IMFN Climate Initiative: Mediterranean forests working together for Forest and Landscape Restoration and inclusion

The Mediterranean Model Forest Network Secretariat (MMFNs) is leading a two-year project supported by Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program. The main goal is to foster Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) in Mediterranean countries, especially in those eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA), like Morocco, Algeria, and Lebanon. The project combines communication, digital tools, and youth engagement to support local communities and their territories in ecological restoration.

The project has three main activities:

• a video docuseries showing restoration efforts in MMFN territories;
• the development of a web platform to collect and monitor FLR data;
• a scholarship created to involve young professionals in the process.

The first episode of the video series was filmed in Italy, in the Montagne Fiorentine and Valle Aterno Model Forests. It was presented in November 2024 during the MED FORUM in Barcelona. Other episodes are in production, including one filmed in Morocco in March 2025. The videos aim to tell stories from the territories and give visibility to local actors, while highlighting the Model Forest approach as a best practice for amplifying the impact of FLR projects through community-driven restoration and engagement. They will be subtitled in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.

The digital platform, developed by Cesefor Foundation, was launched in March 2025. It helps Model Forests upload and visualize restoration data and maps. It includes satellite indicators (like NDVI), tools to identify areas to restore, and possible carbon sequestration potential. Two pilot Model Forests, Ifrane (Morocco) and Western Macedonia (Greece), started using it. The platform also supports reporting aligned with international standards like the IUCN Restoration Barometer.

The scholarship was launched at the end of 2024. The selected candidate, Marianne Fahed from Lebanon, started in January 2025. She first followed an internal training to understand how the Model Forest approach works. Then she began contacting Model Forests through a survey and individual meetings. Her work focuses on collecting knowledge, supporting the communication of FLR experiences, and promoting youth and women participation in restoration.

One of the most important aspects of the project is the attention to inclusion and equality. Women and young people are included in all activities. The videos showcase the role of women’s cooperatives in FLR projects, as well as the contributions of women and youth in community empowerment and restoration. The platform will also include gender and social indicators. The scholarship itself is a tool to support young professionals from the region, especially women.

This project connects local actions with international objectives. It contributes to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and supports the Agadir Commitment. At the same time, it brings tools and visibility to the territories, helping communities restore their landscapes in a more inclusive and sustainable way.