The African Landcare network (ALN) is primarily a supportive network that draws together sustainable land management initiatives such as Landcare to learn from one another. It strives to integrate the Landcare philosophy into Africa wide and sub-regional programs as well as facilitating access to and skills transfer. ALN was established in September 2006 in conjunction with the third South African National Conference held in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province.

The South African government was the first African state to adopt the Landcare approach in 1997. This is being implemented through the government’s Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with other partners. The other countries that have adopted the approach include Uganda in 2003; Kenya and Tanzania in 2005, and Rwanda in 2009. Other countries have expressed interest and have started some initial activities with the help of the World Agroforestry Centre and its partners. These include Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Botswana. Other countries practicing the approach include Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Currently, the African Landcare network (ALN) provides opportunities for Landcare practitioners in Africa to strengthen their programs through interaction and learning from the experience in related countries, initiating Landcare networks and organizations that will substantially expand and strengthen sustainable Landcare programs, promoting coordination and cooperation, building on lessons learnt, developing action plans to leverage regional synergies, information sharing and capacity building.