Water, Climate Change & Environmental Management10 DaysCertificate Included
Duration
10 Days
Mode
Online & Physical
Certificate
Included
Language
English
Course Overview
This course provides a deep understanding of forest landscape restoration (FLR) and its critical role in maintaining and enhancing watershed ecosystem services. It focuses on the ecological, social, and economic principles of restoring degraded landscapes to support water regulation, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. Participants will learn how to design, plan, and implement FLR interventions that integrate community participation, sustainable land management, and financing mechanisms. The course emphasizes practical tools, GIS applications, and case studies from global restoration programs.
Secure enrollment • Professional certificate included
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Understand the principles and frameworks of forest landscape restoration.
Analyze the links between forest restoration and watershed ecosystem services.
Design and implement landscape-level restoration strategies.
Use tools for mapping, monitoring, and evaluating restoration outcomes.
Integrate community and stakeholder participation in restoration planning.
Mobilize resources and develop policy frameworks for long-term restoration success.
Course Content
Module 1: Principles of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR)
Concepts and goals of FLR
Global frameworks (Bonn Challenge, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration)
Landscape approaches and integrated resource management
Ecosystem services and socio-economic benefits of restoration
Case studies: global and regional FLR initiatives
Module 2: Watershed Ecosystem Services and Hydrological Functions
Watershed processes and forest-water interactions
Hydrological services: infiltration, runoff regulation, and sediment control
Assessing watershed degradation and restoration priorities
Tools for hydrological modeling and water balance analysis
Valuation of watershed ecosystem services
Module 3: Planning and Implementing Forest Landscape Restoration
Stepwise planning for FLR: assessment, design, and implementation
Identifying degraded lands and restoration opportunities
Restoration techniques: natural regeneration, reforestation, and agroforestry
Integrating biodiversity conservation and livelihood outcomes
Practical exercise: developing an FLR plan for a watershed
Module 4: Tools and Technologies for Monitoring and Evaluation
GIS and remote sensing for restoration mapping
Indicators and metrics for restoration success
Participatory monitoring and data collection methods
Use of drones and digital tools for field monitoring
Reporting and adaptive management in restoration projects
Module 5: Community Engagement and Socioeconomic Dimensions
Role of communities in restoration planning and implementation
Gender and inclusion in forest and watershed restoration
Participatory governance and co-management approaches
Conflict resolution and benefit-sharing mechanisms
Case examples of community-led restoration initiatives
Module 6: Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Restoration Synergies
Role of FLR in climate mitigation and adaptation
Carbon sequestration and ecosystem resilience
Biodiversity restoration and habitat connectivity
Integrating restoration into national adaptation plans (NAPs, NDCs)
Climate-smart restoration practices
Module 7: Policy, Institutional, and Legal Frameworks
National and regional policies supporting FLR and watershed management
Institutional coordination and stakeholder alignment
Land tenure and governance considerations
Policy incentives for restoration and sustainable land use
International conventions and compliance mechanisms
Module 8: Financing Mechanisms for Restoration and Watershed Services
Innovative financing models for FLR (PES, carbon credits, green bonds)
Public-private partnerships for restoration investment
Economic valuation and cost-benefit analysis of FLR projects
Accessing climate and environmental funds (GEF, GCF)
Building sustainable business models for restoration
Module 9: Case Studies and Field Applications
Review of successful FLR projects across regions
Restoration in forest-agriculture mosaics
Field excursion: assessing a restoration site
Group work: lessons learned and best practices
Stakeholder engagement simulation
Module 10: Action Planning and Knowledge Exchange
Developing a landscape restoration and watershed service plan
Stakeholder and policy advocacy strategies
Building partnerships and cross-sector collaboration
Presentation of participant projects and peer review
Course synthesis and certification
Who Should Attend
The course is designed for foresters, watershed managers, environmental planners, natural resource officers, conservation specialists, hydrologists, landscape ecologists, climate adaptation officers, NGO project managers, and policy makers involved in forest restoration, water resource management, and ecosystem resilience initiatives.
