This international course on landscape governance challenges forest and nature management professionals to adopt an integrative perspective, to look beyond the forest, and build bridges between the public and the private sector. In this course we focus on the development of institutional development at landscape level including multistakeholder platforms and networks, and financial support mechanisms to guide landscape dynamics on the ground. This course is a co-production of CDI, CIFOR and ICRAF, all having vast experience in landscape and society related research.

Context

Forested landscapes worldwide are increasingly integrated in global processes of trade, market development, resource exploitation and climate change. Site-based or community level approaches can no longer cope with these issues which exceed the local sphere of influence. Although landscapes are usually considered to be appropriate levels to negotiate land use options, they are rarely recognised as units of political- administrative decision making, hence do not have any formal place in decentralised structures of states.

At the same time, governance is no longer monopolised by governments, but has increasingly become a shared responsibility of civil society groups and private sector actors. Many of these actors are experimenting with their newly assigned roles as co-developers and implementers of landscape governance. We see new governance arrangements emerging everywhere, in the form of round tables, publicprivate partnerships, corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, citizen’s initiatives and different forms of payment for environmental services. Professionals who are able to facilitate these complex multistakeholder processes are in high demand – are you ready to become one?

Course objectives

Upon completion of the course you will:

• critically examine landscape dynamics at various levels and scales;
• understand the implications of up-scaling participation to working with diverse stakeholder groups at landscape level;
• be able to identify the institutional change needed to enhance public-private collaboration and multi-stakeholder governance processes at landscape level;
• be able to assess your own role as manager or practitioner, and develop your competencies as a facilitator of landscape governance processes.

Target audience

Participants should be experienced professionals with several years of working experience in the fields of natural resources management, forestry, agriculture, rural development, rural livelihoods, sustainable development or other relevant areas. Proficiency in English is required.

For practical information, a fact sheet, frequently asked questions, and to register, please visit the WCDI website.