Commonland:
Annual Report 2019
Bringing a holistic approach to landscape restoration
based on business cases
Dirty Clean Food brand launched
Wide Open Agriculture (WOA) launched its new food brand Dirty Clean Food together with a direct-to-consumer online sales platform for products grown by farmers who are committed to regenerative farming practices. The platform connects farmers who produce food using holistic and regenerative methods with restaurant, retail and online consumers. Total sales of $490,000 were achieved in the second half of 2019 (June to December).
read more4 Returns business model attracts national attention in Spain (article El País)
“We needed AlVelAl –this is really «the rain in May»”
Environmentalist Belén Sánchez told El País in an article on how AlVelAl’s farmers are stopping the desert.
The expression ‘like the rain in May’ is a campesino (country-side) one referring to the fundamental need of water in the spring, particularly April and May, to water the growing crops and to allow them to flourish. It means something is needed, is highly appreciated, and has come just in time.
“The aim is to empower rural people so they can take charge of their own destinies in a region that is socially and economically challenged” – Astrid Vargas, conservationist
read moreFirst harvest of Honeybush in the Langkloof and 93 ha of hillside rehabilitation in Baviaanskloof.
As part of a process to sustainably produce honeybush tea, the development of ‘Sustainable Harvest Plans’ for landowners has taken forward ‘research-based’ knowledge to become more ‘practically implementable’. With funds from Commonland and Stichting DOEN, 660 ha of land have been surveyed to determine the sustainable amount of honeybush that can be harvested. The plans also include wider-scale issues such as mapping alien invasive trees, which harms natural honeybush resources in the long-term.
Also, 93 hectares of hillside has been rehabilitated in the Baviaanskloof with hydrological improvement ponds, spekboom plantings, and alien tree removal.
read morePilot initiative Boeren van Amstel (Farmers of Amstel) entered the market.
2019 was also the year of the introduction of new business cases that were supported by Wij.land. The Boeren van Amstel (farmers of Amstel) dairy was introduced in local supermarkets.
read moreWhat are the 4 Returns?
Inspiration
Giving people hope and a sense of purpose.
Natural
Capital
Restoring biodiversity, soil, water quality and capturing carbon.
Financial
Capital
Realising long-term sustainable profit.
4 Returns impacts
to the opportunity of 4 returns landscape restoration
People exposed
to the opportunity of 4 returns landscape restoration
Direct and indirect jobs created and supported
Hectares under direct regeneration/restoration with early ripple effects to 2 million hectares across 4 landscapes
4 returns business cases identified or set up
1,5 milion
182
50.000
30
with landscape partners

10 year ambition:
10,000 people exposed and reached.
Year 5:
In 2019, Living Lands, Grounded, the Baviaanskloof Development Company and The Langkloof Honeybush Co. work directly with 35 landowners and farmers on rehabilitation and regenerative agriculture in the Baviaanskloof and Langkloof.
Our work has been presented at five key industry events and conferences and has been documented by the United Nations Environment Programme.
10 year ambition:
25 jobs provided and supported
Year 5:
To date, 65 direct jobs have been created.
Our work also directly supports four networks to build social capital between stakeholders in the landscape.
10 year ambition:
32,000 hectares under improved management
Year 5:
Total area under improved management in 2019: 11 354ha. A total 9000 hectares in the Baviaanskloof are being ‘freed up’ for rehabilitation in a phased approach.
In zone two, 1574 hectares are under direct rehabilitation and 660 hectares under sustainable honeybush harvest plans. In zone one, 120 hectares are under regenerative agriculture.
10 year ambition:
Improved cost-benefit ratios for farmers active in the Baviaanskloof Devco and Langkloof Honeybush Co.
Year 5:
As the business learns and adapts, the Baviaanskloof Devco and The Langkloof Honeybush Co. are stimulating the farmers’ sense of ownership through discussions on pricing and future profit-sharing mechanisms.

5-year ambition:
10,000+ people exposed to the opportunity of 4 returns landscape restoration, including 400+ community members & 200+ farmers & 10+ inspired initiatives.
Year 4:
In 2019, 1 million+ people were exposed to AlVelAl’s work with over 2,000 people (incl. 260 community members and 100+ farmers) participating in events and becoming aware of the opportunity of 4 returns landscape restoration and
3 AlVelAl-inspired projects sprouted.
5-year ambition:
10,000 ha under regenerative management farming and 20,000 ha positively influenced; 8,000 ha of corridors between 3 parks established reforested successful.
Year 4:
In 2019, around 10,000 ha are under improved
regenerative management and 20,000 hectares are positively influenced. Over 5,000 holm oaks were planted, 47,000 seeds were collected, germinated and planted in 2019, over 80+ hectares have all year green cover, 1,500 hectares of winter cover. In total 75km
of swales, 92 ponds and 45 farmers are applying hydric corrections to capture water in the landscape.
These on-farm regenerative actions have increased partly through the AlVelAl seed fund.
5-year ambition:
500+ AlVelAl members and 100+ farmers participate
in restoration through regenerative agriculture & natural land managements, 5+ partnerships and 30+ jobs supported or created.
Year 4:
In 2019, almost 300 AlVelAl members of which 80+ farmers participate in landscape restoration through regenerative agriculture practices and natural land management. Three new people have been hired in AlVelAl and 1 In Almendrehesa, at least 20 new businesses identified and sprouted from or inspired by AlVelAl, which
in turn have brought jobs for 10 people in setting up
business cases (via AlVelAl 4 Returns Awards).
5-year ambition:
Increased flow of funds (> 1,000,000 EUR) toward
4 returns initiatives and 5 investors committed.
Year 4:
Over 600,000 euros of increased funding flow toward holistic landscape vision and 3 new investors committed. Two new business cases in process (regenerative oil & food processing) and over 9 business cases supported by AlVelAl.
Food™ product

5-year ambition:
5,000 consumers and 10 farmers participate in new food and farm system.
Year 2:
In 2019 WOA had 64
online consumers and 35 restaurants/food service customers purchasing a Dirty Clean Food™ product with 5,599 followers
on social media and 3 new farmer partners either signing a WOAPP (Production Protocols) or Supplier Agreement.
5-year ambition:
Facilitate opportunities for regenerative entrepreneurship and skill development in target landscape - at least
20 trainings or farmer exchange events in collaboration with 5 long- term network partners.
Year 2:
In 2019, WOA provided direct employment, and supported indirect roles or key consultancies to 19
people. Our farmer partners or suppliers attended 8 events and are members
of 12 organisations based in WA region. WOA staff attended 19 community or industry events. WOA
collaborates with 10 network partners.
5-year ambition:
Help facilitate ecosystem health regeneration, increased number of hectares under improved management (in WOA’s land portfolio and through collaboration).
Year 2:
In 2019 WOA received commitments from 3 farmer partners together representing 25,911 hectares under improved holistic management following
the Soil Carbon Initiative commitments and performance areas.
5-year ambition:
Create a financially profitable 4Returns
company that can reinvest and diversify regenerative commercial ventures.
Year 2:
WOA posted a loss as per its Annual Report issued in June 2019. The company
commenced domestic sales of grass-fed beef and lamb to restaurants and food sector in June 2019, allowing the company to show a pathway to profitability with sales revenue of $400,000 in six months of operation.

5-year ambition:
1 million+ people inspired, 70 farmers participated in the initiative, 70 inspiring videos on regenerative practices.
Year 3:
In 2019, Wij.land exposed 500,000 people to their work, 58 farmers are actively participating, and 42 regenerative practice videos have been created.
5-year ambition:
1,000 ha under improved management practices, plus 250 ha of natural zones improved.
Year 3:
In 2019, another 150+ ha was put under improved management, making 560 ha under improved management. A total of of 66 ha of natural zones have started improved management with soil
amendments & vegetation scans to be used in research going forward.
5-year ambition:
70+ farmers active in 100+ pilot activities, 5 farmers transition to regenerative farms & 3+ community activities organised.
Year 3:
In 2019, 58 farmers are experimenting on their farms with 70 pilot activities. 4 farmers have ‘nature farm plans’ though the transition is a learning process and community activities have not yet been implemented.
5-year ambition:
10 ‘4 returns business cases’ tested & validated, of which 2+ are profitable, plus 5 funders actively engaged.
Year 3:
In 2019, 7 «4 returns» business cases were in development, all in a start- up phase. Currently, there are 4 public and private funders actively engaged.
Global impact
2019 South Africa

2019 Spain

2019 Australia

2019 The Netherlands

Landscape Developments
2019 at a glance
Restoring a landscape takes one generation (20 years).
This timeline show a snapshot of what happened on the
journey towards regeneration.
Landscape Development & Support
Knowledge, Education & Innovation
Building influence
Fund mobilization
Organisation
We are doers, not dreamers
Being aware that sustainable landscape management is of great importance to find solutions on climate, food and biodiversity-related issues, this crisis has made clear that healthy ecosystems, healthy people and new ways of doing business are intrinsically linked.
read moreWe don’t know what a post-COVID-19 future will bring us on the short term, as many expect a severe economic crisis. What we do know is that a new normal needs systemic answers that are practical and doable.
read moreWe are collectively facing on a planetary scale climate change, biodiversity loss, floods, drought, wild fires, pandemics, inequality, food insecurity, unemployment and the potential of economic collapse. Ecosystem or as we call it here ‘landscape restoration’ is key to addressing all of the problems that humanity is facing at this time.
read moreSustainable Development Goals
The 4 Returns are addressing
all Sustainable Development Goals
Although the 4 Returns have a direct and/or indirect link with all SDG’s, there are eight SDG’s that align directly
with our 4 Returns, 3 Zones, 20 Years
approach.
Besides SDG’s 13, 14 and 15, Natural Capital logically contributes to SDG 2, 5, 6, 8, and 12.
read moreSDG 17 ‘Building partnerships’ is the conditional key to make holistic landscape management successful as it creates local Landscape Partnerships (bottom-up) and global partnerships (topdown) of funders, investors, policy and science.
read moreWe do this through the Theory U. A model from the Presencing Institute that supports in complex multi- stakeholder processes, by changing traditional thought patterns.
read more Although the 4 Returns have a direct and/or indirect link with all SDG’s, there are eight SDG’s that align directly
with our 4 Returns, 3 Zones, 20 Years
approach.
Besides SDG’s 13, 14 and 15, Natural Capital logically contributes to SDG 2, 5, 6, 8, and 12.
read moreSDG 17 ‘Building partnerships’ is the conditional key to make holistic landscape management successful as it creates local Landscape Partnerships (bottom-up) and global partnerships (topdown) of funders, investors, policy and science.
read moreWe do this through the Theory U. A model from the Presencing Institute that supports in complex multi- stakeholder processes, by changing traditional thought patterns.
read moreTestimonials
Willemijn de Iongh: "It’s been great to experience the natural process that a young organisation has to go through. Starting with the early adopters that have a clear vision and idea to bring into the world which – at the time – was quite radical in its shift from short-term & project-based to long- term and holistic thinking, the 4 returns approach."
read more

Tessa Snaterse: "So much has happened the past year at Commonland! I joined the team in January of 2019 and experienced how we redefined our organisation's strategy. This led to more long-term funding secured and the ability to grow the team and activities."
read more
"A highlight of our partnership in 2019 was coming together twice with a select group of partners and funders to discuss our common ground and ways to strengthen each other. Commonland connects people and is able to build bridges: in the field and also in the boardroom."
read more
"The IKEA Foundation cares for people and planet. If we are going to take
care of ourselves, we have to take care of the ecosystem we live in.
We need to ensure the food we produce is regenerating resources rather than depleting them and the landscapes we live in provide economic opportunities for all to thrive. We strongly believe that Commonland’s 4 Returns on investment in landscapes are key to achieving this."

"We are proud that thanks to the players of The Dutch Postcode Lottery, we have been able to support Commonland since 2016 in their
important work of large-scale landscape restoration in the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Western Australia. In 2018 when I visited the South African landscape, I experienced first-hand the positive effects on the local community when hope is restored."

"Commonland brings a network of knowledge in different areas that adds a lot of value to the Dutch Red Cross Princess Margriet Fund programs.
With a “hands-on” attitude, that knowledge is applied, and with this partnership we gain an extra depth in themes such as landscape restoration and how companies (should) restore and strengthen the ecological functions of the landscape."

"We are extremely happy with our collaboration with Commonland in 2019. Throughout the year we have worked closely together with great success on a number of fronts."
read moreRead more

Thank you!
None of what has been achieved in 2019 could have been realized without the teamwork and collaboration amongst our exceptional colleagues, funders, partners and all others who have contributed in so many ways. We truly appreciate your support and involvement and like to say: thank you!
COmON foundation, Charlotte de Mevius, Dutch Postcode Lottery, Gieskes Strijbis Foundation, Ecosia, Dioraphte Foundation, IKEA Foundation,
LGT Philantrophy, Overlegorgaan Fysieke Leefomgeving, Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Province of North Brabant.
International Union for Conservation of Nature | Commission on Ecosystem Management (IUCN CEM), Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration (GPFLR), Wageningen University, Erasmus University, Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Economics of
Land Degradation (ELD) Initiative, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Peace Parks Foundation, Red Cross, The IKEA Foundation, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Global Landscape Forum.
Everyone at our 4 Returns landscape partners: Grounded, Living Lands, Baviaanskloof DEVCO, Langkloof Honeybush CO, AlVelAl, La Almendrehesa,
Wide Open Agriculture, RegenWA, The University of Australia’s Centre for Social Impact, Sustain: the Australian Food Network, The Regional Regeneration Alliance, Dirty Clean Food, Wij.land, the Dutch Society for Nature Conservation (Natuurmonumenten), Basecamp Explorer
Foundation (BEF) and the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA), The Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) and the Simalaha Community Conservancy (SCC), LEOS and Physical Environment Consultative Council of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (OFL).