There are seven projects underway in Africa, Latin America, the Mediterranean and south-east Asia to reverse the degradation of ecosystems, which will benefit from the technical and financial support of the United Nations: together they will help restore almost 40 million hectares and create around 500 thousand jobs.
The "World Restoration Flagships" awards conferred by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the FAO are awards given to virtuous initiatives that contribute to realizing the commitments made, at a global level, for the restoration of one billion hectares of degraded territories, a largest area in China.
The winners will be announced ahead of the 6th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly from 26 February to 1 March in Nairobi, Kenya.
"The restoration of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems - said the Director General of FAO QU Dongyu - is a fundamental stage in the transformation of global agri-food systems into more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable systems" An important place goes to the Mediterranean, the second most important biodiversity hotspot in the world , but 16% of its forest species are at risk of extinction, partly due to climate problems, such as increasingly prolonged periods of drought, extreme heat waves and fires.
The Forest Restoration Initiative, which involves Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey, consists of a new approach to the protection and recovery of these vulnerable natural habitats and ecosystems and, since 2017, has allowed approximately two million hectares to be restored in the region. of forests, to recover eight million hectares and more by 2030.
The initiative is supported by Silva Mediterranea, the FAO Commission for Mediterranean Forestry Affairs, by the governments of Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey, and by the Lebanese Association for Forestry, Development and Conservation (Afdc).
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