GPO 2025

Regreening the Global Safety Net: Accelerating FMNR through Faith-driven Movement-building

Stakes are high for safeguarding environmental diversity. A tried-and-tested practice on the African continent, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) must be scaled up to a global level and Geneva can play a critical role in doing so.

Geneva Policy Outlook
Jan 20, 2025
5 min read
© Irene Ojuok

By Tony Rinaudo, Juliet Bell, and Athena Peralta

The world faces multiple ecological crises, including climate displacement and the rapid degradation of critical planetary systems. Land degradation is estimated to affect 3.2 billion people globally. While no single solution can address these challenges, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), based on traditional knowledge from Niger, presents a low-cost, high-impact approach to restoring degraded lands by nurturing existing vegetation. Smallholder farmers in Africa have tried and tested FMNR, promoting it for over 40 years. Today, it is practised in more than 40 countries, supporting communities in addressing poverty, hunger, climate change, and biodiversity loss while creating climate-resilient landscapes. Its scalability and minimal cost make FMNR a vital tool for environmental restoration, costing as little as $20 per hectare compared to tree planting, which can cost between $400-$8,000. Despite two decades of successful implementation, FMNR’s full potential remains untapped. Increased awareness and policy support are essential to realising its global impact.

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) presents a low-cost, high-impact approach to restoring degraded lands by nurturing existing vegetation.

The Impact of FMNR

FMNR has demonstrated remarkable success. In Niger alone, over 20 years, efforts restored about 5 million hectares of farmland, which is more than the size of Switzerland, increasing tree density from 4 to 40 trees per hectare and resulting in the restoration of approximately 200 million trees. Smallholder farmers, with minimal external input, were pivotal in this transformation. The results are substantial, with an extra 500,000 tons of grain produced annually, benefiting 2.5 million people. This translated into an additional gross income of $900 million annually, benefiting 4.5 million people

In Niger alone, over 20 years, efforts of FMNR restored about 5 million hectares of farmland, which is more than the size of Switzerland.

Moreover, FMNR contributes to carbon sequestration, storing between 5 and 10 million tons of CO2 annually in Niger. These figures highlight FMNR’s capacity to enhance human rights, including the rights to food, water, and a healthy environment. Globally, the extent of both traditionally practised and promoted FMNR is conservatively estimated at 18.2 million hectares, corresponding roughly with Cambodia’s surface area.

FMNR Acceleration through Faith-based Organisations and Movements

To fully scale FMNR, it is crucial to go beyond projects and build grassroots movements. Engaging farmers, women, and youth in regreening efforts can shift community and government attitudes about the role of trees in landscapes. Historically seen as obstacles to farming, trees are essential to improving soil fertility, water retention, and crop productivity. Local and international movements (including multi-faith, environmental, business and educational) are critical for changing this mindset and fostering widespread adoption. Faith-based organisations (FBOs), such as World Vision and the World Council of Churches, play an essential role in building these movements. With extensive networks and committed members, FBOs drive behaviour change and promote environmental stewardship. For example, the Geneva Interfaith Forum on Climate Change, Environment, and Human Rights exemplifies FBOs’ commitment to addressing environmental challenges. Faith leaders, deeply embedded in local communities, can influence farmers, industry leaders, and policymakers to adopt FMNR. Religious leaders can integrate FMNR into their messages, inspiring farmers and communities to embrace sustainable land management practices. FBOs also advocate for policy reforms that create an enabling environment for FMNR.

Faith-based organisations, such as World Vision and the World Council of Churches, play an essential role in building movements and fostering widespread adoption.

Geneva’s Unique Role as a Global Policy Hub

An enabling policy environment is essential for FMNR to thrive. Secure land tenure is critical for farmers who want to invest in FMNR. Financial incentives such as subsidies, grants, or tax reductions encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices. Integrating FMNR into national and regional climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies can accelerate adoption. For example, research suggests that FMNR can increase yields by up to 300%, demonstrating its potential to enhance food security.

Geneva’s role as a global policy hub positions it as a catalyst for FMNR’s expansion. Geneva is home to numerous environmental policy think tanks and international organisations focusing on protecting the environment. It is the ideal venue for facilitating dialogue and promoting FMNR. For example, the Geneva Association, which addresses global insurance challenges, can play a pivotal role in promoting FMNR as a risk mitigation strategy. Regreening landscapes through FMNR reduces climate risks, lowering potential insurance claims. Geneva can support policies promoting land restoration by creating awareness of FMNR’s impact on reducing risk in global supply chains.

A Call to Action

FMNR is poised to scale significantly by 2025 due to the investment from World Vision Australia in four catalyst countries, which have demonstrated rapid scalability from community to region to nation and, in parallel, its incorporation into many World Vision Area Programs across the globe, demonstrating applicability in diverse biophysical environments and socio-economic settings. From its origins and significant successes reached in Niger, it is becoming recognised as a globally scalable solution for rapid land restoration. Leveraging momentum from global climate conferences and events like the ecumenical Seasons of Creation and the Jubilee Year in Rome, FMNR will gain international visibility. These platforms, supported by faith-based communities, will advocate for FMNR’s implementation as a crucial climate solution.

Policymakers, researchers, and practitioners must exchange knowledge to highlight FMNR’s benefits, including poverty reduction, increased food and timber production, and enhanced climate resilience.

FMNR requires advocacy, knowledge sharing, and strategic convening in policy spaces like Geneva to achieve a global scale. Policymakers, researchers, and practitioners must exchange knowledge to highlight FMNR’s benefits, including poverty reduction, increased food and timber production, and enhanced climate resilience. A forum for global diplomacy, Geneva offers the perfect platform to promote FMNR and advance global land regeneration efforts. 

With the right policy environment and faith-driven movement-building, FMNR can help regreen our planet and build a safer, more sustainable future.


About the Authors

Tony Rinaudo is an Australian agronomist, the Principal Climate Action Advisor of World Vision Australia, and a member of their FMNR Scale-Up Team. 

Juliet Bell is an Australian climate scientist and the Global Partnering Lead FMNR Scale-up of World Vision Australia. 

Athena Peralta is the Programme Executive for economic and ecological justice at the World Council of Churches.

Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Geneva Policy Outlook or its partner organisations.

References

IPBES, 2018. The IPBES Assessment Report on Land Degradation and Restoration. Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Reij, C., Winterbottom, R., 2015. Scaling up Regreening: Six Steps to Success. World Resources Institute.

Reij, C., Tappan, G., Smale, M., 2009. Agroenvironmental Transformation in the Sahel: Another Kind of ‘Green Revolution.’ IFPRI Discussion Paper.

Rockström, J., et al., 2009. A Safe Operating Space for Humanity. Nature, 461(7263), pp.472-475.

Abasse T, Massaoudou M, Ribiou H, Idrissa S, Dan Guimbo I, 2023. Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in Niger: the State of Knowledge. Tropenbos International, Ede, the Netherlands.

Stevens, C., R. Winterbottom, J. Springer, and K. Reytar. 2014. “Securing Rights, Combating Climate Change: How Strengthening Community Forest Rights Mitigates Climate Change.” Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. Accessible at www.wri.org/securing-rights.