Water‐Smart Forest and Landscape Restoration: An Integrated Landscape‐Water‐Climate‐People Approach Tested in AFR100 Countries

Forests and trees play a critical role in the hydrological cycle by providing water-related ecosystem services (ES). However, they are also water consumers, highlighting the importance of considering water in forest and landscape restoration (FLR), which is often overlooked. This study investigates how to better integrate the forest-water nexus in policies, plans, and strategies under the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) to ensure effective and sustainable FLR without compromising water security and the livelihoods of local communities. To achieve this goal, the “Water-smart Forest and Landscape Restoration (W-FLR)” Tool was developed and pilot-tested in Ethiopia, Benin, and Madagascar, and replicated in Togo, using a six-step approach and cross-case analysis, involving international, national and local experts. The W-FLR Tool enabled the development and validation of W-FLR Roadmaps in each country, identifying priority actions related to policy mainstreaming, capacity development, and on-the-ground implementation of FLR. The case studies demonstrated the relevance of the Tool, its adaptability to different contexts and replicability, building on participatory approaches. The Tool can be used to position water-smart FLR actions as cost-effective and long-term investments. Thus, the W-FLR Tool can support practitioners, policymakers, and scientists to adopt a water-centric lens in FLR.