Title : An agroecology based landscape restoration and market integration model: Lessons from the FAHAP–RECLAIM framework in West Africa
Abstract:
Global food systems are increasingly shaped by land degradation, climate variability, declining soil productivity, and fragmented rural markets. Across West Africa, smallholder farmers operate within landscapes affected by mining-related degradation, limited mechanization access, and weak valuechain integration. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires systemic models that restore ecological integrity while strengthening rural livelihoods and economic incentives. This presentation introduces the FAHAP–RECLAIM Framework, an integrated agroecologybased model developed by GetCare Foundation that combines community-led landscape restoration, climate-resilient agronomic systems, and structured market integration. The framework brings together two complementary initiatives: RECLAIM, which focuses on ecological rehabilitation of degraded mining landscapes through regenerative land-use transitions, and FAHAP (Farming Against Hunger and Poverty), which supports farmers through agronomic training, shared mechanization services, soil health restoration, cooperative organization, and coordinated market linking. Unlike conventional project-based interventions that separate environmental recovery from agricultural productivity, the FAHAP–RECLAIM approach positions restoration and economic viability as mutually reinforcing systems. Restoration activities create opportunities for diversified agroforestry and regenerative production systems, while agricultural economics principles guide value-chain coordination, cooperative participation, and productivity incentives. By embedding economic logic within ecological recovery, the model enhances farmer adoption of regenerative practices beyond conservation-driven motivation alone. Climate-resilient agronomic practices—including soil regeneration, crop diversification, adaptive production planning, and integrated land management—are embedded within local governance structures to ensure social legitimacy and reduced land-use conflict. Early implementation experiences in Ghana demonstrate that integrating restoration with structured market access significantly improves adoption of sustainable practices and strengthens household income stability. The FAHAP–RECLAIM Framework contributes to global agroecology discourse by advancing a systems-level pathway that bridges landscape restoration, rural economic transformation, and climate-responsive agriculture. It argues that regenerative transitions in developing regions must move beyond isolated pilot interventions toward integrated landscape-market architectures that align ecological restoration with inclusive economic development. Lessons from West Africa suggest that aligning restoration strategies with cooperative market systems and climate-smart agronomy can accelerate food systems transformation while enhancing resilience. The framework offers replicable insights for policymakers, development institutions, and practitioners seeking scalable, economically grounded models of regenerative agricultural development.
