilot customized technical assistance in-country to scale positive landscape outcomes
facilitate in-country support to increase financing for landscapes projects and bring down costs of implementing them

Scaling Knowledge for Impact

The Livable Landscapes Academy is helping countries improve access to global good practices on technology, financing, and policies and regulations to scale public and private investments for healthy landscapes. The academy has recently been launched, and a first cohort of 5 East African nations have been selected for the impact program. All launch participants agreed that peer exchange added value, and 92% indicated that their expectations are being met or exceeded and that they have identified entry points for action.

Program Launch: May 6, 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya

Participating countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia.

Partners:

Global Challenge Programs - Forests for Development, Climate, and Biodiversity; Fast Track Water Security and Climate Adaptation; and Food and Nutrition;
China-World Bank Group Global Center for Ecological Systems and Transitions.
Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry
Donor Partner is the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office
PROGREEN - a global partnership for sustainable and resilient landscapes

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