Biodiversity assessment tools take center stage in inaugural UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration webinars

June 9, 2022 - Within the framework of the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for West Asia and the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa kicked off a series of webinars looking into regional issues and solutions around ecosystems restoration. The aim of these webinars is to share regional success stories and build capacities on the restoration of degraded landscapes. The first webinar on “Biodiversity assessment tools in ecological restoration planning" was organized on Thursday, June 9.

This webinar addressed the importance of biodiversity assessment and the use of non-invasive biodiversity assessment methods to support the development of conservation and restoration plans.  In addition, national and regional challenges of using the described methods were introduced on behalf of the expert Mr. Tareq Abu Taleb, from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Moderated by Ms. Karma Bouazza, Ecological Restoration Senior Specialist from the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, the webinar was attended by experts and specialists from the ministries of environment and agriculture in the countries of the region, as well as from FAO and the United Nations Environment Program.

The UN Decade runs from 2021 through 2030, which is also the deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals and the timeline scientists have identified as the last chance to prevent catastrophic climate change. It recognizes that healthy ecosystems can enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change, and stop biodiversity losses.

The regional programme for the UN Decade was launched in April, and is part of this broad-based global movement to ramp up restoration and put the world on track for a sustainable future.  The programme of webinars will engage a broad spectrum of practitioners, planners, research organizations and civil society representatives, towards an active regional community of practice on ecosystems restoration in the Decade and beyond.