The need to work across many levels in a landscape to address the interconnected issues of food security, poverty, climate change, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss are discussed in a post on the blog of the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature initiative.

The article outlines how integrated land management (ILM) can only be effective if there are enabling policies and institutions.

In 2010, a new constitution was introduced in Kenya which devolves many government functions to counties, allowing for local people to make decisions about issues that affect them.

To better understand the challenges and opportunities of these changes in relation to natural resource management, the World Agroforestry Centre (through its Strengthening Rural Institutions Project) and EcoAgricutlure Partners have begun to work on improving the policy and institutional framework for ILM based on policymaker and civil society engagement.

This has involved researchers looking at ILM-related elements of Kenya’s current policy and institutional framework from the perspectives of both civil society and policymakers. Key stakeholders in 5 sites in the country then identified their policy needs and made recommendations for national or sub-national policymakers. Finally, civil society leaders and key county and national level policymakers worked together to improve the policy environment through a national level policy dialogue in late June 2014.

A number of recommendations came out of this dialogue, including: the need to empower civil society participation; support multi-stakeholder collaboration; implement integrated land use management plans; and harmonize and enforce policies that support ILM at national and county levels.

Read the full story: Policy Dialogues for Integrated Landscape Management: The Kenya Experience