UN Recognizes Three Groundbreaking Ecosystem Restoration Initiatives
Oru Leonard
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), have announced the winners of the World Restoration Flagships award, recognizing three exceptional ecosystem restoration initiatives in East Africa, Mexico, and Spain.
The Winners are:
-Northern Mozambique Channel Region: A collaborative effort between Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania to restore almost 87,200 hectares of interconnected land and seascapes, benefiting both nature and people.
– Mexico’s Seabird Islands: A comprehensive ecological restoration program led by Mexico’s National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas (GECI) to restore over 100,000 hectares of island ecosystems and protect over 300 endemic species.
– Spain’s Mar Menor Lagoon: An ambitious intervention by the Spanish Government to restore the natural dynamics and solve pollution problems in the Mar Menor lagoon, a vital ecosystem for local tourism, small-scale fishing, and unique flora and fauna.
These initiatives are expected to have a significant impact on the environment in several ways such as the restoration of mangroves in Madagascar is expected to increase the country’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, while the Green Belt initiative in Spain is estimated to absorb over 82,256 tonnes of CO2 by 2040.
Again, the initiatives are expected to protect and restore habitats for numerous endemic species, including seabirds, mammals, and reptiles.
-The restoration efforts are expected to improve the well-being and socio-economic development of local communities, including increased household income and job creation.
About the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. The World Restoration Flagships award recognizes exceptional initiatives that embody the 10 Restoration Principles of the UN Decade.
The award winners will receive UN support and recognition, and their progress will be transparently monitored through the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring.
