Becoming #GenerationRestoration ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION FOR PEOPLE, NATURE AND CLIMATE © 2021 United Nations Environment Programme ISBN: 978-92-807-3864-3 Job number: DEP/2362/NA This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit services without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The United Nations Environment Programme would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from the United Nations Environment Programme. Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be addressed to the Director, Communication Division, United Nations Environment Programme, P. O. Box 30552, Nairobi 00100, Kenya. 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The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Environment Programme. We regret any errors or omissions that may have been unwittingly made. © Maps, photos and illustrations as specified. Suggested citation United Nations Environment Programme (2021). Becoming #GenerationRestoration: Ecosystem restoration for people, nature and climate. Nairobi. Production United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). https://www.unep.org/resources/ecosystem-restoration-people-nature-climate Supported by: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) would like to thank the Governments of Finland and Germany for their financial contributions towards this report, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for technical review and data provision. Acknowledgements The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) would like to thank the members of the Steering Committee, the lead and contributing authors, the peer reviewers, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration Science Task Force, led by IUCN, and the partner organizations of the UN Decade for their contributions to the preparation of this report. Steering Committee Luc Gnacadja, Enric Sala, Anne Tolvanen, Tim Christophersen, Mette Wilkie, Tiina Vähänen, Edoardo Zandri Peer reviewers Mike Acreman (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology), Angela Andrade (Conservation International, Colombia), Robin Chazdon (World Resources Institute), Lars Hein (Wageningen University), Carlos Joly (Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership), James Kairo (Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute), Sam Kanyamibwa (Albertine Rift Conservation Society), Ritesh Kumar (Wetlands International, South Asia), James Mayers (International Institute for Environment and Development), Bernardo Strassburg (International Institute for Sustainability), Ruth Waters (Natural England) Writing team Lead authors: Barney Dickson, Lera Miles, Hazel Thornton, Erin O’Connell Contributing authors: Raquel Agra, Oliver Baines, Holly Brooks, Megan Critchley, Helen Klimmek, Annika Schlemm, Boipelo Tshwene-Mauchaza FOREWORD The world is facing severe challenges. Billions of people around the world are suffering the consequences of the climate emergency, food and water insecurity, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ecosystems are an indispensable ally as we meet these challenges. Protecting them and managing their resources in a sustainable manner is essential. But just increasing the protection and sustainable management of our remaining natural landscapes and oceans will not be enough: the planet’s degraded ecosystems and the huge benefits that they provide must also be restored. By declaring the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, governments have recognized the need to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide for the benefit of both people and nature. The 2021–2030 timeline underlines the urgency of the task. Without a powerful 10-year drive for restoration, we can neither achieve the climate targets of the Paris Agreement, nor the Sustainable Development Goals. This report presents the case for why we all must throw our weight behind a global restoration effort. Drawing on the latest scientific evidence, it explains the crucial role played by ecosystems from forests and farmland to rivers and oceans, and charts the losses that result from our poor stewardship of the planet. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration provides a unique opportunity to transform food, fibre and feed production systems to meet the needs of the 21st century, and to eradicate poverty, hunger and malnutrition. This we seek to achieve through effective and innovative landscapes and seascapes management that prevents and halts degradation, and restores degraded ecosystems. The restoration of forest landscapes, farming, livestock and fish-producing ecosystems should primarily contribute to restoring them to a healthy and stable state, so that they are able to provide ecosystems services and support human needs for sustainable production and livelihoods. For example, around one third of the world’s farmland is degraded, about 87 per cent of inland wetlands worldwide have disappeared since 1700, and one third of commercial fish species are overexploited. Degradation is already affecting the well-being of an estimated 3.2 billion people – that is 40 per cent of the world’s population. Every single year, we lose ecosystem services worth more than 10 per cent of our global economic output. If we can manage to reverse this trend, massive gains await us. Reviving ecosystems and other natural solutions could contribute over one third of the total climate mitigation needed by 2030. Restoration can also curb the risk of mass species extinctions and future pandemics. Agroforestry alone could increase food security for 1.3 billion people. Restoration on a global scale requires sustained investments. But there is growing evidence that it more than pays for itself. For example, restoring coral reefs to good health by 2030 could yield an extra USD 2.5 billion a year for both Mesoamerica and Indonesia; having doubled its forest cover since the 1980s, Costa Rica has seen ecotourism grow to account for 6 per cent of GDP. While restoration science is a youthful discipline, we already have the knowledge and tools we need to halt degradation and restore ecosystems. Farmers, for instance, can draw on proven restorative practices such as sustainable farming and agroforestry. Landscape approaches that give all stakeholders – including women and minorities – a say in decision-making are simultaneously supporting social and economic development and ecosystem health. And policy makers and financial institutions are realizing the huge need and potential for green investment. The United Nations stands behind this crucial initiative. As well as contributing research to this report, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) along with their partners will provide leadership, coordination and technical support throughout the UN Decade. International cooperation can help countries to implement their existing restoration pledges, which cover more than 1 billion hectares, an area bigger than China. Global meetings on climate and biodiversity slated for later this year are an opportunity for governments to increase their ambition further, and to force the pace of implementation. But long-term success will depend on the UN Decade realizing its overarching goal of catalysing a global movement that outgrows and outlives the 10-year timeframe. By engaging in restoration, everyone – from governments and businesses to civil society groups and individuals – can contribute towards resetting our relationship with nature. Inger Andersen Dr. Qu Dongyu United Nations Under Secretary General Director General at Food and Agriculture and Executive Director at United Nations Organization Environment Programme CONTENTS Foreword Key messages 02 1. Introduction 05 2. What is happening to the world’s ecosystems 09 2.1 Farmlands 11 2.2 Forests 12 2.3 Freshwater 12 2.4 Grasslands, shrublands and savannahs 13 2.5 Mountains 13 2.6 Oceans and coasts 14 2.7 Peatlands 15 2.8 Urban areas 16 3. Why restoration is necessary 17 3.1 The economy 20 3.2 Food security 21 3.3 Clean water 22 3.4 Health and well-being 23 3.5 Climate change mitigation 23 3.6 Climate change adaptation 25 3.7 Security 25 3.8 Biodiversity 26 3.9 Synergies and trade-offs 28 4. Restoring ecosystems 29 4.1 Approaches, principles and tools for restoration 30 4.2 Broader conditions needed for successful ecosystem restoration 35 5. How the UN Decade