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THE SESSIONS’ MATERIALS

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Additional Resources

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Background:

The success and sustainability of landscape restoration is dependent on many factors, one of which is the involvement of all actors across scales. In recognition of this fact, several key messages of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration 2021 – 2030 stressed that everyone has a role to play in ecosystem restoration adding that it requires actions by many. Moreover, concerted efforts are required.

It therefore makes sense to involve faith-based organizations/institutions, leaders, and communities in restoration efforts, especially in Africa where religion permeates all aspects of its populations life as noted by Rev John Mbiti a Kenyan philosopher and Anglican priest in his book -African Religions and Philosophy (1969) where he said, ‘African people are notoriously religious (and) religion permeates into all the departments of life so that it is not easy or possible to isolate it.”

They present several opportunities that can be leveraged on to support, implement, and scale restoration efforts. Speakers/Discussions during the Kenya National Landscape Restoration Scaling Conference 2021 sub session on “The role of faith communities in the management and restoration of land in Kenya”  highlighted the following opportunities that development partners, governments, and researchers can leverage upon to promote and scale restoration:

  • All religions agree that the creation is an act of God and should be treated as such. Spiritual leaders at all levels are critical to the success of the global solidarity for an ethical, moral, and spiritual commitment to protect the environment and God’s creation (UNEP Report – Religion and Environmental Protection).
  • Faith leaders have a huge influence over their congregants/members. For example,  Encyclical Letter Laudato si’ of the Holy Father Francis on care for our common home has inspired environmental action among Catholics and catholic churches have made it a priority.
  • They have  structures, systems and programmes can be leveraged upon to communicate and create awareness about landscape restoration and environmental stewardship in general.

    This webinar will therefore showcase the work of the faith-based restoration action group that was formed after the Kenya National Landscape Restoration Scaling Conference 2021 to engage in capacity building for faith communities in restoration and  explore how they can contribute to scaling restoration in Kenya. It will also highlight several restoration initiatives and explore opportunities for supporting their participation in restoration.

    Session objectives:

    • Share the work of the faith-based restoration action group.
    • Showcase the work of faith communities and institutions in restoration in Kenya highlighting bottlenecks and discuss opportunities to solve them.
    • Present a guide/call to action on how to promote landscape restoration with faith leaders/communities/organizations.
    • To discuss how sharing restoration knowledge with faith communities can be done.

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