Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration plants seeds of regrowth

Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is an innovative method for sustainably managing trees to improve vegetation, land and soil fertility.

Rather than planting trees, farmers manage and cultivate the natural regrowth of trees. Particularly noteworthy is that FMNR requires no specialized equipment so it’s ideal for farmers and communities with limited access to resources.

FMNR has been practiced in various forms around the world for centuries. A recent, four-year study (called a “cost-benefit analysis”) of 19 World Vision Canada FMNR projects that reached 13,315 households found FMNR to be beneficial for participating communities.

The cost-benefit analysis showed that for every $1 invested in our FMNR projects, participants received $2.06 in combined economic and social benefits.

Four benefits of FMNR

1. A net increase in household income from the sale of crops, timber and non-timber forest products.
2. Reduced illness and death among children under five due to improved nutrition.
3. A reduction in CO² emissions.
4. Time saved from fuelwood collection that can then be spent on other productive activities.

These are benefits with long-lasting effects. Our forecasts estimate that over the 20-year implementation period for FMNR the lives of 224 children under five will be saved and the equivalent of over 3,000 years of healthy life added, also of children under five.

Six ways we will support FMNR

World Vision is taking what we have learned through our FMNR projects to take specific action that will drive continued positive change and expand the practice to more countries and communities. The World Vision Partnership has set a 2024-2027 target for FMNR of restoring one billion hectares of degraded land globally. With the support of donors, World Vision Canada will contribute to this effort in six ways:

1. Implementing long-term, sustainable FMNR interventions that build on traditional knowledge. This is accomplished through a farmer-driven approach that empowers them to experiment and adapt FMNR practices to meet individual and community needs.
2. Considering a range of environmental, social and economic factors when first determining whether to include FMNR in a project. This is done through a needs assessment for the area.
3. Encouraging FMNR as a valuable starting point for addressing land degradation issues, especially in areas where food insecurity, drought, conflict and other symptoms of poor environmental resilience to climate and environmental shocks are the results.
4. Acknowledging that FMNR is a foundational intervention. Therefore, it can be implemented with any programming that can benefit from healthy, functioning ecosystems, functional water cycles, increased and more secure access to food and income, or reduced climate impacts.
5. Strengthening the land’s resilience and long-term family livelihoods by using FMNR as a disaster mitigation strategy. Following a disaster, FMNR activities can provide valuable assistance in helping the land recover. In cooperation with other programs it can contribute toward short-term emergency relief while also supporting the re-establishment of livelihood systems.
6. Increasing tree cover by integrating FMNR into farmland and restoring degraded forests. More trees allow for the absorption of greater volumes of carbon. This can mitigate the impact of climate change and allow new opportunities for added income sources such as carbon credits that can be “traded” in a carbon market for carbon offsetting.

For a more detailed look at World Vision Canada’s FMNR projects, including data on our cost-benefit analysis, please see the 2024 Annual Results Report from which this story was adapted.