The Earth is suffering. Lakes and rivers, the main readily available source of our precious fresh water, are under mounting pressure from climate change, overconsumption-fuelled pollution, and the degradation of natural habitats. And the world continues to experience extreme weather events – the UAE and Oman have been hit by the heaviest rainfall in 75 years while drought, intensified by El Niño, has pushed millions into "acute hunger” across Southern Africa. Such sobering happenings underscore the fact that since the year 2000, we’ve seen flood-related disasters increase by 134%, and the number and duration of droughts also increase by 29%.  

At the same time, global rainforest loss continues: In 2022, the world lost 4.1 million hectares of tropical primary rainforests — areas of critical importance for livelihoods, carbon storage and biodiversity — equivalent to a rate of 11 football pitches a minute.

The health of these interconnected ecosystems – and human survival – depend on their conservation, science-based management, as well as social cohesion and peace: In several countries violent conflict is seriously undermining sustainable development.

International Mother Earth Day, on 22 April, is celebrated within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The Decade, co-led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), recently identified seven new flagship initiatives that illustrate the breadth and promise of restoration work already under way. Restoring our damaged ecosystems will help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent mass extinction. But we will only succeed if everyone plays their part in Making Peace With Nature.

“Feasible and effective options are available now to shift to a more sustainable economy in harmony with nature,” says Leticia Carvalho, Principal Coordinator of UNEP’s Marine and Freshwater Branch. “We can all play our part.”

Last year a coalition of governments launched the Freshwater Challenge – the largest ever initiative to restore degraded rivers, lakes and wetlands. UNEP is a core partner in this initiative which has so far garnered support from 46 countries, including the United States.

One freshwater body in urgent need of protection and restoration is the Mekong River in South-East Asia. A new study, The Mekong’s Forgotten Fishes, says the river and its diverse fish species are under mounting pressure due to fragmentation of the river and its tributaries by hydropower dams, poorly managed fisheries, unsustainable extraction of sand and gravel for the construction industry, introduction of invasive non-native fish, habitat loss due to infrastructure and wetland conversion for agriculture and urbanization, changes in water quality, and climate change. Interestingly, decision-makers in the Congo Basin, another biodiversity hotspot, are involved in a critical exchange of information and best practices with their counterparts in the Mekong and Amazon basins. A high-level summit of the Three Basins took place in October 2023, and is helping to push forward change protecting, sustainably managing and restoring these areas.    

UNEP is engaged with many partners to conserve and restore the natural environment. For example, UNEP and Rotary International recently launched Community Action for Fresh Water to help restore water bodies. Get involved with a local community group or initiative to restore landscapes and boost resilience.

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, led by the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and its partners, covers terrestrial as well as coastal and marine ecosystems. As a global call to action, it will draw together political support, scientific research and financial muscle to massively scale up restoration. Find out how you can contribute to the UN Decade. Follow #GenerationRestoration.