The Asia-Pacific region has experienced many positive changes in the past three decades, particularly as member countries move towards sustainable development across sectors. However, as populations grow and economies surge, so too does the challenge that member countries face in meeting resource demands.
Forests, in particular, are vitally necessary to multiple stakeholders, often meeting multiple needs at once. As such, it becomes increasingly more complex to balance forest usage optimally. In this sense, the growing global interest surrounding forest and landscape restoration (FLR) presents significant opportunities for member countries. With more than 500 million hectares of deforested and heavily degraded lands (Minnemeyer, et al., 2011) in the region, FLR has the potential to help countries achieve food security, improve livelihoods, and address the social, economic, and ecological needs of their peoples and the planet.
Investing in FLR initiatives would also provide substantial benefits for the global community. Implementation of FLR in Asia would greatly contribute to achieving the critical targets set by agreements like the Sustainable Development Goals, Global Forest Goals, Bonn Challenge, Paris Agreement, New York Declaration, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
As climate concerns continue to grow, the importance of these contributions cannot be understated. However, despite clear added value, many of the key governance, institutional, capacity, finance, technical and knowledge barriers standing in the way of achieving desirable FLR results on the ground remain unaddressed.
Through many different efforts, FAO and a diversity of partners in the region are working to advance the Regional Strategy and Action Plan for Forest and Landscape Restoration.
Facilitating conflict-sensitive training
Understanding that ongoing conflicts create challenges for restoration on the ground, FAO and partners are facilitating capacity development focused on conflict-sensitive FLR.
Developing frameworks
At the global level, FAO and partners are developing the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring (FERM), an operational monitoring and reporting framework, for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Strengthening knowledge and capacities
Support to members is provided by strengthening the knowledge and capacities for FLR implementation through a Technical Cooperation Project (Support scaling up forest and landscape restoration alongside the Hand in Hand Initiative). This TCP targets Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.
Conducting geospatial analysis
Restoration hotspots in the region are being identified with SE.PLAN, a geospatial analysis tool.
