'Restore Local' launches in Nairobi to boost land restoration across Africa

Restore Local, an initiative accelerating locally-led land restoration across Africa, launched in Nairobi on Wednesday.

Convened by the global research non-profit World Resources Institute (WRI), the drive supports community organizations and entrepreneurs revitalize degraded landscapes, strengthen community resilience and drive environmental conservation at scale.

It focuses on Kenya’s Greater Rift Valley, the Ghana Cocoa Belt, and the Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin spanning Burundi, Rwanda, and the DRC.

Restore Local works with the groups to expand access to finance, strengthen technical capacity, secure policy reforms and improve impact monitoring.

“Community-led organizations are the beating heart of Africa’s land restoration efforts, but they can't do it alone — they need more support to take their impact to the next level,” said Dr. Susan Chomba, Director of Vital Landscapes at WRI. 

“We're bringing in new partners, unlocking new resources, and amplifying their voices so that restoration efforts are not just expanded, but deeply rooted and widely embraced.”

Building on existing programs established since Jan 2023, the initiative says it has already supported the growth of 21.6 million trees, restoring over 50,000 hectares of degraded land and creating more than 62,000 jobs.

To expand its reach, Restore Local is also bringing in new partners beyond those already supported by TerraFund, its financing arm.

They include Afrex Gold, an avocado company in Kenya that bridges agriculture and restoration.

“Since partnering with Restore Local, we have increased seedling production from 6,000 to 500,000 annually", said Shiro Ndirangu, Managing Director, Afrex Gold. 

“Being a part of this initiative means restoring the environment while strengthening the community around you. Restore Local is turning action into impact, and I'm proud to be a part of it.”