Naturschutz: Lichtblick bei geschädigten Ökosystemen – aber Tempo gefragt

A glimmer of hope shines through the massive undertaking of protecting and rebuilding damaged ecosystems, but speed is a pressing concern. Over the past years, progress has been made in 149 countries, with over 1 million "green" jobs created, according to a report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi. The area is larger than Greenland, covering about a quarter of the 1 billion hectares targeted for restoration by 2030.

The nations agreed on this in a deal at the 2021 World Nature Conference in Montreal, committing to restore 30 percent of damaged ecosystems on land and in inland waters, seas, and coastal regions. The report, halfway through the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), provides a halfway assessment. UNEP Director Inger Andersen describes it as "one of the greatest efforts for nature we have ever seen."

However, the authors warn that current efforts are insufficient and not fast enough to meet the targets. The report notes a significant difference between land and marine efforts: over 90 percent of the current measures happen on land. While progress is nearly half of the 2030 target on land, there have been far fewer advances in marine environments, which are deteriorating faster, the authors write.

Currently, only about two percent of marine and coastal ecosystems and four percent of freshwater ecosystems are being restored. However, monitoring and documentation of these ecosystems is weaker, possibly leading to underestimation of the areas. More funding is needed to accelerate progress, the report states. By 2030, more than four times the current annual funding – from $64 billion to nearly $300 billion – would be required, roughly for wetland restoration or reforestation.

This could create an estimated 32 million new global jobs. In Yerevan, Armenia, discussions are underway at the World Nature Conference on how to move forward with the agreement. Protecting and restoring ecosystems on land and in the sea is central to the United Nations for water and food supply, and the planet's resilience against climate change.