Making Biodiversity a Priority in Peru, Nepal & Uganda through Analog Forestry
Analog Forestry (AF) is a system of ecological restoration that focuses on increasing biodiversity by imitating natural forest systems in order to create economically productive and environmentally mature forests. It increases the biodiversity and ecological resilience of a landscape by making use of natural ecological succession and forest functions, consequently strengthening rural livelihoods.
Inspired by the forest gardens of Asia and similar practices around the world, in the late 1980s, Dr. Ranil Senanayake started developing and applying the concept of AF in Sri Lanka to create ecosystems similar or “analogous” to original forests that meet the economic needs of farmers.
According to the International Analog Forestry Network (IAFN), analog forestry is a pathway towards locally led climate change adaptation and mitigation, gender and social justice and transforming our food production systems. In December 2024, the IAFN in collaboration with its partner in Uganda, Peru and Nepal launched a book titled, ‘Biodiversity is a priority. Community-led landscape restoration applying Analog Forestry - Stories from Peru, Nepal and Uganda’.
This book presents three case studies which aim to demonstrate and showcase Analog Forestry as a gender-just climate and biodiversity solution that ensures critical ecosystems protection and restoration centered on principles of equity and care for people and planet. According to the Book, IAFN partners - Kikandwa Environmental Association (KEA) and Rural Development Media Communications (RUDMEC), based in the Mityana and Sironko districts, respectively, have promoted ecosystem regeneration through the Analog Forestry approach with notable benefits in Uganda. They have been working towards regenerating degraded forest landscapes, heightening community stewardship of their remnant natural forests, and conserving indigenous species of plants for medicinal, agricultural and other purposes, as well as improving livelihoods.
In Mityana (Kikandwa subcounty), KEA introduced Analog Forestry and now more than 20 households are practicing it. In Sironko (Greater Buhugu), after training by KEA in 2019, up to 30 households are practicing Analog Forestry. Its introduction was mainly due to an interest in regenerating landscape ecology for Mityana, Sironko, Bulambuli and Mukono, given that many communities are farmers with diverse tree products and service-related needs. In addition, population pressures in Sironko and Bulambuli limit farm sizes and farmers embrace all options, including Analog Forestry, to maximize yields (food and cash crops like Arabica coffee).
In Sironko, farmers have integrated trees into their banana and Arabica coffee farms and reported better yields. This was an earlier practice that had been abandoned. Trees are an important part of the household economy since they provide firewood and charcoal. But the scarcity of firewood and charcoal (with a sack of charcoal going for about 110,000 UgShs or 30USD) has resulted in theft and conflicts over use of the trees on individual plots. In Sironko and Bulambuli, sacred indigenous trees and other herbs are planted and conserved for cultural, medicinal, food, and other purposes. For example Markamia lutea is an important tree in the Imbalu (a manhood initiation and circumcision ceremony for young boys).
Analog Forestry is a practical option for restoring degraded land and increasing the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to climate change by incorporating sustainable land management approaches at the local level in line with Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets 2 (Restoring 30% of all Degraded Ecosystems), 8 (Minimize the Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity and Building Resilience), 10 (Enhancing Biodiversity and Sustainability in Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Forestry), and 23 (Ensure Gender Equality and a Gender-Responsive Approach for Biodiversity Action). Though issues of land ownership and size are a constraint, demand already exceeds supply for tree products and services. In order to conserve biodiversity, including agri-biodiversity, sufficient responsiveness is needed to curb further loss.
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