United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which runs from 2021 to 2030, is a global movement aimed at reviving billions of hectares of the world’s ecosystems. Initiated by the United Nations, the decade focuses on preventing, halting, and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. This initiative is critical as it targets a wide range of ecosystems, including forests, farmlands, cities, wetlands, and oceans, addressing key issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security.
FAO is playing a pivotal role in this decade, leveraging its expertise and global reach to facilitate large-scale recovery of degraded landscapes and seascapes. Through its dedicated programs and initiatives, FAO supports countries in monitoring and implementing sustainable restoration practices that are scientifically sound and effective. We provide critical resources, such as technical guidance, policy advice, and monitoring tools, to ensure effective and inclusive restoration efforts.
FAO's monitoring efforts are grounded in the development of a comprehensive database and the standardization of data collection methodologies. By prioritizing consistent and reliable transparent data collection, FAO ensures that the data gathered is comparable across different regions and ecosystems. While employing innovative geospatial technologies and tools, such as satellite imagery and remote sensing technology, FAO helps countries and other restoration stakeholders track changes in ecosystems cover and use, which are key indicators of ecosystem health and restoration progress. This approach allows for effective monitoring and timely adjustments to restoration strategies, ensuring more effective, integrated and scientifically sound restoration efforts.
Additionally, FAO facilitates the sharing of best practices and lessons learned through its global networks. This includes the development of standardized methodologies and indicators for ecosystem restoration monitoring. By harmonizing data collection and analysis, FAO ensures that insights and outcomes are interoperable across different regions and ecosystems, thereby enhancing the global understanding of restoration impacts.
In March 2020, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration Task Force on Monitoring (hereafter the Monitoring Task Force) was launched. Structured as a core Monitoring Task Force and with three sub-Task Forces (Terrestrial; Aquatic and Transitional; and Socio-Economic), it brings together more than 400 technical experts from over 100 organizations tasked with collaboratively developing a monitoring framework for the UN Decade. The monitoring framework for the UN Decade intends to support monitoring and reporting of the progress and achievements of ecosystem restoration for the UN Decade (2021–2030). A description of the Task Force can be found here.
To align reporting process, and remove duplication of effort, FAO and the Monitoring Task Force has been requested to provide suggestions on the monitoring and reporting of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 2 headline indicator on areas under restoration. Following a call for voluntary contributions from the Monitoring Task Force, a Working Group was created in May 2022 comprising of experts from FAO, CBD, UNCCD, UNEP-WCMC/BIP Ramsar, IUCN, SER/GRO, and ICRI. The Working Group collaboratively drafted an Information Note in support to monitoring of Target 2, and developed a methodology for Target 2, which was launched at CBD COP 15.
Following the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the agreed formulation of Target 2, the working group updated the Information Note, and Target 2 metadata in 2023. Early in 2023, the working group mobilized into a partnership supporting implementation and monitoring of ecosystem restoration, with broadened membership, adding UNEP, UNDP, WRI, SEEA, Restor, CIFOR-ICRAF, CI, and WWF. The new partnership developed a Roadmap for GBF Target 2 to COP 16 and beyond.