UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

The United Nations called for countries to follow through on existing pledges to restore a total area similar to the size of China by 2030.

In a June 2021 report to help launch the decade, the UN called for nations to deliver on existing ecosystem restoration commitments, which in total add up to over 1 billion hectares, an area bigger than China.

[1][2][3] The UN also call for additional efforts beyond the existing pledges, including for action to restore aquatic ecosystems, and for a lasting global movement to endure after 2030.

[9] 71 countries supported the proposal at its presentation by El Salvador's Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Lina Pohl, to the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2018.

[11] According to Minister Pohl, "Ecosystem restoration promoted through this UN Decade takes a multi-functional landscape approach, looking at the mosaic of interdependent land uses in which ecological, economic, social, and development-based priorities can find convergence, balance, and complementarity.

"[6][10] Pre launch material suggested the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration would focus on balancing ecological, social and developmental priorities in landscapes where different forms of land use interact, with the aim of fostering long term resilience.

[23] It assists the recovery of degraded, damaged and destroyed ecosystems, to regain ecological functionality and provide goods and services of value to humans.

[24][25] The beneficial effects of ecosystem restoration include increased food and water security, contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and managing the associated risks of conflict and migration.

[27] Most of the rehabilitation work could take the form of "mosaic restoration", in which forests are combined with protected areas, agriculture, waterbodies, and human settlements on a landscape-wide scale.

[28] Transformational ecosystem restoration requires strong commitment, and the efforts of countries, the international community, civil society, the private sector, and other actors.

Achieving the Bonn Challenge objective of restoring at least 350 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030[6] could realize up to $9 trillion in net benefits, and alleviate poverty in many rural communities.