Introduction
The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform focused on sustainable landscapes, integrated land use, climate resilience, ecosystem restoration, and inclusive environmental governance. Established in 2013, the GLF brings together governments, scientists, Indigenous communities, youth leaders, NGOs, businesses, policymakers, and environmental organizations to address some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges.
The organization promotes the “landscape approach,” a holistic framework that balances environmental conservation, food security, economic development, biodiversity protection, and social equity across interconnected ecosystems and communities.
The GLF has become an influential global platform supporting international environmental goals, including the Paris Climate Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Through conferences, digital learning, partnerships, community programs, and policy dialogue, the GLF fosters collaboration and practical solutions for sustainable land management worldwide.
History and Background
Origins of the Global Landscapes Forum
The Global Landscapes Forum was officially launched in 2013 during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP19) in Warsaw, Poland. The platform emerged from the merger of two major environmental events:
- Forest Day
- Agriculture and Rural Development Day
This merger reflected growing international recognition that climate change, food systems, forests, biodiversity, agriculture, and livelihoods are deeply interconnected and should be addressed through integrated landscape management strategies.
Growth and Global Expansion
Since its founding, the GLF has expanded into a worldwide environmental knowledge network connecting organizations and stakeholders from more than 185 countries. According to official GLF data, the platform has:
- Connected thousands of organizations globally
- Reached more than one billion people through digital and media outreach
- Hosted international conferences and local initiatives
- Supported youth-led and community-based restoration efforts worldwide
Headquarters and Organizational Base
The GLF Secretariat is headquartered in Bonn, Germany, with operations and partnerships extending globally. The platform is led by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) in collaboration with founding partners including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank.
Mission and Purpose
Core Mission
The mission of the Global Landscapes Forum is to accelerate action toward sustainable, resilient, equitable, and productive landscapes through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and community engagement.
The organization works to support integrated solutions that address:
- Climate change
- Land degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Food insecurity
- Rural poverty
- Indigenous rights
- Sustainable finance
- Ecosystem restoration
The Landscape Approach
The GLF strongly promotes the “landscape approach,” which emphasizes managing landscapes holistically rather than addressing environmental or economic issues in isolation.
This approach integrates:
- Environmental conservation
- Agricultural productivity
- Economic development
- Community livelihoods
- Social justice
- Climate resilience
The organization believes that balancing these priorities at the landscape level can create long-term sustainable development outcomes.
Strategic Themes
The GLF organizes its work around five major themes:
- Landscape restoration
- Food and livelihoods
- Rights and inclusion
- Sustainable finance
- Measuring environmental progress
These themes guide the platform’s events, research, partnerships, and educational initiatives.
Commitment to Inclusion
The GLF prioritizes participation from:
- Indigenous Peoples
- Local communities
- Women and girls
- Youth leaders
- Smallholder farmers
- Grassroots environmental organizations
The platform emphasizes that sustainable environmental governance must include marginalized voices and community-led solutions.
Governance and Structure
Organizational Leadership
The Global Landscapes Forum operates under the leadership of CIFOR-ICRAF, one of the world’s leading forestry and agroforestry research institutions. The GLF collaborates closely with co-founders:
- UNEP
- The World Bank
Additionally, the organization works with a large network of charter members and partner institutions.
Charter Members and Partners
The GLF’s governance ecosystem includes more than 35 charter member organizations from sectors including:
- Environmental conservation
- Agriculture
- Climate policy
- Sustainable development
- Research and academia
- Indigenous rights
- International finance
Key partner organizations include:
- FAO
- WWF International
- Rainforest Alliance
- World Resources Institute
- Conservation International
- Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Global Community Structure
The GLF functions as a decentralized international network connecting:
- Researchers
- Policymakers
- NGOs
- Youth movements
- Restoration practitioners
- Community organizations
Its digital-first structure allows broad participation through virtual summits, webinars, online learning platforms, and local community chapters.
Funding and Grants
Sources of Funding
The Global Landscapes Forum receives support from multiple public and institutional funding sources. Official funding partners include:
- Government of Germany
- Government of Canada
- Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- Global Environment Facility (GEF)
- Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR)
Partnership-Based Financing
Unlike traditional grant-making foundations, the GLF primarily operates through:
- Strategic partnerships
- International donor funding
- Collaborative environmental programs
- Sponsorships
- Event participation
- Educational initiatives
The organization also helps facilitate sustainable finance mechanisms supporting restoration and climate resilience projects.
Sustainable Finance Initiatives
The GLF has become a recognized platform for discussions around landscape finance and green investment strategies.
Examples include:
- Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF)
- Finance for Nature Platform
- Land Degradation Neutrality Fund initiatives
These programs support investments in sustainable agriculture, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation.
Major Programs and Initiatives
GLFx Community Program
One of the GLF’s major grassroots initiatives is GLFx, a global network of local landscape organizations and community-led chapters launched in 2020.
GLFx supports:
- Community restoration projects
- Agroecology initiatives
- Sustainable livelihoods
- Knowledge exchange
- Youth engagement
- Local climate action
The initiative operates across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other regions.
Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL)
The Youth in Landscapes Initiative is one of the GLF’s most influential programs, connecting young environmental leaders and students globally.
The initiative provides:
- Leadership development
- Mentorship
- Networking opportunities
- Environmental training
- Capacity-building workshops
The program has engaged tens of thousands of young professionals and students worldwide.
Landscape Academy
The GLF Landscape Academy offers online and in-person education focused on:
- Landscape governance
- Restoration
- Climate action
- Sustainable finance
- Biodiversity conservation
The academy collaborates with universities and international organizations to strengthen environmental leadership skills globally.
Global Conferences and Events
The GLF hosts international conferences and summits addressing:
- Climate adaptation
- Nature-based solutions
- Restoration economies
- Regenerative agriculture
- Biodiversity conservation
- Sustainable investment
Many events are organized alongside major global climate and biodiversity conferences, including COP climate summits.
The platform combines physical events with virtual participation to increase accessibility and global engagement.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Ecosystem Restoration Leadership
The GLF has contributed significantly to global ecosystem restoration efforts and was named an official core partner for the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030).
Its restoration initiatives focus on:
- Reforestation
- Wetland restoration
- Agroforestry systems
- Community-led conservation
- Sustainable land management
Congo Peatlands Agreement
The GLF and associated partners played a role in supporting the Congo Peatlands Agreement, which aims to protect one of the world’s largest tropical peatland ecosystems.
This initiative helps address:
- Carbon storage protection
- Biodiversity conservation
- Sustainable land use planning
Sustainable Finance Innovation
The organization has supported innovative environmental finance models designed to attract long-term investment into sustainable landscapes and restoration projects.
Examples include:
- Green finance mechanisms
- Smallholder agricultural financing
- Sustainable commodity investment
- Restoration-focused investment platforms
Community and Youth Empowerment
Through GLFx and Youth in Landscapes, the GLF has empowered thousands of local leaders and young environmental advocates through:
- Seed funding
- Networking
- Educational programs
- Public visibility
- International collaboration
These initiatives help scale locally led environmental action globally.
Why the Global Landscapes Forum Matters for Interns and Researchers
The GLF provides valuable opportunities for students, interns, researchers, and sustainability professionals interested in:
- Climate policy
- Environmental governance
- Agroforestry
- Sustainable agriculture
- International development
- Biodiversity conservation
- Environmental finance
- Community-led restoration
Interns and participants may gain exposure to:
- International environmental policy
- Global climate negotiations
- Digital environmental communications
- Sustainable finance systems
- Restoration project design
- Multi-stakeholder collaboration
The organization’s global network and educational initiatives also provide strong professional development opportunities for emerging environmental leaders.
Conclusion
The Global Landscapes Forum has emerged as one of the world’s most influential environmental collaboration platforms focused on sustainable landscapes and integrated land use. Through global partnerships, community engagement, educational initiatives, and climate-focused dialogue, the GLF promotes practical solutions for some of the planet’s most urgent environmental and social challenges.
By connecting policymakers, researchers, Indigenous communities, youth leaders, and sustainability practitioners, the GLF continues advancing ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and inclusive development worldwide.
As environmental pressures intensify globally, the role of collaborative platforms like the GLF will remain essential in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future.
For more information, visit here.
