By Abdullahi Lukman
The United Nations has announced three major marine restoration initiatives as the 2025 World Restoration Flagships, recognizing large-scale efforts in Africa, Europe, and North America aimed at reviving degraded ocean ecosystems.
Unveiled during the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the selected initiatives span nearly five million hectares—roughly the size of Costa Rica—and tackle pollution, invasive species, and unsustainable exploitation.
This year’s honorees include the Northern Mozambique Channel region, over 60 islands in Mexico, and Spain’s Mar Menor lagoon.
The awards, presented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), which seeks to reverse environmental degradation globally.
Projects recognized as flagships become eligible for UN-backed support and investment.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said the shift toward restoration reflects growing global awareness of ocean health.
“These World Restoration Flagships show how biodiversity protection, climate action, and economic development are deeply interconnected,” she said.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu added that restoration is essential to safeguard marine life and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The Northern Mozambique Channel, which hosts 35% of Indian Ocean coral reefs, faces threats from climate change, agricultural runoff, and overfishing.
Countries including Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania are working with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and UN agencies to restore 4.85 million hectares by 2030.
The initiative aims to create 2,000 jobs, boost household incomes, and support community enterprises, while enhancing carbon capture through mangrove restoration.
Mexico’s island restoration programme—active for over two decades—targets invasive species removal and seabird colony revival.
Led by CONANP and GECI, the initiative has helped restore 85% of previously lost seabird colonies and is on track to recover over 100,000 hectares across nearly 100 islands.
The effort also promotes sustainable fisheries, local resilience, and ecotourism.
Spain’s Mar Menor, Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, has suffered from agricultural runoff and pollution.
In response, the Spanish government and civil society launched a sweeping plan including legal recognition of the lagoon’s rights, wetland creation, pollution clean-up, and a 10-point restoration framework.
The programme targets 8,770 hectares for restoration and supports Spain’s goal to restore 870,000 hectares nationwide by 2030.
The World Restoration Flagships are selected based on 15 rigorous criteria and are considered leading examples of long-term, scalable ecosystem recovery.
Previous flagships were recognized in 2022 and 2024, supporting the global target to restore one billion hectares of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
