Major Efforts to Restore the World’s Ecosystems

 The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is a global effort to restore damaged ecosystems over ten years. It involves governments, organisations and communities that work to prevent biodiversity loss and improve ecosystem services.  By restoring ecosystems, it aims to benefit people, combat climate change and promote sustainable development. The World Restoration Flagship is a key part of this effort.

The World Restoration Flagship Initiative

The World Restoration Flagship stands as a symbol of hope and commitment in addressing ecosystem degradation and loss. The program is recognised by the United Nations as a major initiative under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.  Led by UNEP and FAO, it focuses on preventing, stopping, and reversing the decline of ecosystems worldwide (across continents and oceans).The program aims to protect the planet’s natural heritage for current and future generations.

Through innovative strategies, collaborative partnerships, and community engagement (involvement), the World Restoration Flagship works to restore ecosystems on a global (large) scale. It promotes resilience, biodiversity, and sustainability worldwide. Under this program, efforts are being made (The program plans) to restore around 40 million hectares of land and create nearly 500,000 jobs (employment opportunities) for local communities.

To accomplish ecosystem restoration, the initiative employs various methods, including the reintroduction of lost species and the removal of invasive species, modifications to landforms, plantation of vegetation, and reconfiguration of local hydrology.

Significance of the World Restoration Flagship

The Restoration initiatives by the UN hold a significant place in renewing ecosystems.

Global Recognition: The World Restoration Flagship holds great importance in the global effort to restore ecosystems. It is globally recognized and acknowledged by the UN. Its significance is further highlighted by its inclusion in the UN Secretary-General’s Report to the General Assembly, which amplifies its impact and visibility on the international stage.

Unified Leadership: The initiative is jointly led by UNEP and FAO, showcasing a unified leadership approach. This collaboration among global organizations maximize the impact and scale of restoration efforts. 

Protecting Natural Heritage: The program’s core mission is to safeguard the planet’s natural heritage by restoring ecosystems across continents and oceans, ensuring their protection for current and future generations.

Innovative Strategies: The World Restoration Flagship also pioneers innovative strategies to achieve effective and sustainable restoration outcomes. 

Long-term Vision:  It actively engages local communities in restoration activities, empowering them to protect (care for) their environment. This community involvement is crucial for the long-term success of restoration efforts.

The initiative has a long-term vision to restore and preserve ecosystems for present and future generations. 

Initiatives Under the World Restoration Flagship

The World Restoration Flagship comprises seven major initiatives targeting ecosystem restoration across Africa, Latin America, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia.

(i) The Restoring Mediterranean Forests Initiative: It focuses on Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey, with an aim to restore over 8 million hectares of forests by 2030. Since 2017, around (approximately) 2 million hectares of forests have already been restored. It employs an innovative approach to protect and restore natural habitats and vulnerable ecosystems.

(ii) The Living Indus Initiative: This initiative was officially launched at the 27th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm el-Sheikh. This initiative was approved by Pakistan’s parliament after the 2022 floods, it aims to restore 25 million hectares of the Indus River basin by 2030, covering 30% of Pakistan’s surface area. The initiative also recognizes the Indus River as a living entity and involves countries like Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, India, New Zealand, Peru, and Sri Lanka.

(iii) The Accion Andina Social Movement: it is led by the non-profit Andean Ecosystems Association (ECOAN), aims to protect and restore 1 million hectares of Andean forests. It also aims to secure land titles for local communities and protect the forests from mining and timber exploitation.

(iv) The Sri Lanka Mangrove Regeneration: This initiative is driven by scientific research and community leadership, focusing on the restoration of 10,000 hectares of mangroves by 2030. Since its launch in 2015, efforts have led to the restoration of 500 hectares of mangroves.

(v) The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)Initiative: This initiative focuses on forest restoration in critical (crucial) corridors across India and Nepal, supporting around 500,000 households and aiming to restore 350,000 hectares of forests by 2030. The initiative involves local communities in conservation efforts, including citizens, scientists, anti-poaching units, and forest guards. It has already restored 66,800 hectares of forest land and helped in increasing the tiger population in the India-Nepal region to 1,174.

(vi) Regreening Africa's Agriculture: This initiative is working to improve the productivity of agricultural land in Africa by restoring degraded soils and forests. It is expected to benefit over 6 million households. focusing on enhancing carbon storage, increasing agricultural yields, and promoting soil resilience across one million hectares in eight sub-Saharan African countries.

(vii) Growing Forests in Africa's Drylands Initiative: The Growing Forests in Africa’s Drylands Initiative aims to (seeks to) expand restoration to 229,000 hectares by 2030, engaging African farmers and creating over 230,000 jobs (employment opportunities).

Namami Gange Programme

An important flagship program under the World Restoration Flagship is the Namami Gange Programme, which was ranked among the Top 10 World Restoration Flagship Initiatives by the UN. This initiative was launched (started) by the Indian government, aims to restore the sacred connection to the Ganges River while tackling pollution and deforestation. It has successfully rejuvenated 1,500 km of the river and restored 30,000 hectares of forests. It also has plans to reduce  carbon emissions by 15 million tons by 2030.

Conclusion

The combined efforts of UNEP, FAO, governments, and NGOs have made a significant contribution to the restoration of ecological systems worldwide (around the world). However, these restoration efforts cannot replace conservation. It is crucial to continue preserving natural habitats and ecosystems to ensure the long-term success of these initiatives. The World Restoration Flagship represents a hopeful and committed step toward addressing ecosystem degradation and ensuring a sustainable future for all.