Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) is a cost-effective and scalable approach to restoring degraded lands, combining ecological benefits with economic opportunities for local communities. As part of the global effort to promote sustainable land use and restoration, the ANR Alliance is leading a project to assess the economic feasibility of ANR across multiple countries, focused on three main regions: Africa, Asia and Latin America. This initiative aims to empower governments, farmers and communities by providing data-driven insights into the costs and benefits of ANR, particularly for the sustainable production of timber and non-timber forest products.
CSF Brazil is collaborating with the ANR Alliance and other partners to develop financial cost-benefit models for ANR. These models will cover a 20–30 year time frame and focus on one non-timber product species per country, across up to 10 participating countries. By analyzing the economic viability of ANR, CSF aims to support decision-making and promote the adoption of sustainable practices.
Key activities:
- Data collection support to FOLUR (Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration) country teams for collecting relevant information on inputs, outputs, and costs.
- Cost-benefit modeling: create financial models to assess the production of timber and non-timber products under ANR, considering different scenarios and assumptions.
- Scenario analysis: run feasibility scenarios for 1 target species per country, evaluating economic outcomes under varying conditions.
- Final reporting: deliver detailed model descriptions, tables, and graphics to be incorporated into the final project report.
The project will generate robust cost-benefit models that demonstrate the economic potential of Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) for farmers and communities, providing evidence-based recommendations to support its implementation in participating countries. Ultimately, this work will contribute to global efforts to restore degraded lands, enhance biodiversity, and improve livelihoods through sustainable land use practices.
_
Image: cupuaçu plantation, Shutterstock.com