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The World Resources Institute has developed the Restoration Diagnostic to help countries and landscapes move from restoration commitments to action. By analyzing 16 global case studies, WRI identified three essential themes for success: clear motivation, enabling conditions, and capacity/resources for sustained implementation. The Diagnostic and its accompanying Excel-based Assessment Tool allow stakeholders to identify missing success factors and determine the policies and incentives needed to trigger restoration at scale.

The Humbo project in Ethiopia restored 2,700 hectares of land from 2006 onwards using Farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR), a low-cost method where farmers prune native tree stumps and root systems. Supported by World Vision and the World Bank's BioCarbon Fund, the project integrated carbon sequestration payments with community-led land management. Key success factors included secure land rights, the use of endemic species, and the creation of community cooperatives. While the project improved soil health, reduced erosion, and increased firewood availability, it faced challenges regarding the high transaction costs of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) compliance and delays in carbon payments.