Empowering Local Voices for Regeneration: A Pathway to Resilient Landscapes

Sustainable Agriculture Network
Apr 23
3 min read

The future of forests and communities depends on how we design and govern our landscapes today. In global forums such as the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), the conversation is shifting: from protecting nature in isolation to regenerating it through inclusive, community-led approaches. As part of this evolving dialogue, José Joaquín Campos, CEO of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) and panelist at the Hybrid Conference GLF Forests 2025: Defining the Next Decade of Action in Bonn, Germany, has emphasized a transformative path—one that puts local stakeholders at the heart of landscape restoration.

This blog explores SAN’s perspective on how participatory governance, data democratization, and regenerative agriculture come together to drive meaningful, lasting change across territories.

Download the full publication “Empowering Local Stakeholders for Regenerative Landscapes: A Pathway to Resilient Forests and Communities” by José Joaquín Campos and explore the tools, case studies, and principles that are transforming landscapes from the ground up.

Fragile mushrooms emerge from a log blanketed in moss, representing the harmony and equilibrium in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity initiatives.

From Top-Down to Bottom-Up: Why Local Empowerment Matters

Too often, landscape restoration efforts fail to deliver lasting results because they exclude those closest to the land. SAN advocates for a different model—one that centers communities as co-creators of solutions. Empowered local governance is not a complement to sustainability—it’s a precondition.

Projects like TerraViva and Blueprint in Colombia exemplify this approach. In Planadas, coffee-growing communities co-developed their own Common Territorial Agenda through inclusive dialogues. Meanwhile, in Zona Bananera, the participatory Blueprint tool integrated satellite data with community insights to inform more effective, locally rooted planning.

Farmers in Planadas, Colombia, are actively participating in a transformative CMAS Pilot workshop, which stands for Climate, Agriculture, and Society. This initiative is designed to empower local voices and promote the creation of resilient landscapes that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change and shifting agricultural practices.

Regenerative Agriculture: Healing Landscapes, Not Just Preserving Them

Moving beyond traditional conservation, regenerative agriculture actively restores degraded ecosystems while improving livelihoods. Guided by the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance’s seven principles, SAN applies this framework to build landscapes that are ecologically vibrant and economically viable.

From shaded agroforestry systems in Colombia to Integrated Pest Management strategies in Malaysian oil palm plantations, regenerative practices enhance biodiversity, reduce reliance on harmful inputs, and support long-term farm resilience.

Democratizing Data with CMAS

Knowledge is power—especially when it’s community-owned. The Community-Based Monitoring and Assurance System (CMAS) equips farmers to document regenerative practices, monitor sustainability, and manage compliance data themselves.

By using mobile tools and georeferenced tracking, CMAS transforms sustainability monitoring from an external audit process into a collective learning and governance tool. In Planadas, this approach helped hundreds of farmers prepare for deforestation-free sourcing requirements and internal sustainability goals—while strengthening local institutions.

Download the case study: Community-Based Monitoring and Assurance System (CMAS)

Collective Impact Through Radical Collaboration

No single actor can regenerate landscapes alone. The path forward demands radical collaboration among governments, companies, civil society, and, above all, local communities. SAN’s partnership with Fundación Natura Colombia illustrates how participatory governance, locally owned data, and adaptive planning can be scaled while honoring local context.

Rather than top-down blueprints, these methods rely on co-design and continuous learning. They offer a blueprint for action that is as dynamic as the landscapes it aims to transform.

A Call to Regenerate

Restoring forest cover or mapping biodiversity hotspots is not enough. True regeneration means rebuilding the ecological, social, and economic systems that support life—starting from the ground up. It requires giving local communities not just a seat at the table, but the tools, trust, and authority to shape their futures.

The Sustainable Agriculture Network invites all stakeholders—policymakers, funders, companies, and practitioners—to invest in this vision of regenerative landscapes powered by community leadership.

Because the landscapes that heal best are the ones led by those who call them home.