The hands-on guide to 4 Returns holistic landscape regeneration
Over the past ten years, Commonland and a group of landscape partners developed and tested the 4 Returns approach to large-scale holistic landscape restoration. During those years, we gained many insights into what works in certain contexts and what does not. Although we recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all, many lessons apply more universally. So, by sharing our knowledge, we hope to help you move faster and create a bigger impact in your landscape. Determine for yourself what will work in your context, and what may not.
Each module presents best practices in a high-level, easy overview. For a higher level of detail and more practical pointers, a host of tools, examples, stories and other resources are connected to help you dive deeper and apply the knowledge in practice. You can go through the modules one by one or dive right into those most relevant to you.
The 4 Returns Framework
What are the 5 elements, 4 Returns, 3 zones, and 20 years? Learn our common language towards holistic landscape restoration....
4 Returns principles
What are the key principles of the 4 Returns approach? These principles have developed over 10 years of co-creative regeneration work with our partners. Adopting these principles in your landscape initiative, will make you part of our shared mission...
Creating spaces of belonging with Theory U
Applied to systems change around the world, and adapted for landscape restoration, Theory U has become an intrinsic part of the 4 Returns framework. This module shows how you can use Theory U in your landscape initiative. ...
Partnership building
Time to put words into action. Where do you start? How do you build a coalition of likeminded organisations? This document gives some pointers on how to do this. This module is still under development. Stay tuned! ...
Defining the landscape
This module helps you select and define the boundaries of your landscape; whether you have or have not already selected your landscape. It also guides you through the scouting process, in case this is required. This module is under development...
Sharing an understanding of the landscape
Every landscape has its unique history and state, including a.o. its people, politics, economy. ecology, and climate. This module will teach you how to investigate and understand this context with a landscape and stakeholder analysis. Cover photo by The Way Between ...
Developing a shared landscape vision
It all start with a vision. A shared vision for the future brings hope and a shared purpose. This will form the fabric on which to rely in the rest of the landscape partnership's joint work. This module is under...
Creating a landscape plan
A landscape plan is the landscape's strategy and plan for the coming 20 years. It includes an identification of the 3 zones and planned activities for each of the zones....
Monitoring, evaluation, and learning
MEL is vital for successful landscape restoration initiatives. Monitoring involves collecting data, evaluation is an assessment of these data, and learning is using this assessment to improve your approach where needed. While there is an element dedicated to Monitoring...
Landscape teams
Local ownership of a landscape initiative is key to sustainable solutions. So, whether the initiative is convened by an external organisation or not, we believe that local coordination should be organised as much as possible from the beginning. This...
Regenerative business
In order for restoration of degraded lands around the world to accelerate, we need the power of business to transform toward more regenerative business cases and business models. This module brings lessons learned from several 4 Returns businesses. ...
Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative Agriculture can be a catalyst for holistic landscape restoration. The movement has grown more popular over the past years, bringing both opportunities and risks. This module will guide you through the basic concepts, practices, and examples of regenerative...
Inspiring communities
A healthy landscape provides us with food, resources, fresh air, well-being and a stable climate. Yet, many people are disconnected from their landscape. How can we bring back hope and inspiration into a landscape? How can we truly connect to...
Storytelling for landscape restoration
Stories have an incredible power to change the way we think and act. Telling stories can therefore be incredibly effective in inspiring positive change in landscapes. In this module, you'll learn tips and tricks for telling your landscape's stories. This...