About Resilient Landscapes

Resilient Landscapes is a CIFOR-ICRAF private-sector facing arm created to spur large-scale impact investment in Nature-based Solutions (Nbs). Nature needs funding and funding needs knowledge. As obvious as this is, such synergies do not come about spontaneously. It takes hybrid teams such as Resilient Landscapes to effectively connect the academic, business and public spheres. Acting as a bridge between science and the private sector, Resilient Landscapes inserts the knowledge of CIFOR-ICRAF’s 800+ international staff into high-impact, bankable project designs. By contributing to the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss in a synergetic way, RL generates environmental and social co-benefits. RL environmental, social and governance assessments are robust and science-based, with clear metrics and impact results to enable the private sector to make real changes for nature and people.

In 2023, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and CIFOR-ICRAF established Resilient Landscapes Luxembourg (RLL) incubator to connect cutting-edge science to high-impact NbS investment opportunities. The mission of the RLL Incubator is to accelerate and scale-up investments in sustainable landscapes for urgent climate action, while providing selected pre-funded technical services to top-tier NbS projects originated from CIFOR-ICRAF research portfolio. Leveraging CIFOR-ICRAF’s science and expertise in forestry, agroforestry and development, the incubator focuses on terrestrial and coastal NbS project incubation for environmental resilience. The collaboration builds alliances among corporates, investors, governments, and farmers, with an emphasis on the climate-biodiversity nexus and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Resilient Landscapes Luxembourg (RLL)

The RLL incubator provides access to targeted information and knowledge, thus leveraging science to financially de-risk NbS projects. CIFOR-ICRAF, through its science and evidence-based technical assistance and by channelling grant funding through the RLL, provides an improved quality of decision making at NbS project level. By showcasing excellence through results, the RLL Incubator aims to demonstrate viability and improved performance of high-impact investment opportunities. The first batch of the RLL project pipeline has been launched with the second batch planned for Q3 of 2024. A dedicated press release on the Resilient Landscapes Luxembourg (RLL) launch can be accessed here.

Resilient Landscapes and Unilever

Since 2021, Resilient Landscapes has been advising Unilever’s One Billion Climate and Nature Fund from strategy to implementation, applying science and project design expertise as key elements for decision-making. Key areas of focus are placed on nature restoration and conservation projects and sustainable supply from nature-positive, equitable production systems. An emblematic partner like Unilever is a springboard in which Resilient Landscapes continues to gain exposure to private sector challenges and trends, trust from the private sector to help further expand CIFOR-ICRAF research and development mandates, and visibility and credibility from a suite of high-profile partners mobilized by Unilever.

Resilient Landscapes and Planète Urgence : Identifying priority forest restoration areas in Benin, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Ecuador

In 2023, as a part of project led by Planète Urgence, a French NGO, Resilient Landscapes conducted a collection and assessment of all data for the countries of Ecuador, Benin, Madagascar, and Indonesia to identify priority areas for forest restoration. The objective of the assessment was the identification of priority Planète Urgence actions and restoration efforts in the four noted target countries where NbS and natural ecosystem restoration would have high impact on biodiversity and climate. Further, the analysis focused on identifying areas in which NbS investments could have positive impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. The collaboration with Planète Urgence has allowed Resilient Landscapes to leverage scientific data to identify where ecosystem restoration via NbS investments could bring important impact for nature and climate.

Studies on priority restoration areas for the four countries:  

Study on priority restoration areas: Ecuador

Study on priority restoration areas: Benin

Study on priority restoration areas: Indonesia

Study on priority restoration areas: Madagascar