Rooted for Resilience: Community-Led Agroforestry Transforming Lives in Timor-Leste

Empowering Rural Communities through Agroforestry and Climate-Resilient Solutions in Timor-Leste’s Most Vulnerable Regions

August 3, 2025

A man with a beard stands beside a tall green plant with long pods in a lush field. — Mr. Cipriano da Cruz stands proudly beside his thriving vanilla plants in Lavateri, Baucau - a symbol of resilience and innovation through climate-smart agroforestry.

UNDP Timor-Leste/ Jaquelina Correia

Timor-Leste, a young and post-conflict nation, is on a determined path toward inclusive and sustainable development. With over 70% of its population living in rural areas, agriculture is not only a primary livelihood - but also a frontline sector impacted by climate change. Increasingly frequent and severe events such as droughts, flash floods, landslides, and erosion are undermining food security, isolating communities, and damaging vital infrastructure.

To address these growing risks, the Government of Timor-Leste has prioritized climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and infrastructure development as central pillars of its national strategy. The country’s Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2011–2030 outlines a long-term vision for economic growth grounded in sustainable practices, while the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement emphasize ecosystem-based adaptation, land restoration, and climate-smart infrastructure to protect both people and the environment.

In alignment with these goals, and with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and technical leadership from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Timor-Leste is implementing the GCF - UNDP Project “Safeguarding Rural Communities and Their Physical Assets from Climate-Induced Disasters.” This flagship initiative is delivering climate-resilient infrastructure, reforestation, and sustainable agroforestry solutions across six of the most climate-vulnerable municipalities: Aileu, Ermera, Liquiçá, Baucau, Lautém, and Viqueque.

This effort reflects UNDP’s global mission to help countries build integrated, inclusive, and sustainable pathways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). At the same time, it supports the broader United Nations mission in Timor-Leste, which prioritizes peacebuilding, inclusive development, climate resilience, and local empowerment.

Through collaborative action and strong national ownership, this project is not only protecting ecosystems and infrastructure - it is empowering rural communities and transforming lives, ensuring that no one is left behind in the face of climate change.

Aileu: Protecting Soil, Securing the Future

In Fatubosa, Aileu, Madalena Mendonça and her family are safeguarding their land and legacy. With 1.19 hectares of farmland situated near the rehabilitated rural road (A-RR-07), they received 1,777 tree seedlings through the project, including casuarina, mahogany, and sureni - key to erosion control and agroforestry.

A woman in traditional attire tends to young plants in a lush green field.

Her family plans to plant 500 more trees next year. In total, Aileu has seen over 41,500 seedlings distributed, rehabilitating more than 30 hectares of degraded land.

Ermera: Building Stability on Slopes

Jacinta Madeira Amaral, a farmer in Poetete, Ermera, planted 625 casuarina trees to protect her 0.6-hectare farm from landslides. With help from three other women and the project team, she now plans to introduce coffee cultivation under the shade of the casuarinas. In Ermera, over 19,900 casuarina seedlings have been distributed, reducing erosion risk along 22.73 km of rural roads.

A person squatting in a lush green area with dense vegetation and trees around. — Mrs. Jacinta Madeira Amaral stands proudly on her hillside farm in Poetete, Ermera, beside the casuarina trees she planted to protect her land from erosion—showcasing resilience and sustainable farming in action.

Jaquelina Correia/ UNDP Timor-Leste

Liquiçá: Women at the Forefront of Climate Action

In Durubasa, Liquiçá, more than 200 women have been empowered through infrastructure upgrades, agroforestry, and climate-smart farming techniques like bio-pore planting, which has improved soil moisture retention by 40%. Women led 60% of tree planting activities across 21 hectares, increasing their income by $15–20 per week. Their leadership in cooperatives has grown from 10% to 35% since project implementation.

Two smiling individuals stand together in a lush green field surrounded by plants. — Mrs. Agusta dos Santos and her husband stand proudly beside the tree they planted on their land in Durubasa, Liquiçá. Through the UNDP-GCF project, Agusta gained valuable skills in sustainable farming, helping to boost her family's income. Their success has become a source of inspiration for other women and families in the community to take the lead in climate action.

Jaquelina Correia/ UNDP Timor-Leste

Baucau: Mr. Cipriano’s Vanilla Revolution

In Lavateri, Baucau, Mr. Cipriano da Cruz converted 3.58 hectares into a thriving agroforestry site. He planted 2,970 trees - including 396 vanilla plants, up from just 12 the year before. Thanks to a rehabilitated road and an 8,000-liter water pond, he now delivers fresh produce weekly, reaching markets more efficiently and earning higher incomes. His success has inspired 23 neighboring farmers to follow suit.

Person crouched on the ground, cutting green plants in a rural setting. — Mr. Cipriano da Cruz collects vanilla pods from the plants he cultivated on his land in Lavateri, Baucau - highlighting the success of his agroforestry efforts and climate-smart farming practices.

Jaquelina Correia/ UNDP Timor-Leste

Lautém: Inclusive Development in Parlamento

Mr. Alberto da Cruz, a farmer with a mobility disability from Suco Parlamento, is one of 37 persons with disabilities supported by the project. His family planted 25 mahogany trees and 20 fruit trees, improving food variety and economic opportunities. A customized toolset and an accessible road (La-RR-05) have enabled him to farm effectively. He now mentors three other farmers with disabilities, building a local support network.

A man kneels in soil, planting a young plant in a rural setting.

Viqueque: Reforesting for Resilience

In Suco Matahoi, Viqueque, Aldeia Chief Vicente da Costa mobilized his community to plant over 3,000 trees in erosion-prone areas. His own land - once losing 15 tons of soil per hectare annually - is now stabilized by 77 mahogany and 65 casuarina trees. Vicente plans to create a tree nursery to benefit 20 nearby farms and continue championing sustainable land management.

Man kneeling in grass, holding a young tree seedling with a green background.

Together, these stories from Aileu, Ermera, Liquiçá, Baucau, Lautém, and Viqueque illustrate the growing momentum of community-driven agroforestry and climate-resilient development across Timor-Leste. Grounded in local leadership and inclusive participation, these efforts are restoring degraded land, strengthening food systems, and reducing vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. Whether through women-led sustainable farming, inclusive practices that empower persons with disabilities, or innovative climate-smart agriculture like vanilla cultivation, communities are turning challenges into opportunities. Backed by strong national policies and international partnerships, these integrated solutions are shaping a resilient and sustainable future for rural Timor-Leste.

About the GCF - UNDP Project

Implemented by the Government of Timor-Leste with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and financing from the Green Climate Fund (USD 22.3 million) and national co-financing (USD 36.7 million), the GCF–UNDP Project “Safeguarding Rural Communities and Their Physical Assets from Climate-Induced Disasters” is a six-year initiative running from 2020 to 2026. The project focuses on two strategic outputs: strengthening institutional capacity and climate risk information systems, and implementing climate-proofed infrastructure alongside ecosystem-based resilience measures such as agroforestry and catchment restoration. It directly targets over 175,000 beneficiaries and aims to restore more than 1,500 hectares of land across six municipalities. By embedding climate-resilient planning into municipal and village development systems, the initiative reinforces community ownership while advancing Timor-Leste’s overarching goals for sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient development.