Presented by the Global Landscapes Forum in collaboration with
The New Vision for Earth Film Festival unites art, science and traditional knowledge in captivating, thought-provoking films on biodiversity, climate and land rights, highlighting landscape solutions from the Global South and Indigenous peoples.
During this event, we heard insights from landscape leaders and local innovators across Africa, showcasing successful restoration stories, pressing challenges, and bold opportunities for transformative change from recent regional consultations.
Report launch: Rooted in restoration: Youth-led transformative change for regreening Africa
The event marked the launch of the report “Rooted in restoration: Youth-led transformative change for regreening Africa“, which highlights shared experiences, challenges, and solutions suggested by several dozen young landscape practitioners and experts across Africa who participated in a series of consultations centered on the restoration of African ecosystems.
Produced in partnership with Regreening Africa, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, FAO, European Union Commission, CIFOR-ICRAF and the Global Landscapes Forum, and co-written by several experts in the field, this report covers gaps and solutions across policy, finance, capacity building, and communication to show how landscape restoration can be scaled for long-term impact on people and the planet.
Check out the report here.
Organized by:
Array ( [0] => Asia/Riyadh )
From 21–23 April 2025, the Landscape Leadership Camp was held in Bogor, Indonesia, ahead of GLF Forests 2025 Hybrid Conference. Co-designed by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), and the Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL), the camp brought together 50+ young landscape leaders to drive impactful and transformative change across the landscapes of Asia & the Pacific.
Click to download resources for landscape leadership
This side event at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, unveiled a dynamic roadmap to finance the Global Biodiversity Framework crafted through expert insights and diverse voices.
As a sequel to the 7th GLF Investment Case Symposium, the event featured a lively panel of policymakers, investors, innovators, and community leaders, to tackle challenges, identify innovative solutions and share successes in mobilizing biodiversity finance – and bridge bold financial strategies with practical action on the ground.
Array ( [0] => America/Bogota )
Hosted by:
Amid global crises, the sixth mass extinction is accelerating and threatening food security, ecosystems, and worsening the climate crisis. How can journalists and content creators cut through the noise to report on these issues?
In the lead up to the 2024 biodiversity, climate and desertification COPs, journalists, scientists and changemakers explored critical topics, key sources and tools to cover these topics effectively. The discussions provided insights into the complexities of financing nature to meet biodiversity goals and prepared participants to maximize the potential of the 7th GLF Investment Case Symposium, held alongside the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16).
16 October 2024, 13:00–15:00 (UTC-5)
Opening remarks by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF)
Speaker and moderator:
Sneak peek at the 7th GLF Investment Case Symposium – Rewarding Nature: A Roadmap to Finance the Biodiversity Plan.
Panel and Q&A by Pulitzer Center
Speakers and moderator:
Two Pulitzer Center-supported journalists specializing in ocean and rainforest issues shared their knowledge of tools, resources, methods and best practices. Drawing on their investigative experience, they focused on reporting about investments to reduce emissions and protect biodiversity.
Editor’s panel discussion and Q&A by Agência Pública
Speakers:
Bruno and Giovanna, editors at the investigative newsroom Agência Pública, shared insights from covering municipal elections with a climate lens. They discussed how Agência Pública’s information tool helps track candidates’ stances on climate issues and explain how they select stories to ensure that their coverage resonates with Brazilian audiences. In the lead-up to next year’s Climate COP30 in Brazil, they demonstrated how climate investigative reporting can reveal connections between community preparedness for extreme events, legislation, politicians’ land use practices, threats to Indigenous and Quilombola communities, deforestation, corporate interests, and more.
Conversation and Q&A by CIFOR-ICRAF and the Restoration Stewards program
Speakers and moderator:
The world is grappling with urgent, interconnected climate, biodiversity, and desertification challenges. How do the Rio Conventions address these issues? What are the key implementations shaping current actions? What financial mechanisms support these frameworks’ goals? Join leading experts for insights on the science behind synergistic solutions under the Conventions.
Participants had the opportunity to submit questions in advance and vote for those they found most interesting.
17 October 2024, 13:00–15:00 (UTC-5)
Conversation and Q&A by DW Akademie
Speakers and moderator:
Drawing from the DW Akademie project ‘Journalism and Amazon region protection,’ panelists shared ideas on how to maximize the impact of journalistic stories while reinforcing connections between the media and local environmental, Indigenous and social organizations. This guided conversation outlined a decalogue of recommendations on impact and harm-free action and safety. DW Akademie also shared a quality criteria guide for journalism on human rights and the environment, in Spanish: Criterios de calidad periodística. Guía para el periodismo colaborativo e intercultural sobre derechos humanos y medio ambiente
Interactive discussion by Earthrise Studio
Speakers:
Hosted by the Joi Lee, head of editorial of Earthrise Studio, a climate storytelling platform that harnesses social media, this session equiped participants with the knowledge and tools to effectively use social media for impactful coverage of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16). Attendees learned practical strategies for crafting compelling climate stories, engaging audiences and amplifying important narratives in the digital space.
Conversation and Q&A by FOLUR and Luxembourg Forestry and Climate Change Fund
Speakers and moderator:
Finance must be harnessed to foster a sustainable future through innovative solutions that involve all sectors and prioritize local action. What role does finance play in tackling the environmental crisis? Which financial mechanisms can best support cross-sector cooperation? How can funds reach those that need it the most? Ahead of the 7th GLF Investment Case Symposium, experts to discussed the financial tools and pathways needed to break away from business-as-usual.
Participants had the opportunity to submit questions in advance and vote for those they found most interesting.
Speakers:
Stay tuned for our media seminars in 2025!
If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Quintero at k.quintero@cifor-icraf.org.
In Cali, Colombia, and online, we gathered over 2,000 participants from 108 countries, along with almost 100 speakers and 91 global and local partner organizations, at the 7th GLF Investment Case Symposium, Rewarding Nature: A Roadmap to Finance the Biodiversity Plan.
Held alongside the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the global event explored how to fund efforts to stem and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
Missed the event? You’re in luck – all hybrid and online sessions are now available to stream on demand.
What’s your vision for Earth?
From 21–31 October 2024, the GLF team was in Cali, Colombia to cover this year’s UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) and watch world leaders hash out the next steps for the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The hybrid forum was brought to you by the Central Africa Forest Observatory (OFAC), a specialized unit of the Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC) providing up-to-date, relevant data on the region’s forests and ecosystems.
11:00–14:00 CEST (UTC+2)
The forests of Central Africa are vital, but how do we protect them?
On 20 June 2024, over 700 participants from 77 countries, including experts, practitioners and policymakers gathered to discuss the challenges faced by the Congo Basin and how to address them using the latest data-driven strategies.
Here’s what we learned from OFAC Hybrid Forum, showing why it’s so vital that we protect and restore forests.
Join us in person in Bonn at the GLF Secretariat, located in the beautiful Rheinaue Leisure Park right next to the Bonn Climate Change Conference venue.
Judith Sonneck
GLF Global Conferences and Events Outreach Coordinator
j.sonneckcifor-icraf[dot]org
Are you working on a story about the Central African rainforests or looking for fresh ideas? Reach out to Kelly Quintero at k.quintero@cifor-icraf.org to explore story angles, connect with experts in the science, practices, and policies of the world’s second-largest forests, or join the event online from anywhere in the globe or in person if you are in Bonn, Germany.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Successful applicants will be notified of their selection via email.
In 2024, hundreds of young storytellers from across Africa once again sought to challenge the dominant narratives on the continent they call home.
Ahead of the GLF Africa 2024 Hybrid Conference, the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) and the Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL) hosted a youth storytelling contest to share stories that inspire a brighter and bolder future for Africa, through videos, audios, writing, animations and other forms of media.
Here are the three incredible storytellers who won the jury’s hearts this year.
And the 2024 winners are…
This spoken word piece reflects Cameroon’s ongoing struggles, urging youth across Africa to act and drive lasting change amid overlooked climate and socio-political crises.
Set on Kenya’s coast, this story follows Mzee Katana, who sells an ancient baobab for $400 and soon faces nature’s wrath, realizing his duty to protect the land.
This short film explores agriculture’s role in Africa’s food chain, highlighting small-scale farmers, sustainable practices, climate impact, and agriculture's importance in resilience and economic growth.
This is a poetic story of hope, capturing the power of sunrise to revive the coast and uplift the human spirit with new beginnings.
In Bagamoyo, Tanzania, women are embracing seaweed farming for income and climate action. They sell raw and value-added products to build resilience, protect biodiversity and tackle pollution.
This documentary showcases environmental activist Mr. Odemwingie, who recycles Pringles cans into LED lights for photographers, highlighting the importance of environmental preservation
This article emphasizes the urgent need for clean cookstoves in Ghana to combat health risks and climate impacts, particularly for vulnerable women and children.
This story addresses how food insecurity impacts education and drives crime. It points to our collective responsibility for sustainable food systems and emphasizes the power of the people.
Do you have a story to share about how Africa can regenerate its landscapes, protect biodiversity, lead climate action and protect the rights and livelihoods of millions?
We believe storytelling has the power to ignite change, inspire action and connect people across borders. Following the powerful stories we heard in 2022 and 2023, the 2024 Africa Youth Storytelling Contest welcomes stories in a wide variety of formats, including video, audio, visual art, animation or another creative medium.
The top 5 to 10 entries will be featured on our website and social media channels, as well as at the GLF Africa 2024 Hybrid Conference, reaching thousands of people in person and online.
On top of the opportunity to showcase your talent and share your story with a global audience, the three best stories will receive prizes of EUR 500, 300 and 200 respectively.
The contest is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 born in Africa, living in Africa or from the African diaspora.
THEMES
Your story should share your thoughts, hopes and dreams about a future for Africa that values community, collaboration, inclusivity and resilience. In simple words: what should a bright future for Africa look like?
Key themes for your story could include (but are not limited to) food sovereignty, sustainable food systems, biodiverse landscapes, land tenure, ecosystem restoration, gender, climate justice, Indigenous rights, community-led action, youth leadership and sustainable finance.
FORMAT
We welcome a diverse range of storytelling forms that capture at least one of the themes described above. Submissions can take various forms, including:
Another creative medium that showcases your unique perspective.
Please include the following in your story :
If your submission is in a language other than English, please also provide an English transcript in the relevant part of the application form.
Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
From 14–16 September 2024, the Landscape Leadership Camp was held in Nairobi, Kenya, ahead of GLF Africa 2024: Greening the African Horizon. Co-designed by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL), Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), the workshop brought together 60 exceptional young leaders from Africa and beyond, selected from over 1,250 applicants, to drive impactful and transformative change.
This three-day camp featured workshops, panel discussions and field visits focused on collectively addressing complex challenges and developing visions rooted in landscape approaches, with a focus on justice and a greener future for Africa.
Click to download resources for landscape leadership
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