Tropical Forest Landscape Restoration & Agroforestry
Details
Note: Yale School of the Environment (YSE) was formerly known as the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (F&ES). News articles and events posted prior to July 1, 2020, refer to the School's name at that time.
Summary
This blended short course is designed to provide One Acre Fund (1AF) staff working on agroforestry and forest landscape restoration (FLR) with concepts, principles, and techniques to guide informed decision-making on the planning and implementation of forest landscape restoration and agroforestry systems in the geographies where they work. The course aims to:
- Explore basic principles of forest ecology, how forests grow, change, and produce ecosystem services for agricultural landscapes
- Analyze social and cultural factors that influence land use decision-making
- Present an FLR framework and the passive to active range of restoration strategies for application to a range of biophysical and social contexts
- Introduce the principles of agroforestry systems and illustrate a range of restoration and agroforestry projects in a variety of countries and contexts.
- Provide opportunities for participants to exchange ideas and build a community of practice among colleagues tasked with introducing and scaling restoration and agroforestry practices.
This blended short course combines foundational knowledge of forest ecology, forest landscape restoration, and agroforestry with tailored case studies and strategies for restoration in practice from across Africa and the tropics. Over the course of four modules delivered online and a weeklong field component, participants will explore strategies to strengthen the resilience of tropical landscapes by restoring trees, forests, and ecosystem services. The course includes contributions from global experts and offers opportunities to interact with ELTI staff, partners, and a network of environmental leaders. The goal of the course is to expand participants’ knowledge and develop practical skills that can be applied to the social and environmental contexts where One Acre Fund (1AF) operates.
*Enrollment in this course is by invitation only.
Content
Module 1: Ecological principles and the context for forest and landscape restoration
Module 2: Sociocultural and political aspects of restoration
Module 3: Effective forest restoration practices and approaches
Module 4: Agroforestry, silvopasture, and on-farm restoration strategies
Field Course: Grounding learning in practice in Rwanda's Congo Nile Divide