Context: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) have named seven initiatives from Africa, Latin America, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia as UN World Restoration Flagships. 

• These initiatives include ecosystems at the tipping point of outright degradation resulting from wildfires, drought, deforestation, and pollution. They are now eligible for technical and financial UN support.

• The World Restoration Flagship awards are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration – led by UNEP and FAO – which aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. 

• The awards track notable initiatives that support global commitments to restore one billion hectares – an area larger than China.

• The combined efforts of these initiatives are projected to restore approximately 40 million hectares of land and generate around 500,000 employment opportunities.

About UN World Restoration Flagships

• World Restoration Flagships is an initiative under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

• The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is a global movement coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

• The winning initiatives were announced ahead of the 6th session of the UN Environment Assembly, which is the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment.

• The award conferred by the UNEP and FAO of the UN makes the initiatives eligible for technical and financial support from the organisation.

• The awards serve as a part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, led by the two agencies.

• The campaign aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.

Following are the list of World Restoration Flagships Recognized by the UN:-

1) The Restoring Mediterranean Forests Initiative

• Involves the countries of Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and Türkiye.

• It consists of a novel approach said to have protected and restored natural habitats and vulnerable ecosystems.

• Around 2 million hectares of forests have been restored since 2017; aims for over 8 million by 2030.

2) The Living Indus initiative

• Approved by Pakistan parliament post-2022 climate change-induced floods. Its official launch took place at the 27th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm el-Sheikh.

• Aims to restore 25 million hectares of the Indus river basin by 2030.

• It designates the Indus River as a living entity with rights, a measure taken to protect rivers elsewhere as well.

• It involves Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, India, New Zealand, Peru and Sri Lanka.

3) The Acción Andina Social Movement

• It is led by the non-profit Andean Ecosystems Association (ECOAN) and aims to protect and restore one million hectares of Andean forests.

• Andean forests are a type of tropical and subtropical forest that grow along the slopes of the Andes mountains in South America.

• The initiative also works to secure land titles for local communities and protect the forest from mining and timber exploitation.

4) Sri Lanka Mangrove Regeneration Initiative

• It is a science-driven programme co-led by local communities. It focuses on the restoration of natural balance in the ecosystem.

• Since its launch in 2015, efforts have led to 500 hectares of restored mangroves, according to the UN statement.

• Targets restoration of 10,000 hectares of mangroves by 2030.

5) Terai Arc Landscape(TAL) Initiative

• Aimed to restore the forests of critical corridors of the TAL in collaboration with local communities working as citizen scientists, community-based anti-poaching units, and forest guards, among others.

• TAL spans an 810 km stretch between the river Yamuna in the west and the river Bhagmati in the east.

• It comprises the Shivalik hills, the adjoining bhabhar areas, and the Terai floodplains, covering parts of the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and the low-lying hills of Nepal.

• Initiative covers measures like the restoration of 66,800 hectares of Nepal’s forests, which is said to improve the livelihoods of about 500,000 households in the country.

• It also supported the tiger population in the landscape shared by India and Nepal, which increased to 1,174.

• Aims to restore 350,000 hectares of forests by 2030.

6) Regreening Africa’s Agriculture

• It increases carbon storage, boosts crop and grass yields, makes soil more resilient (by preventing floods) and treats it with fixed nitrogen that acts as a natural fertiliser.

7) Growing Forests in Africa's Drylands Initiative

• Expands restoration from 41,000 to 229,000 hectares by 2030.

• Involves African farmers, planting tens of millions of trees annually.

• Creates over 230,000 jobs, supporting sustainable development.