Dear ReWilder,
At ReWild, we are strong believers that this next stage of ecological restoration, the stage when there is no doubt in anyone’s minds that climate change and biodiversity loss are the two greatest threats facing our species and planet, will be defined by a need, or necessity for, collaboration. Collaboration that spans borders, cultures, professions, sectors, governments, NGOs and private sector; the great uniter that binds us together in our collective fate. This movement is already here.
What the restoration movement needs is connection, knowledge sharing, data and statistics, community building, access to funding, access to expert advice and local knowledge. It is these exact challenges that the platform Restor is aiming to solve.
Restor showcases restoration efforts through its mapping software, supports the practitioners and communities protecting and restoring nature through data insights, knowledge sharing, access to funding, science, and local advice. Satellite imagery measures things like soil carbon, tree coverage, and tracks the progress of a project over time; highlighting traceability and transparency in projects and supply chains.
The Restor platform is a value-driven network that provides its practitioners with a network of resources that drive valuable change. Land restoration projects often grapple with common challenges, particularly establishing a solid foundation through a network that shares the project’s goal. On the platform you gain access to local projects that you can support, share your project with, and collaborate in creating real impact.
The Restor platform serves as a global source of inspiration for land restoration, featuring diverse and remarkable projects spanning the globe.
We recently had the opportunity to create Restor’s official platform trailer, and along the way we got to film three incredibly diverse projects in South Africa, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.
Creative Director & Editor: Julian Culverhouse
Cinematographers: Julian Culverhouse, Luke Nelson, and Gareth Williams
Restor Project Profile: Desta’s Coffee Jungle | Ethiopia
In this film, Desta Kebede runs a regenerative coffee farm in Ethiopia, using agroforestry and permaculture techniques to grow sustainable coffee that forms part of the ecosystem. Working with the land, Desta’s Coffee Jungle produces a product that supports the local people, enriches the land, and creates a thriving socio-ecological ecosystem of economy and ecology.
The Ethiopian coffee sector faces formidable challenges, with climate change and shifting agricultural practices, fluctuating markets, and mass mono-culture farming that is susceptible to drought and changing weather patterns. Desta’s Coffee Jungle provides an alternative, one that is economically viable, uses traditional and indigenous ways of farming, works with the land, increases topsoil, and reduces the need for pesticides and harmful chemicals.
Restor Project Profile: Ferncliffe Forest Wilding | Pietermaritzburg
Another wonderful example of land restoration featured on the Restor platform, Ferncliffe is a small area of rich biodiversity on the borders of urban Pietermaritzburg. Once overrun with invasive species such as bamboo, Ferncliffe has been actively managing invasives, and replanting a rich diversity of indigenous trees. Their approach is slower than usual, choosing to plant more mature trees with a higher chance of survival, and tending them through to maturity. This approach of the right tree in the right place and at the right time is so important to encourage thriving ecosystems.
We love the work they are doing at Ferncliffe, including encouraging wildlife corridors and promoting rewilding on the land; and we encourage you to pay them a visit if you are in the area!
Restor Project Profile: Indonesia Biru Foundation | Coral Reef Restoration
The third project we had the opportunity to visit for Restor was the Indonesia Biru Foundation, an amazing restoration initiative that is restoring coral reefs and educating and engaging local communities in Indonesia.
We have lost over 50% of our coral reefs worldwide, and the degradation coral reefs worldwide is not only a massive loss to biodiversity and resilient ocean ecosystems, but the effects of which will affect coastal areas protection from waves, access to ocean livelihoods that support millions of people worldwide, and huge amounts of carbon will be released into the atmosphere. The ocean is the unsung hero of oxygen production and carbon capture, and coral reefs play a big role in regulating our climate.
We are so inspired by projects like Indonesia Biru Foundation, and the thing they remind us the most is that all ecosystems play a role in creating the functions necessary for all life on earth; and it is up to us to be stewards of the land and sea to ensure the future livability of this planet we call home.
Sharing restoration stories like these is crucial, as storytelling provides an opportunity to unlock immense potential for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and even funding opportunities. Stories have a unique ability to resonate emotionally, bridging gaps and creating a shared understanding. Having these stories on a single platform, creates a centralised hub that amplifies their impact. It draws attention to critical issues and inspires people to take collective action. This approach facilitates collaboration by connecting individuals, organisations, and resources, leading to more effective efforts.
Restor brings together diverse land restoration projects under one virtual roof. This integrated space serves as more than just a hub; it's a dynamic ecosystem where projects share, exchange, and connect for a greater cause. It's not merely a place to showcase projects; it's a catalyst for a shared vision of restoring and sustaining our lands for a better, greener future. We hope you enjoy it!
News From ReWild:
Ben is currently in Abu Dhabi with the CNN Climate Storytellers Academy on a two week bootcamp! We are so excited for Ben to connect with so many exceptional global south storytellers on this journey!
Ale and Gareth just returned from a shoot with WWF South Africa filming in Grabouw for a story about women entrepreneurs - watch this space!
Meg and Justin are in Tanzania for three weeks on two back-to-back shoots! Telling the stories of how new medical technology is helping to break down barriers to access. Good luck!
As the end of the year draws to a close, we have been reflecting a lot on what an exceptional year it has been for us as storytellers; we feel so incredibly honoured to have the opportunity to tell so many amazing stories and connect with such inspiring people.
“I am quite confident that even as the oceans boil, and the hurricanes beat violently against our once safe shores, and the air sweats with the heat of impending doom, and our fists protest the denial of climate justice, that there is a path to take that has nothing to do with victory or defeat: a place we do not yet know the coordinates to; a question we do not yet know how to ask. The point of the departed arrow is not merely to pierce the bullseye and carry the trophy: the point of the arrow is to sing the wind and remake the world in the brevity of flight.” - Bayo Akomolafe
Wild Regards,
Team ReWild Africa