Restoring Ecosystems and Strengthening Communities: International Conference

The international conference on “Restoring Ecosystems and Strengthening Communities” is jointly organised by GIZ, TERI, IUCN, ICIMOD, ICFRE, and FSI. The event is taking place from 8–10 October 2026 at the Sheraton New Delhi Hotel, Saket District Centre, New Delhi.

The conference is held under the Indo-German development cooperation project titled ‘Restore, Conserve and Protect Forest and Tree Cover for NDC Implementation in India (RECAP4NDC)’, commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Government, and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) alongside the State Forest Departments of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Over three days, the event will bring together national and international experts, policymakers, development practitioners, financial institutions, private sector representatives, civil society organisations, and community leaders to exchange knowledge and advance Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR).

The programme is structured around five interconnected themes:

• Restore: From Principles to Practice focuses on translating commitments into action through field experiences, practical implementation approaches, and lessons learned from restoration initiatives.
• Measure: Evidence for Ecosystems examines monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER), ecosystem services, and the evidence needed to demonstrate the ecological, social, and economic value of restoration.
• Invest: Finance for the Future explores innovative financing mechanisms, carbon markets, and strategies to mobilise private-sector participation and long-term investment in restoration landscapes.
• Enable: Policy that Generates Impact highlights the policy frameworks, governance mechanisms, and institutional arrangements that create an enabling environment for forest landscapes to thrive.
• Empower: Communities at the Centre emphasises the critical role of local communities through livelihood enhancement, capacity development, and inclusive participation in restoration and sustainable land management efforts.