United Nations warns of gap in 2030 ecosystem restoration targets

A new United Nations report, titled “Nature’s Comeback: Scaling Ecosystem Restoration for People and Planet,” reveals that while global restoration efforts have reached a record 252 million hectares across 149 countries, progress is insufficient to meet 2030 biodiversity targets.

The assessment, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), notes that current efforts cover approximately 34% of the global goal to restore 1 billion hectares. While terrestrial restoration is approaching half of its target, progress in marine, coastal, and freshwater ecosystems remains significantly behind.

China leads terrestrial restoration with 127.4 million hectares, followed by notable efforts in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The report emphasizes that meeting targets requires not only planting trees but also restoring natural processes, improving ecological monitoring, and securing long-term financing. Expanding these programs could potentially create up to 32 million additional green jobs by 2030.