Global Land Restoration Efforts Fall Short of 2030 Goals

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released a report indicating that more than 124.3 million hectares of degraded land are currently undergoing restoration, rehabilitation, or improved management worldwide. This area is equivalent to twice the size of France.

However, the report reveals that only 10.4% of the 1.2 billion hectares pledged for restoration by 2030 has been achieved. The findings were published in the global Land Restoration Achievement Database: 2026 Report during the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The commitments were made under four international frameworks, including the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030. IUCN Programme Officer Muneeswaran Mariappan stated that this is the first structured global synthesis of restoration achievements.

IUCN Director-General Dr. Grethel Aguilar emphasized the importance of restoration for environmental, economic, and social benefits, urging for increased action to meet global commitments.