Church Forest Academy 2026
Objectives
l To raise understanding among regional faith-based actors of the theological responsibility of caring for the Creation, and of their potential role in implementing, and advocating for, environmental restoration, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
l To build an understanding of a set of practical tools and enablers for implementing and scaling up faith-based land and forest restoration and conservation solutions.
l To foster dialogue and mutual learning between faith-based participants from diverse countries and sectors who are engaged in developing solutions to the inter-related challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict over land use and natural resources.
l To develop the skills of inter-personal, inter-community, inter-faith and inter-sectoral collaboration and trustbuilding to implement these solutions.
l To foster collaboration between faith institutions and technical environmental organizations, thereby strengthening long-term conservation and restoration efforts.
l To forge a regional network of faith-based environmental problem solvers who share a core vision and set of values and can draw on each other’s strengths to deliver practical, timely and innovative ideas to implement and build more robust and sustainable restoration and natural resource management practices.
Values
Scientific enquiry, theological reflection, mutual respect, diversity, interfaith collaboration, trustbuilding, integrity and continual learning.
Guiding principles and beliefs
| Faith traditions are custodians of environmental and cultural heritage.
| Faith traditions can be powerful advocates for restoration and climate action.
| By tackling environmental and climate challenges together in an interfaith and interdisciplinary manner, we can generate holistic and sustainable solutions
| The expertise, experience and knowledge of how to solve environmental challenges often lies at the local level. Solutions need to be driven and owned by local communities
| Trustbuilding and collaboration are critical and faith leaders and communities can catalyze these.