Janna Fleuren

The gap between humans and nature is widening, and ironically we call it ‘development’. At the same time, we see how the room for manoeuvre for civil society is shrinking, secure democratic processes are under pressure and inequality is increasing. Climate change amplifies these dynamics and makes painfully clear how unequal the distribution is of burdens and responsibilities. Yet we measure our ‘development’ mainly in economic terms, instead of looking at the well-being of people and nature.

Fortunately, countless initiatives worldwide show that things can be done differently. From regenerative food forests to shared seed systems, people everywhere are showing that more equitable and sustainable management of natural resources is possible. During the years I lived in Uganda, I was inspired by the tremendous resilience of both people and nature. These experiences reinforced my belief that fair land rights, equal power relations and a balanced coexistence between people and nature are crucial.

At Both ENDS, I work with partner organisations on sustainable land use and management on the African continent. It motivates me to be part of a large network working for a greener and fairer world. Together, we show that alternatives are possible: alternatives in which people and nature are given space, sustainable food systems are the norm, power is distributed more fairly, and policy is steered towards justice and sustainability.