Dear reader,

I'm delighted to share with you the Spring 2025 issue of our PROGREEN newsletter. As we continue to deepen our impact and scale integrated landscape approaches where they're needed most, this issue highlights the remarkable progress we're making together.

This issue showcases the strength of our partnerships: from Uzbekistan's $153M RESILAND launch to new data from Madagascar and Uganda on the wide-reaching benefits of nature-based tourism. We also spotlight progress on land tenure, restoration in Turkmenistan, and PROGREEN's work at the World Bank Land Conference.

Our upcoming Partnership Council meeting this June will provide an important opportunity to continue discussions on the programming and impact of PROGREEN as we chart our course for the future.

Siet Meijer

Program Manager, PROGREEN

PROGREEN HIGHLIGHTS

Stay connected with the latest from PROGREEN by following our official LinkedIn channel. We’re sharing stories, expert insights, and updates from across our global work on forests and landscapes.

We also want to hear from you—tag us in your posts or send us stories, photos, or updates from your PROGREEN-supported projects. Let’s amplify the impact together!

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EDITORIAL AND DIGITAL

How Nature-Based Tourism Boosts Local Economies: New Insights from Madagascar and Uganda

Backed by PROGREEN, the World Bank has piloted a new methodology to measure the local economic impacts of tourism in protected areas. The findings from Madagascar and Uganda show that every dollar spent by tourists generates income and opportunity far beyond the tourism sector—supporting local agriculture, services, and retail.

Access the presentation deck

Watch the recording

A healthy planet and people starts with sustainable landscapes, tenure, and transformative governance

At the World Bank's Land Conference, experts emphasized that secure land rights are essential for sustainable forest management.

The reality: While 3.3 billion people live within one kilometer of forests, only 10% have formal legal rights to manage this land. This insecurity discourages sustainable investments and hampers ecosystem protection.

Keep reading to learn how secure land rights turn communities into powerful allies against deforestation.

Read the story

PROJECT UPDATES

Launched during the Samarkand Climate Forum, Uzbekistan’s $153M RESILAND Project aims to restore over 250,000 hectares of land across six regions. Efforts include forest regeneration, pasture revival, water-saving techniques, erosion control, and the cultivation of medicinal and industrial plants. Read the key takeaways.

Read the press release

EVENTS

Ghana National Landscape Forum Highlights Natural Resources as Cornerstone of Economy

Accra, April 2-4: At the 2025 Ghana National Landscape Forum, leaders emphasized the nation’s deep reliance on natural resources. Despite a shift toward services, up to 45% of jobs still stem from sectors like agriculture and forestry. In 2021, ecosystem services alone were valued at $1.5M—nearly 2% of GDP.

PROGREEN-Supported Report Takes Bold Step Toward Landscape Restoration

Ashgabat, May 13-15: At CACCC-25, Turkmenistan unveiled a PROGREEN-supported report highlighting restoration and livelihood opportunities. Combining national expertise with global data and remote sensing, the study lays the groundwork for future action under the RESILAND CA program.

World Bank Land Conference 2025: From Awareness to Action

Washington, DC, May 5-8: PROGREEN joined over 1,000 global land sector leaders for the World Bank Land Conference, which focused on scaling up land sector initiatives and policy reforms through multi-stakeholder collaboration. PROGREEN maintained a strong presence with a dedicated booth, showcasing our work in sustainable landscape management. Watch our short video with Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim — Vice Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.