These groundbreaking efforts were declared on Tuesday Flagships of the World Restoration In the UN Biodiversity Conference, COP15, in Montréal, Canada, and a virtual gala ceremony.
They span 23 countries from Central America to East Asia, together preserve an area larger than Myanmar, France or Somalia, and seek to create nearly 15 million sustainable jobs.
Against a triple crisis
You have been selected under the banner of UN Decade for Ecosystem Restorationwhich runs until 2030, also the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The UN Environment Program (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are the lead agencies for the overall project.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said transforming our relationship with nature is key to reversing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
“These 10 first World Restoration Flagships demonstrate that with political will, science and cross-border collaboration, we are achieving the goals of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and a more sustainable future not just for the planet but for those of us who are , call it home,” she added.
Restoring Global Ecosystems
A million species are threatened with extinction due to the degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems unless countries take action.
According to scientists, restoring just 15 percent of ecosystems in priority areas would reduce species extinction by 60 percent.
The initiatives were awarded because they are exemplary large-scale and long-term restoration of ecosystemslike them Trinational Atlantic Forest Pact.
The Atlantic Rainforest once covered part of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina but has been reduced by centuries of logging, agricultural expansion and urban development.
These activities have threatened many of the ecosystems there and the animals that live within them, including endangered species like the jaguar, the black-and-gold howler monkey, and the margay, a small spotted cat.
The Pact has resulted in the restoration of approximately 700,000 hectares across the three countries, thanks to decades of work by hundreds of organizations.
“Inspired by these flagships, we can learn to restore our ecosystems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and more a better life for everyoneleaving no one behind,” said Qu Dongyu, who FAO general director.
Make peace with nature
The flagships – described as “the most ambitious, promising and inspiring examples of making peace with nature” – are now eligible to receive support, funding or technical expertise from the UN
They were unveiled at COP15, which continues this week, and a special virtual gala event with attendees including actors Jason Momoa and Edward Norton, UN Messenger of Peace Dr. Jane Goodalland extreme mountaineer Nirmal Purja.
Mr. Momoa, known to millions of people worldwide from the “Aquaman” movie, is the UNEP Advocate for Life Below Waterwhile Mr. Norton, a two-time Oscar nominee, is the first ever UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity.
Regular bidding for World Restoration Flagships will be launched through 2030.
In anticipation of an increase in funding for the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, additional submissions are under review, including from Pakistan and Peru, and another focusing on Somalia and other drought-affected countries.
