UN World Restoration Flagships

• 14 Feb 2024

For Prelims: United Nations, World Restoration Flagship Award, Restoring Mediterranean Forests Initiative, Living Indus initiative, Terai Arc Landscape Initiative, UN Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization

For Mains: World Restoration Flagships, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Conservation

Source: DTE

Why in News?

The United Nations has recognized seven initiatives from regions spanning Africa, and Latin America, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia as World Restoration Flagships.

• These initiatives, aimed at reviving ecosystems on the brink of degradation, hold promise for environmental conservation and socio-economic development.
• The combined efforts of these initiatives are projected to restore approximately 40 million hectares of land and generate around 500,000 employment opportunities.

What are the 7 World Restoration Flagships recently Recognized by the UN?

• 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.
• The Living Indus initiative:
  • Approved by Pakistan parliament post-2022 climate change-induced floods. Its official launch took place at the 27^th 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

What are UN World Restoration Flagships?

• About:
  • The World Restoration Flagships are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) which aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.
    • The UN General Assembly has declared 2021–2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
  • The UN recognizes the World Restoration Flagships through the World Restoration Flagship Award.
    • This award is part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, spearheaded by UNEP and FAO, which aims to counteract ecosystem degradation across all continents and oceans.
    • Recipients of this award become eligible for technical and financial assistance from the UNO.
    • The awards track notable initiatives following global commitments to restore one billion hectares (an area larger than China).
• Significance:
  • Global recognition and celebration of their restoration success stories.
  • Technical and financial support of up to USD 500,000 per selected initiative (only for developing countries).
  • Attraction of global attention and investments.
  • Feature in the UN Decade’s publications, campaigns, outreach, advocacy, and education efforts.
  • Listing in the UN Secretary-General’s Report to the General Assembly.

What is Ecological Restoration?

• About:
  • It is the process of aiding the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.
• Causes of Degradation:
  • Human activities like selective logging, road building, poaching, overfishing, invasive species, land clearing, urbanization, coastal erosion, and mining can lead to damage, degradation, or destruction of ecosystems.
• Aims and Objectives:
  • Ecological restoration aims to initiate or accelerate ecosystem recovery by creating conditions for plants, animals, and microorganisms to carry out the recovery process themselves.
• Methods and Actions:
  • Restoration may involve actions like removing invasive species, reintroducing lost species or functions, altering landforms, planting vegetation, changing hydrology, and reintroducing wildlife.
  • Restoration is not a one-time activity; it continues as the ecosystem recovers and matures. Unforeseen barriers may arise during the recovery process.
• Restoration and Conservation:
  • Restoration is not a substitute for conservation. While it can restore biodiversity, structure, and function to ecosystems, it should not be used to justify destruction or unsustainable use.
• India's Restoration Initiatives:
  • Sundarbans Mangrove Restoration.
  • National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA).
  • National Mission for a Green India (GIM).
  • Western Ghats Forest Landscape Restoration.
  • Green Wall.
  • National Afforestation Programme (NAP).
  • National Biodiversity Action Plan.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q1. Which of the following can be threats to the biodiversity of a geographical area? (2012)

1. Global warming
2. Fragmentation of habitat
3. Invasion of alien species
4. Promotion of vegetarianism

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (a)

Q2. Biodiversity forms the basis for human existence in the following ways: (2011)

1. Soil formation
2. Prevention of soil erosion
3. Recycling of waste
4. Pollination of crops

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (d)

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Mains

Q. How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act,2002 helpful in the conservation of flora and fauna? (2018)