Advancing the impacts of socio-ecological restoration research through knowledge exchange and multi-stakeholder partnerships in South Africa

Dr Nicola Favretto, School of Earth and Environment, Faculty of Environment

Responsive Mode Impact Fund

Ecological restoration projects can mitigate climate change by storing carbon in plants and soil, taking it out of the atmosphere. They can also improve people's capacities to adapt to climate impacts by providing new sources of food and shade for animals. Our previous research identified lessons as to how projects driven by climate change goals can foster socio-economic development. This project will share our findings and put them into action by working with the not-for-profit company Living Lands across three water catchments in the Eastern and Western Capes, South Africa. We will strengthen the ability for Living Lands to act as a landscape mobiliser and broker for decision-making across different groups who influence land and water management across a large catchment area. Impacts will be targeted at identifying opportunities and exchanging knowledge across landscapes with the aim to generate future local income and sustain communities living in a dryland environment. Production of new dissemination material will inform future projects nationally and internationally by detailing best practice. Impacts will be enhanced through knowledge exchange field trips with a similar company (Jobs for Carbon) to engage with, and mobilise, local land owners and users. The immediate societal impacts of a broadened vision and enhanced community cohesion will translate into enhanced ecological health and capacity to identify and pursue alternative income-generating opportunities over the longer term.

Dr Nicola Favretto can be contacted by email: N.Favretto@leeds.ac.uk