The main objectives of the Ecosystem Restoration Day at the Rio Conventions Pavilion were to:
- Outline the socio-economic and ecological rationale for implementing and scaling up ecosystem restoration activities on the ground
- Highlight the significant contributions of ecosystem restoration to achieving existing global and national targets and commitments
- Make a joint call for concerted and coordinated efforts to implement COP11 decision on ecosystem restoration for effectively translating enabling factors into action on the ground for the synergistic implementation of three Rio Conventions, the wise use of wetlands under Ramsar, the four Global Objectives on forests of UNFF, the IUCN Bonn Challenge, and for achieving sustainable development.
IUCN was quite involved in the Ecosystem Restoration day. The Director General, Julia Marton-Lefèvre and CEM Vice Chair, Angela Andrade made important presentations.
A the end of the Restoration Day, a group of organizations including the IUCN, represented by its Director General, UNFCCC, CBD, Ramsar, the GEF, UNEP, SER and others signed a Hyderabad call for a Concerted Effort on Ecosystem Restoration.
This call recognizes the importance of Ecosystem Restoration (ER) and acknowledges that there is an emerging consensus that the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded lands and ecosystems is increasingly important as conservation alone is not enough to avoid the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. It recalls that ER projects not only helps achieving Aichi targets but also contributes to ecosystem based adaptation and climate mitigation, and Zero Net land degradation initiative under the UNCCD, the wise use of wetlands under Ramsar, the Bonn challenge of the Global Partnership on Forest Restoration. The Bonn Challenge was cited as a key implementation vehicle for the Hyderabad Call and for reaching other international targets, such as Aichi target 15. In order to achieve the implementation of Aichi targets 1 and 15, there is a need of a connected and collaborative effort to support, finance, facilitate and implement ecosystem restoration. ER would also improve food and water security, provide employment and alleviate poverty and contribute restoring our natural capital.