Four New World Restoration Flagships Recognized by UN

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations has named four new World Restoration Flagships as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The recognition highlights global efforts to heal degraded ecosystems, boost community incomes, and support food security. The four flagships were announced during a high-level side event at the World Food Forum in Rome ahead of World Food Day. The initiatives, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), aim to restore millions of hectares of degraded ecosystems, improve livelihoods, and support food production.

Key Takeaways:

  • The four newly recognized World Restoration Flagships span 18 countries on four continents, restoring over 500,000 hectares of degraded ecosystems.
  • The programs, led by the FAO and UNEP, aim to restore almost 500,000 additional hectares of forests, mountains, farmlands, grasslands, shrublands, and savannahs by the end of the decade.
  • Collaborative Rangelands Restoration in Jordan is reviving sustainable practices, with biomass production growing more than eight-fold, benefiting local herders.
  • Revitalizing Korea's Forests after Fire aims to restore the country's valuable forests while prioritising community livelihoods and post-fire resilience.
  • The Restoration Initiative, working across Africa and Asia, has brought over 310,000 hectares under restoration and 717,000 under improved management practices, benefiting over 420,000 people.
  • Bamboo-based restoration across nine countries has already restored about 200,000 hectares and benefited a similar number of people from improved livelihoods and incomes.

Statistics:

  • 14/10/2025: The date the four new World Restoration Flagships were announced.
  • 18 countries: The number of countries represented by the four new World Restoration Flagships.
  • 500,000 hectares: The total area spanned by the four newly recognized World Restoration Flagships.
  • 2018: The year the Restoration Initiative was supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), FAO, UNEP, and the Global Environment Fund (GEF).
  • 310,000 hectares: The total area under restoration by the Restoration Initiative.
  • 717,000 hectares: The total area under improved management practices by the Restoration Initiative.
  • 420,000: The number of people directly benefiting from the program.

Sources:

  • The four new World Restoration Flagships were announced by the FAO and UNEP as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
  • The initiative was supported by the FAO, UNEP, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Global Environment Fund (GEF).
  • The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration was declared by the UN General Assembly in 2021-2030.
  • The World Food Forum was held in Rome ahead of World Food Day.