This article was first published on the Ecosystems Innovation Substack by John Stubley, Sol Slattery and Shenali Perera. Follow Ecosystems Innovation for more insights from our colleagues in Western Australia on the world of restoration.
Recent reflections by Commonland Founder Willem Ferwerda from a dialogue session at the COP17 UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
As COP17 draws to a close today, we wanted to highlight some recent reflections by Commonland Founder Willem Ferwerda following a dialogue session hosted at the event in Mongolia.
Willem co-hosted a session titled ‘The Inner Dimension of the Landscape Restoration Industry’.
Of the dialogue he writes: “…Unlike most sessions at this event, this one focused not on hectares restored or finance mobilized, but on the human and purpose-driven story behind large scale landscape restoration. We talk a lot about science, technology, policy, and finance as the pillars of the restoration economy. And they are essential. But this afternoon we explored a quieter, often overlooked question: what actually is the inner dimension of people through the long, hard work of bringing ecosystem functioning, regenerative agriculture, water flows, and biodiversity back in those degraded landscapes?
“The answer, that both the panel and participants from all over the world shared, comes back to purpose, and a deep sense of connection to nature. Many of the world’s most committed restoration practitioners trace their dedication back to a personal, transformative experience in the natural world — not a spreadsheet, maximising ROI/ha at all cost, or a policy brief…“
Willem co-hosted the dialogue with fellow landscape restoration practitioners, describing their contributions as follows: “Helmy Abouleish of SEKEM Group — on the importance of learning, schools and Economy of Love in advancing biodynamic farming and restoration in Egypt; Coenraad Krijger of Wetlands International — on his personal quest and professional journey in conservation and restoration, Jason Neff of Syngenta — on the force of inspiration and challenges within the corporate world. And Bethanie Walder, director of Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), for your beautiful summary that hopefully will guide present and next generations: Restoration is the antidote to despair!”