In celebration of Earth Month 2024, we're joining a powerful coalition of organizations, nonprofits and agencies who share our dedication to marine ecosystem restoration as a solution to reverse climate change.
The UN Decade, an initiative managed by the UN Environmental Program, serves as a platform for taking the action needed in ecosystem restoration efforts, aligning with crucial UN agreements, including:
In 2019, Lina Dolores Pohl Alfaro, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources for the nation of El Salvador at the time, proposed an approach that links and advances all of the existing efforts prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide, calling for a “United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.”
“Ecosystem degradation leads to a loss of critical ecosystem services, adversely impacting the well-being of at least 3.2 billion people around the world, and increasing, moreover, their vulnerability to the effects of climate change,” said Pohl in presenting draft resolution A/73/L76 to the UN General Assembly.
“Reversing this reality is possible through actions in tune with nature. Ecosystem restoration, with a holistic approach, can generate tangible benefits that will increase food and water security and further contribute to conserving biodiversity as well as efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.”
Marine ecosystem restoration, particularly the restoration of kelp and mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, coastal watersheds and coral reefs, play a crucial role in achieving these goals by sequestering carbon, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting communities.
There is a crucial need for changes to be made in our planet’s protection and restoration, as without these initiatives in place to preserve our ecosystems, we are less likely to withstand the challenges that come with the ever changing climate crisis.
Without healthy ecosystems, there will be detrimental consequences across environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
Joining this initiative means we are taking action to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean, and stop these consequences from happening as a whole.
With thousands of ecosystem restoration initiatives already driving positive changes around the world, Sustainable Surf is honored to be recognized by the United Nation as an Official Actor in this global movement. The UN Decade is underpinned by a strong and transparent partnership structure, built around clear roles and responsibilities, where partners commit to accelerating ecosystem restoration worldwide.
Against a backdrop of environmental crisis, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is a chance to revive the natural world that supports us all. A decade may sound like a long time. But it is these next few years that scientists say will count most in the fight to avert the worst of climate change and the loss of millions of species. United Nations prioritizes ten actions in their strategy of the UN Decade that to build a #GenerationRestoration.
There has never been a more urgent need to restore damaged ecosystems than now.
Restoration of ecosystems is fundamental to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, mainly those on climate change, poverty eradication, food security, water and biodiversity conservation.
The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021—2030 aspires to unite the world behind a common goal of preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. Forests, grasslands, croplands, wetlands, savannahs, and other terrestrial to inland water ecosystems, marine and coastal ecosystems and urban environments—all of them are in dire need of some level of protection and restoration.
This incredible challenge can only be met if everyone—including States, local and city governments, private sector, academia and civil society and individuals at large—come together to find viable, lasting solutions, and this is where Sustainable Surf comes in as an Official Actor.
“We are excited to join this coalition for action as an Official Actor for the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 initiative. Our SeaTrees program has been restoring coastal ecosystems around the world since it was launched in 2019, proving our commitment to the UN Decade priorities and principles” - Michael Stewart, Co-Founder of Sustainable Surf
By joining the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, Sustainable Surf is committed to supporting the implementation of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and helping achieve its goal, contributing to a shared vision of ecosystem restoration globally.
Read more about The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, its motivation, goals and how you can contribute to it's success here.
