Presentation from Julián Andrés Giraldo, researcher at the Fundación CIPAV (Colombia) outlining community-based efforts and best practices in agroecological approaches to the restoration of degraded land, conservation of water and biodiversity and promotion of community participation. The presentation was prepared and delivered in occasion of the International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition, held at FAO in Rome on 18-19 September 2014.