Nature Restoration Could Create Up to 32 Million Jobs by 2030, UN Says
Nature restoration could generate up to 32 million new jobs worldwide by 2030, according to a new UN report. The UN General Assembly declared 2021–2030 the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Under international agreements, countries committed to restoring around one billion hectares of degraded land. Half of the decade has now passed. What progress have countries made so far, and what changes are already taking place around the world? The 24KZ programme Contour of the World takes a closer look.
UN: ECOSYSTEM PROJECTS COULD CREATE 32 MILLION JOBS
Nature restoration is gradually becoming a new source of employment. According to the UN report, projects recognised as World Restoration Flagships have already generated more than one million jobs. Experts estimate that these initiatives could provide employment opportunities for another 32 million people by the end of the decade. The work goes far beyond planting trees. People earn a living through forest nurseries, wetland restoration, ecotourism and other activities. Overall, these projects cover 252 million hectares across 149 countries. The largest areas are in Asia. China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan are among the countries with particularly extensive restoration efforts. At the biodiversity conference in Yerevan, the UN also recognised five additional initiatives in China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Italy and the United States as World Restoration Flagships.
Susan Gardner, Director of the Ecosystems Division at the UN Environment Programme:
- Through the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, we highlight examples that demonstrate that restoring nature really works. It benefits people, helps ecosystems and has an impact on a global scale. Now, at the halfway point of the decade, countries are reporting restoration efforts covering more than 250 million hectares. These are the largest documented nature restoration efforts in history.
One of the newly recognised projects is being implemented in Colombia. In the city of Barranquilla, the Ciénaga de Mallorquín lagoon is being restored after suffering from pollution and changes to its coastline. The initiative involves restoring mangrove forests, improving public spaces and developing ecotourism. The project has already covered 445 hectares of wetlands, with plans to expand the area to 740 hectares by 2030. It is also creating additional sources of income for fishermen, local guides and small businesses.
Ramón Montes, Head of Atlántico BIRDING and environmental activist:
- Ciénaga de Mallorquín is an important area for birds. A total of 171 species have been recorded here, including migratory birds. Abundant food resources and the availability of water make the lagoon a suitable habitat for them. So this is not simply about bringing back mangrove forests, but about preserving an entire natural environment and its inhabitants.
In Ethiopia, the focus is primarily on creating employment for local communities. A forest restoration programme already covers more than 23,000 hectares and has created nearly 16,000 employment and income-generating opportunities. Around 60% of these opportunities have gone to women. They work in forest nurseries, beekeeping and fruit tree cultivation. In this way, the environmental project helps restore land while supporting the local economy.
Aklilu Negussi Mekuria, Head of the WEFOREST Office in Ethiopia:
- This forest area covers around 154,000 hectares, comparable to the size of London. There is still a great deal of work ahead. We have already restored more than 23,000 hectares, but our goal is to increase that figure to around 40,000 by 2030. And we need to start with the most important things: restoring soil and protecting water resources.
However, the current pace remains insufficient to achieve global targets. On land, countries have restored nearly half of the area required by 2030. Progress in freshwater ecosystems is significantly lower, at just 4.5%. One of the main constraints is funding. According to UN estimates, annual investment needs to increase from $64 billion to $296 billion by the end of the decade — more than four times the 2022 level. The challenge is now not only to launch new projects but also to scale up successful solutions. Efforts need to accelerate particularly in rivers, lakes and coastal marine areas, where progress remains significantly behind.
Author: Aigerim Ardakkyzy