Fig. 106: Restoration opportunities map for Sidhi vacant areas indicate excluded areas for restoration interventions

with stakeholders, and ground data collection (Figure 3).For undertaking this analysis,Collect Earth1Based Mapathon2 tools were used to collect data on variables including tree cover, tree count, land use, patterns of existing tree-based restoration interventions in agricultural lands, and potential for increasing tree cover in a landscape.

The results indicate that Sidhi has immense potential for landscape restoration over 300,000 hectares. The highest potential is identified on agricultural land (57%), followed by forest land (35%).

Fig. 106: Restoration opportunities map for Sidhi (vacant areas indicate excluded areas for restoration interventions) [Source: Singh et al., 2020]

Ecosystem services analysis undertaken for biodiversity conservation and erosion control:

y Biodiversity conservation: Area was mapped based on geospatial data on forest fragmentation (Global

Land Cover Facility 2016) and buffer zones around protected areas that are legally designated for protection and conservation. y Erosion control: Spatial layer on erosion control was developed using the Soil Conservation Service-

Curve Number model (U.S. Soil Conservation Service 2004). y Geospatial Monitoring of pilot implementation: To monitor restoration progress, aninterdisciplinary geospatial monitoring framework is being developed with data collection through a citizen science approach through a mobile app combined with remote sensing and secondary data to monitor progress on social and economic indicators.

Key Outputs

The learnings emerging from the current pilot implementation showcase a path forward for other poor and climate-vulnerable districts in India and globally. The findings indicate that there is immense opportunity for landscape restoration, which could provide a range of ecosystem services and developmental benefits, including the potential for the creation of 30,000 jobs in one district.

These learnings can enable the creation of more inclusive restoration strategies and implementation plans

1 I Collect Earth is a data collection platform that enables users to analyse and interpret high resolution satellite imagery (from Google maps, Bing maps and Digital Globe imagery) and collect data on tree cover, tree count, land use, land use land cover change, etc.

2 Mapathons are intensive data collection exercised that involve bringing together a group of GIS-expertise and local people to analyse satellite images to collect and generate various geospatial data such as land use, tree cover, species, etc.

that can aid in meeting India’s international commitment and aid in breaking sectoral silos that currently exist in planning and implementation. The path forward for operationalizing Sidhi’s opportunity assessment requires addressing several identified barriers through a series and accelerators and pilot implementation, which is currently being undertaken with support and guidance from the state government and district administration and other key stakeholders.

Outcomes Achieved

The implementation in the pilot cluster was initiated in 2021, and in the initial years, nine times more public funding has been converged for the pilot cluster of ~9000 ha, leveraging catalytic CSR funding for work on enabling conditions for implementation. This has also resulted in creating a work demand of 4,081 days from households, 6,463 persons received wage employment, and a total of 38,778 person-days of jobs with an employment value of INR 7,484,154 (~USD 9,500) through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the initial months.

The landscape restoration program in Sidhi envisages multiple outcomes, viz. recognition by key state actors of landscape approach/restoration as a key NBS for achieving climate and development goals and supporting in reducing policy barriers. The economic and social benefits of landscape restoration are demonstrated through the creation of jobs and the enhancement of livelihoods, and a cohort of local stakeholders is publicly reporting restoration monitoring data.

Contact Information

Authors: Name of Contact Person: Designation: Organization Name: Email: Telephone: Dr. Ruchika Singh, Dr. Pulakesh Das, Shweta Prajapati, Srishti Kochhar Dr. Pulakesh Das

Senior Project Associate World Resources Institute India pulakesh.das@wri.org +91-9932575903

Alignment with the IGIF Framework

S.no IGIF Strategic pathway Remarks

SP3 Financial A clear and blended funding mechanism has been established for the project. The project also resulted in creating a work demand with several thousand persons receiving wage employment through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). This highlight the benefits realization of geospatial information management. Value chains and market linkages were developed for agri-horti-forestry products and incubating restoration businesses through an FPO to ensure the flow of financial benefits to local communities.

SP4 Data The project exemplifies geospatial information management and dissemination for developing a value proposition that impacts social and ecological goals. The case also highlights the integration of data themes and data interlinkages.

SP7 Partnerships A wide variety of stakeholders were involved in the execution of the project bringing in different perspectives, talents and resources.