Launching global restoration and conservation efforts into action

A briefing to Member States and stakeholders on the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration marked the launch of calls for the UN Decade's Flagship Initiatives.

Organized by FAO and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), today’s briefing to Members, major groups, and other stakeholders presented the latest developments on the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and the Decade’s Flagship Initiatives. 

Participants were briefed on the UN Decade’s next implementation phase, with the operationalization of the UN Decade’s Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) and the launch of the Initiative. Participants were invited to submit Flagship Initiatives for the UN Decade through an open nomination process of initiatives, which embody the 10 Restoration Principles.

Tiina Vahanen, Deputy Director of the FAO Forestry Division, shared the next phase of implementation of the UN Decade and outlined the operationalization of the MPTF, and the launch of the Flagship Initiative.

“To enhance the implementation of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, FAO and UNEP are calling for nominations for Flagship Initiatives to showcase and accelerate ecosystem restoration at significant scale, and especially to support action on the ground to repair degraded ecosystems for the sustainable use of natural resources, upon which life on this planet depends,” she said.

Delivering closing remarks on behalf of FAO was Qu Guangzhou, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the UN in New York, who noted three reflections from the morning's discussions: (i) treating a post-pandemic recovery as an opportunity to tackle our planet’s climate, biodiversity, and economic crises; (ii) moving away from a 'business as usual' approach' and tapping into the existing knowledge base to strengthen resilience against these threats and promote innovative approaches for ecosystem restoration; and (iii) ensuring that no one is left behind, with the inclusion of indigenous peoples, civil society, women, and youth as a cornerstone of the UN Decade’s activities.

“Restoring the health and productivity of degraded ecosystems can ensure global food security, bolster local livelihoods, create jobs, and enhance ecosystem services at scale,” Qu said, calling on leaders, resource partners, scientists, entrepreneurs, innovators, local communities, and consumers to come together in enacting veritable change.

Harnessing integrated solutions to the conservation and restoration challenges of our time

Qu spoke of the UN Decade as an opportunity to use integrated solutions to optimize the relationship between people and nature, and making progress towards inclusive, efficient, sustainable, and resilient agri-food systems.

“Over 50 percent of global GDP depends on nature,” Qu said, pointing to how restoring the 33 percent of food production areas that are already degraded and bringing them to sustainable production would ensure the food we need, now and in the future. 

Responding to global calls on food systems transformation, biodiversity conservation and climate action 

Reversing biodiversity loss, preventing ecosystem collapse, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing adaptation and resilience efforts are all essential to eradicating poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in a crosscutting manner. 

These are messages reflected throughout the UN Food Systems Summit, COP 15, and COP 26, and the UN Decade aims to address these interlinked challenges. 

From rethinking our food, fiber, and feed production systems, to conserving the ecosystems supporting life on Earth, the UN Decade inspires a sustainable use and conservation of natural resources, including innovative thinking in agricultural production, as part of sustainably managing landscapes and seascapes, Qu remarked.

The sentiment was echoed by UNEP Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Jamil Ahmad, who provided welcoming remarks and moderated the briefing.

"A decade may sound like a long time, but science is telling us that these coming years matter the most for shaping our common future. The movement to restore our planet must be strengthened without further delay, he said."

About the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030)

Jointly led by UNEP and FAO, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) was successfully launched on World Environment Day on 5 June 2021. The UN Decade aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean and, in doing so, aims to help to end poverty, combat climate change, and prevent a mass extinction.

Related links

• Read the remarks by the Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the UN in New York here.
• Learn more about the UN Decade and get engaged to become the #GenerationRestoration!