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Faith4Land Masterclass: Empowering Faith Communities for Land Restoration

Start date: Monday, 3 November 2025
End date: Friday, 7 November 2025
Location: London, United Kingdom

Faith institutions bring unique assets to ecosystem restoration, controlling 8% of global habitable land according to the World Resources Institute and possessing extensive educational networks. Their distinctive strengths include framing restoration as spiritual-environmental transformation, maintaining multi-generational commitments, and mobilizing communities through religious infrastructure like sacred lands and pilgrimage routes.

WWF’s Beliefs & Values Programme are the lead knowledge partners for this advanced masterclass that will equip faith leaders and faith-based organizations with practical knowledge, skills, and resources to implement effective land restoration initiatives on faith-owned lands. The aim is to scale land restoration by faith actors by leveraging their distinctive capabilities and extensive networks.

The 3-day course in London will cover:

  • Technical Capacity Building: Practical land restoration methods—such as assisted natural regeneration, agroforestry, sustainable agriculture, soil and water conservation, and reforestation with native species—which can offer impactful, scalable, and context-appropriate solutions for faith-based institutions with access to community networks and land
  • Resource Mobilization and Partnerships: Strategies for accessing funding and building partnerships specifically designed for land restoration initiatives by faith actors
  • Community Mobilization: Methods for engaging congregations and communities in sustainable ecosystem care through faith networks
  • Monitoring & Impact Assessment: Tailored approaches for tracking restoration progress that combine ecological and spiritual metrics
  • Leadership Development: Building capacity of faith leaders to advocate for and implement land restoration at scale

Participants will develop tailored land restoration plans for their faith-owned lands and join a global network of faith practitioners for ongoing support and knowledge exchange. The masterclass aims to unlock the transformative potential of religious institutions in achieving global restoration goals.

Who Should Apply?

This masterclass is designed for:

  • Religious leaders and executives with land management responsibilities
  • Faith-based organization staff overseeing land assets or environmental programs
  • Faith community members implementing or planning land restoration initiatives
  • Representatives from diverse faith traditions with interests in scaling land restoration efforts

Workshop Details

  • Dates: 3-7 November 2025 (TBC)
  • Location: London, United Kingdom
  • Fully Funded: The masterclass covers flights or train, accommodation, and lunch for selected participants. Visa costs are not included and the responsibility of each participant.
  • Application Deadline: 18 July 2025

Program Objectives

The masterclass aims to:

  • Strengthen the capacity of faith organizations to implement effective land restoration at scale
  • Build technical expertise in ecosystem restoration approaches adapted to faith contexts
  • Create sustainable funding models that align with religious values and institutional structures
  • Develop leadership capabilities among faith actors to champion restoration within their networks
  • Establish lasting partnerships between faith organizations, technical experts, and funding agencies
  • Contribute significantly to global restoration targets through coordinated action by faith actors

Selection Process

Participants will be selected to ensure:

  • Diversity of faith traditions and geographic representation
  • Balance of genders and roles within faith communities
  • Mix of experience levels in land restoration
  • Demonstrated commitment to implementing learning

Successful applicants will be notified by 15 August 2025, with detailed information about travel arrangements and pre-workshop materials. The G20 GLI can provide letters of invitation, but successful applicants will be responsible for securing their own visa.

Why Participate?

  • Gain practical skills in ecosystem restoration applicable to faith-owned lands
  • Connect with technical experts and funding organizations supporting restoration work
  • Join a global network of faith leaders committed to environmental stewardship
  • Develop a concrete land restoration action plan for your faith community’s land
  • Explore how restoration activities can enhance community engagement
  • Access ongoing technical support and opportunities for implementation

Ready to Apply?

Please complete the application form to be considered for this unique opportunity to strengthen your faith community’s contribution to global restoration efforts. Space is limited, and early applications are encouraged.

Apply Now

For questions, please contact: tal-olaimy@unccd.int

Register Now


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