ReLISA Joint Technical Meeting – Summary Report

This summary report provides an overview of the ReLISA Joint Technical Meeting convened between the ReLISA consortium and the Government of South Africa in Pretoria (February 2026). The meeting marked a key milestone in the project’s first year of implementation, bringing together government, research institutions, development partners and private sector stakeholders to align on priorities for scaling landscape restoration.

Discussions focused on strengthening the economic case for restoration through robust Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, targeted research, and the development of investable restoration models across South Africa’s grassland, savanna and thicket biomes. Sessions explored pathways to mobilise blended finance, including opportunities linked to carbon markets, water funds and broader ecosystem service value chains, alongside the enabling conditions required to structure bankable projects.

The report also captures government perspectives on the importance of restoration for national development priorities – including job creation, water security and climate resilience – and highlights the need for coordinated, landscape-level implementation that builds on existing programmes and local capacity. It concludes with reflections on ReLISA’s catalytic role in generating credible evidence, strengthening partnerships and unlocking investment to achieve impact at scale.

Image credit: CSIR