09/06/2026
“If we don’t care for our land, who will?”
This powerful question shaped discussions as we kicked off Day 1 of the Restoring Our Landscapes training programme for Community Guardians, supported by Commonland and facilitated by the Southern African Wildlife College.
The training brought together Community Guardians from across our project areas (Nyaminyami, Mbire & Binga districts) to learn, share experiences, and reflect on the role communities play in restoring and caring for the landscapes they depend on.
Participants shared their thoughts on what landscape restoration means to them and why it is important.
"What happens in a landscape determines how people feel when they hear the word landscape. If we want to talk about landscape restoration, we should ensure that every community member is involved. We face the same problems in our landscape, but people have different views of it based on how they see and experience it." – Douglas Goredema, Community Guardian, Ward 11, Mbire District
Douglas highlighted the importance of bringing communities together and ensuring that everyone has a role to play in restoring the landscapes they share.
"We cannot live without nature, and in turn nature cannot live without us. We need to be mindful of the activities that affect our landscape and make sure that we take care of it." – Knowledge Chiriga, Community Guardian, Ward 7, Nyaminyami District
Knowledge's reflection reminded participants that healthy landscapes depend on the choices people make every day, and that caring for nature is a shared responsibility.
As the training continues, Community Guardians will build their knowledge and skills while exploring practical ways to support landscape restoration in their communities.
