1 March 2019 – WWF welcomes the declaration by the UN General Assembly to establish 2021-2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
 
The announcement today will help catalyze action on global restoration commitments such as the Bonn Challenge, which aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
 
“I applaud the UN’s decision and commend efforts by the government of El Salvador, which brought forth this resolution and urged member states to support it.” says Alistair Monument, Lead, WWF Global Forest Practice. “Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) presents a huge opportunity for countries to meet their global climate and biodiversity targets and expand economic opportunities. It also brings numerous benefits to people through increased forest area and improved livelihoods.”
 
FLR is a planned process that aims to regain ecological functionality and enhance human wellbeing in deforested or degraded forest landscapes. Research shows that more than two billion hectares worldwide offer opportunities for restoration.
 
“By creating productive landscapes out of this degraded land, we can reduce the pressure on natural forests and help slow down deforestation and forest degradation,” says Monument. “FLR is also a critical element in all pathways mapped by IPCC to achieve a 1.5°C scenario.”
 
FLR is a key part of WWF’s vision to contribute to a world enriched by extensive, resilient forest landscapes benefiting biodiversity, people and climate. WWF has been working for a number of years with partners around the world to help create and accelerate FLR initiatives and support country pledges.
 
For more information, contact:
Huma Khan
Communications Manager, WWF Global Forest Practice
Huma.Khan@wwfint.org