About us

About the project

Demand4Restoration is a transdisciplinary research initiative that rethinks forest and landscape restoration in Madagascar by systematically integrating restoration demand — the desires, priorities, and needs expressed by different actor groups — into the design and evaluation of restoration interventions.

Operating across three diverse ecological regions, the project assesses over 30 past and ongoing restoration efforts to understand which social and ecological practices lead to effective outcomes for both people and nature. It then identifies where different actors — from farmers and local communities to NGOs and government — agree or diverge on what, where, and how restoration should happen.

This knowledge is used to co-create three demand-oriented restoration projects at the local level, and to develop national guidelines that promote more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable restoration. The project directly contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals and aligns with Madagascar’s restoration commitments under the Bonn Challenge.

Goal that guide us

Make restoration more effective for both people and nature

We aim to improve the social and ecological effectiveness of restoration by integrating the diverse needs, priorities, and visions of local, regional, national, and international actors into restoration design and practice.

Produce solution-oriented, transdisciplinary knowledge

By combining ecological, social, and economic expertise, we generate system, target, and transformation knowledge to support equitable and context-sensitive restoration across Madagascar’s major forest landscapes.

Support demand-driven restoration across scales

We co-create restoration interventions that reflect actual demand — from the ground up — and use this work to develop national guidelines that are informed by local realities and actor consensus.

Contribute to global restoration and sustainable development goals

Our work supports multiple SDGs, from climate action and biodiversity to poverty alleviation and gender equity, while addressing global challenges of land degradation and climate justice.

Our milestones

Project launch

The Demand4Restoration project officially begins, with a strong international and Malagasy consortium in place and initial coordination activities underway.April 2024

Mapping of existing interventions

Systematic selection and mapping of over 30 tree-based restoration interventions across Madagascar to assess their social and ecological effectiveness.January 2025

Field research and community engagement

Launch of household surveys, participatory workshops, and ecological assessments in three regions to collect data on restoration outcomes and local restoration demand.June 2025

National dialogue and knowledge sharing

Findings from the regional research are shared and discussed with practitioners, policy-makers, and civil society to co-create national restoration guidelines.January 2026

Policy uptake and scaling

Completion of the project with the publication of national guidelines, submission of funding proposals for new demand-driven restoration projects, and dissemination of scientific and policy outputs.March 2027

About Sub-projects A,B,C

Sub-project A – Restoration effectiveness

In Subproject A, we evaluate the effectiveness of existing restoration interventions for various actor groups, focusing on both social and ecological outcomes. This subproject also investigates how social and ecological factors influence restoration outcomes for different actors. The assessment integrates ecological measurements with surveys that evaluate the diverse benefits derived from nature. Utilizing the NCP-multifunctionality framework, the study merges ecosystem contributions with the demands of actor groups to assess restoration effectiveness and the distribution of outcomes. This work embodies system knowledge, which refers to understanding the systemic connections within existing social-ecological restoration interventions.

Subproject B – Identifying overlapping restoration demand

Subproject B maps restoration demand across Madagascar’s forests and mangroves, determining where restoration is prioritized by actors. The approach combines participatory future thinking, discrete choice experiments, and GIS mapping to identify target areas. By incorporating perspectives from communities, regional actors, national agencies, and international organizations through gender-sensitive methods, this subproject will create maps showing areas of agreement and divergence. These will help identify consensus opportunities and design safeguards for legitimate and beneficial restoration.

Subproject C – Co-creating three demand-oriented restoration projects

Subproject C translates scientific insights into restoration interventions and policy recommendations in Madagascar. Organizations will work with communities to develop fundable proposals aligned with local needs. Regional lessons will shape restoration strategies and guidelines for policy. These guidelines will help to implement demand-oriented restoration by balancing ecological goals with local needs. This subproject aims to create restoration models for Madagascar.