Global Landscapes Forum Restoration Stewards Program 2027: Youth Landscape Restoration Fellowship Opportunity
Apply for the Global Landscapes Forum Restoration Stewards Program 2027. Learn about eligibility, benefits, funding, and how young leaders can join this global restoration fellowship
Overview of the Restoration Stewards Program 2027
The Restoration Stewards Program 2027 is a year-long global fellowship designed to support young people working in landscape and seascape restoration. The programme is aimed at emerging environmental leaders who are actively restoring ecosystems while supporting their local communities.
Launched in 2020 by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) and the Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL), the programme provides financial support, mentorship, and international visibility to young practitioners leading environmental restoration projects.
The initiative forms part of a broader global effort to promote sustainable land use, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience through youth leadership.
About the Global Landscapes Forum
The Global Landscapes Forum is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform dedicated to integrated land use, climate action, and ecosystem restoration.
The forum works toward achieving global environmental frameworks such as:
- The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- The Paris Climate Agreement
- The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
It promotes a holistic “landscape approach” that integrates food systems, livelihoods, biodiversity, climate action, and social equity.
Through partnerships with international organisations such as CIFOR-ICRAF, UNEP, and the World Bank, GLF supports global collaboration on sustainable landscape transformation.
About the Restoration Stewards Program
The Restoration Stewards Program is designed as a trust-based fellowship that supports young environmental leaders working across forests, oceans, wetlands, mountains, rangelands, peatlands, and drylands.
It prioritises inclusive leadership, especially for:
- Young women
- Indigenous communities
- Youth from rural and underserved regions
The programme emphasises equity, collaboration, and community-led environmental restoration.
Program Benefits for Selected Stewards
Successful applicants receive a comprehensive package of support over a one-year fellowship period.
Financial Support
- EUR 5,000 in trust-based funding for project implementation
Professional Development
- Mentorship from scientific and technical experts
- Capacity-building and training opportunities
- Access to global learning resources
Networking and Visibility
- Membership in a global youth restoration community
- Opportunities to showcase work on international platforms
- Collaboration with peers and environmental leaders worldwide
This combination of funding, mentorship, and exposure is designed to strengthen both individual leadership and project impact.
Key Activities During the Fellowship
Selected Restoration Stewards are expected to actively implement and share their work throughout the programme.
Participants will:
- Set and achieve project-specific restoration goals
- Receive continuous guidance from assigned mentors
- Deepen knowledge of ecosystem restoration and landscape approaches
- Organise at least one community engagement activity
- Share progress through blogs, articles, and social media platforms
- Collaborate with other fellows and programme coordinators
The programme encourages both practical fieldwork and knowledge-sharing to strengthen community impact.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be between 18 and 35 years old
- Be actively leading or contributing to a youth-led restoration project
- Work in ecosystems such as forests, oceans, wetlands, rangelands, mountains, or drylands
- Demonstrate a focus on both ecological and social restoration outcomes
The programme prioritises applicants who are:
- Based in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, or the Caribbean
- Women-led or Indigenous-led initiatives
- Projects that have been active for at least six months
Focus Areas of the Programme
The Restoration Stewards Program promotes a landscape approach that integrates environmental and social systems.
Key thematic areas include:
- Ecosystem and biodiversity restoration
- Community-based environmental management
- Climate resilience and adaptation
- Sustainable land and water use
- Indigenous knowledge systems and stewardship
- Youth-led environmental innovation
This approach ensures that restoration efforts are both ecologically effective and socially inclusive.
Application Timeline
- Applications Open: Ongoing (2027 cohort call)
- Deadline: Friday, 31 July 2026
- Time: 23:59 CEST (UTC+2)
Applicants are advised to check local time zone conversions to ensure timely submission.
Selection Priorities
The programme places strong emphasis on equity and impact-driven leadership. Priority is given to:
- Youth-led restoration initiatives
- Projects in the Global South
- Women and Indigenous-led initiatives
- Community-based environmental solutions
- Projects with demonstrated early-stage implementation (minimum six months active work)
Selection is based on both leadership potential and the environmental and social impact of the project.
Why the Restoration Stewards Program Matters
The Restoration Stewards Program 2027 is part of a growing global movement focused on ecosystem restoration and climate resilience.
It is significant because it:
- Empowers young environmental leaders
- Supports grassroots restoration initiatives
- Promotes Indigenous and local knowledge systems
- Strengthens global collaboration on climate action
- Advances nature-based solutions to environmental challenges
By combining funding, mentorship, and visibility, the programme helps scale youth-led environmental innovation worldwide.
Contact Information
For programme inquiries:
- Contact Person: Eirini Sakellari
- Role: GLF Youth Program Coordinator
- Email: [email protected]
Apply Now
The Restoration Stewards Program 2027 by the Global Landscapes Forum is a leading international fellowship supporting youth-led ecosystem restoration initiatives. Through financial support, mentorship, and global networking opportunities, the programme empowers young leaders to drive meaningful environmental change.
For young practitioners working in landscape or seascape restoration, this fellowship offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen impact, build leadership skills, and contribute to global sustainability goals.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
