Official Side Event at the UN Water Conference to launch a global challenge to restore rivers and freshwater wetlands.
This ministerial-level side event launched the Freshwater Challenge, a country-driven initiative to leverage the support needed to restore 300,000 km of rivers and 350 million hectares of inland wetlands by 2030.

Based on nationally identified priorities, the Challenge will take an inclusive and collaborative approach to implementation where governments will develop freshwater restoration targets and co-create solutions with indigenous people and local communities, and national and international partners.

The side event focused on the announcement of transformative commitments for the Water Action Agenda and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, freshwater restoration priorities in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, and a plan to mobilize support and accelerate implementation.

Learn more about this global restoration initiative targeting freshwater ecosystems.