the knowledge they need to make their restoration efforts a success .
Strategies to build # GenerationRestoration
Against a backdrop of environmental crisis , the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is a chance to revive the natural world that supports us all . A decade may sound like a long time . But it is these next ten years that scientists say will count the most in the fight to avert climate change and the loss of millions of species . Here are several actions in the strategy of the UN Decade that can build a # GenerationRestoration .
a ) Empower a global movement The UN Decade ’ s overarching goal is to stop and reverse the destruction and degradation of billions of hectares of ecosystems . It is a daunting task . It gets even more complicated given the immense diversity of ecosystems and the threats they are facing : from lush forests threatened by land-grabbers and wildfires to agricultural soils so eroded that they may only carry a few more years of harvests . No single entity can steer the course in this endeavour . The UN Decade is therefore designed to connect and empower the actions of the many . Groups and individuals can get informed about restoration opportunities in their area . They can join an initiative already underway or start their own .
b ) Finance restoration on the ground Restoration takes resources . Organisations driving activities on the ground are often underfunded and face long-term financial insecurity . While the benefits of restoration far outweigh the costs , initial investments in the magnitude of billions are needed . Governments , international lenders , development agencies and private business will all have to ramp up their support . Individuals can consider giving a donation , their time or their expertise to a worthy initiative .
c ) Set the right incentives Restoration is good for the planet and people . But leading restoration is often not rewarded . Not only are there direct up-front investments , but caring for nature can also mean foregoing some of the financial gains of less sustainable practices . However , there are ways to change this : agricultural and fishing subsidies that often finance harmful practices could be used to support restoration instead . In the long-term , healthier ecosystems can produce bigger harvests , more secure incomes and a healthier environment for people .
d ) Celebrate leadership Over the past years , we have witnessed incredible momentum around restoration . Campaigns to plant trillions of trees have captured the imagination of many and communities have come together for mass planting festivals . Under the Bonn Challenge , more than 60 countries have committed to bringing 350 million hectares of forest landscapes back to life . Indigenous peoples have acted as defenders of their ecosystems for generations . The UN Decade will celebrate leadership and encourage others to step up .
e ) Shift behaviours While restoration is always specific to a local environment , the forces that drive the destruction of ecosystems are often connected to global trends . Deforestation , the depletion of fish stocks and the degradation of agricultural soils are all caused by global consumption patterns . The UN Decade will work with all partners to identify and encourage restoration-friendly consumption . This can range from shifting diets to promoting restoration-based products .
f ) Invest in research Restoration is complex . Practices that work in one ecosystem may have adverse impacts in another . As the climate changes , new uncertainties arise . Returning to a former state may not be desirable as hotter temperatures or shifting rainfall call for more resilient plants and crops . Scientific understanding of how to restore and adapt ecosystems is still developing . Considerable investments are needed to identify the best practices to restore our planet – one plot at a time .
g ) Build up capacity Thousands of conservation and restoration initiatives are already underway . The UN Decade will be fuelled by their vision , expertise and
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