31. Holistic Landscape Restoration and Inspirational Returns – with Willem Ferwerda from Commonland

Almost 40% of Earth’s land is degraded, meaning that the natural cycles that sustain biodiversity, water, food, and livelihoods are breaking down. This degradation is an ecological crisis, and, it also lies at the root of massive social breakdown, displacement, and conflict. And it’s accelerating.

In this episode, I speak with Dutch ecologist and entrepreneur Willem Ferwerda, founder of Commonland, one of the leading global initiatives tackling land degradation via large-scale holistic landscape restoration. Their work spans over 20 countries, with projects restoring millions of hectares from South Africa to Spain, Australia to the Netherlands. We get into their unique 4 Returns Framework - a powerful, intuitive model that integrates ecological, social, financial, and inspirational/spiritual returns.

We talk about:

• Communities building long-term visions together across sectors
• The importance of meeting different audiences where they are
• The role of storytelling, spirituality, and local leadership
• How restoring land helps restore meaning and purpose
• And how, ultimately, all this work is about regenerating life

Episode Website Link

Show links:

• The 4 Returns Framework in Practice
• 4 Returns Framework Publication
• 4 Returns Framework for Landscape Restoration
• 4 Returns Diagnostic Tool
• The Meaning of Laudato Si for a Landscape Ethic
• Towards financing large-scale holistic landscape restoration in Europe
• The Trillion-Dollar Promise Of A Landscape Restoration Industry, Forbes
• We must tackle global risks in an integrated way – here’s how
• How the Ecosystem Approach supports “Cooperation in a Fragmented World"
• Albania landscape project

Look out for meditations, poems and readings in between episodes.

Music: Electric Ethnicity by Igor Dvorkin, Duncan Pittock & Ellie Kidd

Photo Credit: Commonland

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