Forest Landscape Restoration governance: a case study from Espirito Santo, Brazil

This study analyzes the governance of forest landscape restoration (FLR) in Esp & iacute;rito Santo, Brazil, based on its FLR initiatives and social actors. We discuss enabling conditions for the FLR governance system to upscale the total restored area and to involve farmers in FLR initiatives in Ita & uacute;nas and S & atilde;o Mateus watersheds. Data were collected through interviews and participatory workshops between 2018 and 2020. We identified 22 initiatives - programs, projects and actions - between 2001 and 2021, coordinated by public and private social actors. The initiatives refer to the FLR chain development, land use plans and assessments, the payment for environmental services programs, academic research, technical assistance and actions to raise awareness of rural producers. The FLR network is made up of different social actors engaged in multiple FLR initiatives and led mainly by public actors. Human and social capital, institutional arrangements and financial resources present in the initiatives point to a path for the advancement of forest restoration and the participation of farmers.