Restoration, when linked to sustainable value chain development (VCD), has the potential to tangibly benefit local stakeholders and increase their stake in its success and sustainability. The degree to which restoration initiatives have utilized these connections, or their level of success when they did it, is not well studied. This article examines the experiences of integrating inclusive forest-based VCD in selected projects in African drylands and Mesoamerican countries, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The results suggest that proximity to markets, pre-organized farmers and producers and the presence of local support structures and institutions (e.g., NGOs, community organizations, and government agencies) are the most common conditions sought by projects to enable the integration of VCD with restoration. To develop efficient linkages between restoration and commercially viable businesses, selected projects have applied various interventions (notably, improving access to markets and finance and integration of small producers into the value chain) and activities (e.g., financial, technical and organizational capacity building, and facilitation of partnerships between small producers and primate companies and SMEs). Under certain conditions, investments in VCD can support forests and land restoration. However, since restoring the productivity of degraded ecosystems may require multiple years during which farmers may experience income reductions, providing financial compensation for some years may be necessary.
Barua et al. (Wed,) studied this question.