Fellowship applications are now open for two individuals from African biosphere reserves involved in restoration work to join the GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme (GRÓ LRT). The program offers a six-month annual training in Iceland, focusing on land restoration and sustainable land management, hosted by the Agricultural University of Iceland.

Ecosystem restoration was the main theme of last year's 7th General Assembly of the African Biosphere Reserves Network (AfriMAB), highlighting its critical role in the region as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). With the upcoming 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in 2025 in China, restoration will remain a key component of the program's new Strategy and Action Plan, offering solutions to poverty, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

The GRÓ LRT program is divided into two phases: the first 12 weeks focus on coursework, practical training, and field trips, while the remaining 12 weeks are dedicated to individual projects tailored to each Fellow’s background and needs. Graduates earn a Postgraduate Diploma in Ecosystem Restoration and Sustainable Land Management (30 ECTS) from the Agricultural University of Iceland.

The GRÓ LRT, established in 2019 by Iceland and UNESCO, operates under UNESCO’s auspices and focuses on four key areas: gender, fisheries, geothermal energy, and land restoration, providing postgraduate training for professionals from middle- and low-income countries in the field of land restoration and sustainable management.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 30 September 2024.