Urban areas in arid regions face unique challenges, such as limited water resources and extreme temperatures, exacerbated by rapid urbanization, leading to the degradation of natural landscapes and loss of biodiversity alongside the ecosystem services nature provides. To combat desertification and enhance resilience to climate risks, cities were reimagined as key actors in land restoration, ensuring equitable benefits for all residents and protecting the natural environment.

To address these challenges, UNEP and UNECE cohosted an event at UNCCD COP16 on 6th December. This event explored how cities in arid ecosystems are adopting and scaling nature-based solutions (NbS) to restore degraded lands, combat desertification, enhance urban biodiversity, and improve the quality of life for the growing urban population globally. Speakers shared their experiences and insights on implementing innovative solutions to restore land and combat desertification in urban planning and development. They discussed successful case studies, the role of policy frameworks, and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in achieving sustainable urban landscapes.

The session fostered dialogue on the potential of NbS to transform urban areas in drylands into green, resilient, and biodiverse environments. It highlighted the synergies between land restoration, combating desertification, climate adaptation, and biodiversity conservation, offering actionable strategies for cities to lead in the global movement toward sustainability. The event concluded with a call to action for cities worldwide to reinforce their commitment to restoring urban ecosystems, combating desertification, and contributing to biodiversity and land restoration goals.

It spotlighted innovative solutions for biodiversity and land restoration in urban areas located within arid ecosystems. The event featured the Generation Restoration Cities project and the Trees in Dry Cities Coalition, which drive efforts to combat desertification, land degradation, and enhance urban resilience through NbS.

Key Topics Addressed:

1. Role of NbS in Urban Restoration:
1)NbS as a powerful tool for enhancing urban resilience in arid regions.
2)Integrating biodiversity, restoration, and climate adaptation into urban planning.

2. Challenges and Opportunities:
1)The need for context-specific solutions tailored to arid regions.
2)The global spread of desertification, highlighting that the issue extends beyond Africa.
3)The importance of innovative financing mechanisms and multistakeholder collaboration to scale NbS.
4)The role of youth in driving NbS initiatives and fostering environmental leadership.
5)The need to develop clear action plans, design urban spaces with foresight, and pursue incremental change for long-term impact.

3. Case Study:
Dakar's Generation Restoration Initiative: how multistakeholder platforms and integrated planning are needed to address urban sprawl while planning green belts and urban regeneration. Learn more here.

Key Messages:

1)Aligning environmental and social priorities is essential for creating sustainable urban landscapes.
2)Urban areas, especially in arid regions, must prioritize "stopping degradation and restoring urban landscapes."
3)Effective NbS implementation requires robust multistakeholder collaboration, innovation, and adequate financing. 

 

Agenda:

Opening: the Power of Urban Action for Land Restoration

  • Pr Edouard Hervé Moby Mpah, Mayor, Douala 4, Cameroon
  • Ms. Natalia Alekseeva, Coordinator, UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, UNEP
  • Ms. Liliana Annovazzi-Jakab, Chief of the joint ECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section, Forests, Land and Housing Division, UNECE

Panel Discussion: Delivering on the Rio Conventions leveraging Urban Restoration

  • Ms. Melissa De Kock, Moderator, Deputy Director UNEP - WCMC
  • Mr. Francesco Corvaro, Special Envoy for Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Energy Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy
  • Mr. Yunus Arikan, Head of Global Policy and Advocacy, ICLEI
  • Ms. Regina Orvananos, Programme Management Officer, Human Settlements, UN-Habitat 
  • Mr. Aziz Niane, Regional Coordinator for the Arabian Peninsula Regional Program, ICARDA
  • Mr. Hemanshu Kafle, Executive Secretary, International Forestry Students’ Association
  • Mr. Graham A Young, Landscape Architect, President IFLA Africa

Panel Q&A

Case Study: Urban Land Restoration in Dakar through Generation Restoration

  • Ms. Stefania Romano, Moderator, UNECE Forest and Bioeconomy Section
  • Ms. Deborah Goffner, Senior Researcher, CNRS; Associate Researcher, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University
  • Mr. Moctar Bocar Sall, Forestry Engineer, Dakar Forestry Sector Manager, Ministry of Environment, Senegal

 

Contacts

  • Stefania Romano, UNECE        +393358144254              [email protected]
  • Daniel Griswold, UNECE           +33648557861              [email protected]
  • Irene Fagotto, UNEP                  +254742746713              [email protected]