Forest and landscape restoration holds huge potential to tackle climate change

As the world struggles to bring global warming under control, there are some strategies that can have a major impact at relatively low cost but are currently being underused. One of these is forest and landscape restoration. A new report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The key role of forest and landscape restoration in climate action, calls for greater recognition of the potential of forest and land restoration to mitigate and help humanity adapt to the effects of climate change. Using case studies, the report explains how this approach restores the ecological functionality and productivity of deforested and degraded areas. It also provides multiple benefits, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to protecting ecosystems and improving the livelihoods, resilience and well-being of local communities. 

While this natural pathway to tackling climate change is cost-effective, the report explains that governments are failing to find the funds needed to scale up restoration work. It calls for countries to engage donors and recommends diverse funding mechanisms to secure the resources needed.

Read more or download the publication.