Today, 28 September 2023, eight faith-based organisations in four African countries met online to outline on their success in using the Faith Plans framework. The framework helped them to create dynamic programmes which will support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework global targets for 2030.
These eight groups – four in Kenya, two in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one in Burundi and one in Tanzania – were supported by the Faith Plans team and the WWF Beliefs and Values Programme:
Christian Community Development Association of Africa (CCDA)
AJVDC Goma Catholic Diocese, DRC
Green Anglicans Movement (GAM), Kenya
Partnership for Green Future (PGF), Tanzania
Scout Group Espoir de Gitega, Burundi
Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC-FA)
SOPRODE, DRC
Catholic Diocese of Kakamega (CJPD),Kenya
Seventeen million trees over twenty thousand hectares of land
In a webinar facilitated by independent consultant Tom Barasa Wafula on behalf of WWF, the groups revealed that, between them, they plan to grow over 17.7 million trees over the next ten years. This will restore over 20,000 hectares of land through:
Tree growing
Capacity building of faith leaders
Awareness raising among congregations on creation care
Sustainable agriculture
Outreach to youth through faith based learning institutions
A tribute to the late Rev Stephen Opanga
Barasa held a moment's silence for Rev Stephen Opanga, who had recently passed away after a time in hospital, and paid tribute to his dedication to the work of the Christian Community Development Association of Africa (CCDA).
Celebrating the work of the eight faith groups
Chantal Elkin, Head of WWF's Beliefs and Values Programme (BVP, UK) celebrated the work of the eight groups and reported that, by 2030, faiths will be contributing in meaningful ways to the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework through on the ground action in important biodiversity areas by:
Restoring thousands of hectares of land that faiths own and influence
Galvanising faith networks and populations for tree growing
Practicing sustainable, faith-based agriculture
Sensitising the faithful on the relationship between faith beliefs and values, and the protection & restoration of nature
Demonstrating impact in pilot projects for People, Nature & Climate
Sharing faith & restoration stories and experiences with the world
Connecting with policymakers to include faith voices on restoration approaches and policies
Next steps
Barasa introduced Mwizeere Ruth Edma to talk about a web platform called Restor which, literally, maps thousands of environmental projects around the world and monitors them via satellite to provide genuine evidence of progress.
Ruth showed the groups how to set up a profile and map their work. She explained that while Restor doesn't provide funding, it collates various funding opportunities which are searchable by country and theme, to implement environmental initiatives.
Now that the eight groups have completed their Faith Plans, they are ready to begin implementing them. The plans are ambitious, but their communities are committed to achieving them,
How the Faith Plans framework can help you
The Faith Plans Seven Key Areas framework begins with Key Area One: Assets. This includes information and guidelines to help faith organisations to explore how to manage natural assets such as land, forests and woodland, and nature in line with their values. Find out more at https://www.faithplans.org/land-forests-and-nature
If you would like more information about the Faith Plans framework or any of the Seven Key Areas, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which was adoped at COP 15 in 2022, contains 23 global targets to be actioned before 2030. To find out more visit https://www.cbd.int/gbf/