FEATURE: Asia’s largest restoration programme launched at the World Forestry Congress
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UNCCD Library
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news article
The Landscape Partnership Asia was officially launched, attracting high levels of interest from around the world
His Excellency Minister of Korea Forest Service Choi Byeong Am officially launched the Landscape Partnership Asia on Monday 2 May 2022 at the World Forestry Congress in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
His Excellency Minister of Korea Forest Service Choi Byeong Am. Photo: Korea Forest ServiceHis Excellency Minister of Korea Forest Service Choi Byeong Am. Photo: Korea Forest Service
‘Drylands and drought-prone areas are not only ecosystems but also home to 2.5 billion people,’ he said. ‘Around 30% of the world’s drylands are located in Asia and most of them are in need of restoration. This is not impossible to achieve. The Republic of Korea restored its forests despite hard times. When our reforestation activities started, the GDP per capita of Korea was not even USD 500. After the Korean War, from 1973 until 1987, we have planted over 10 billion trees. Without technology and resources, we achieved success only due to people’s willingness to participate, without distinction between women or men. Currently, countries in Asia have better conditions than Korea at that time so I strongly believe that if you have the willingness, you can do it.
‘The launch of the Landscape Partnership Asia comes at very much the right time. The Republic of Korea, as a member of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization [AFoCO], will put all its effort into positively and actively supporting the Landscape Partnership Asia. AFoCO is already acting as the Partnership’s Secretariat.’
Ricardo Calderon, executive director, Asian Forest Cooperation Organization. Photo: Korea Forest ServiceRicardo Calderon, executive director, Asian Forest Cooperation Organization. Photo: Korea Forest Service
Ricardo Calderon, executive director of AFoCO, emphasised that the Partnership was an ‘Evolving, multi-stakeholder platform that seeks to implement performance-based investments in restoring Asian drylands and drought-prone areas. The partners range from public through private to civil society. It will seek commitments and funding from implementing, technical, financial and political partners.’
The Partnership — which was co-founded by AFoCO, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and the Global EverGreening Alliance — plans to realise by 2032 that national dryland restoration efforts are substantially enhanced with large areas brought under integrated dryland and drought management.
‘We are aiming for a minimum of 10 million hectares,’ he said. ‘Training and capacity building at various levels will be the backbone and project goals will align with national and international commitments that will be quantified based on investment and impact. AFoCO, a formal intergovernmental body, is committed to providing the bridge in order to enhance cross-sectoral cooperation, broaden coordination and coherence of the sustainable management of forests.’
Robert Nasi, managing director of CIFOR-ICRAF, noted that ‘drylands have been largely neglected so far by the restoration or climate agendas. Yet they harbour large amounts of unique biodiversity and of carbon thanks to their sheer size. Asian drylands have been even more neglected than other drylands. Dryland resources for crops, wood products or grazing are essential to the livelihoods of millions yet are among the most degraded and mis-managed lands. This makes the Landscape Partnership Asia totally relevant and more than timely. We still have time to turn the tide but not much.’
Paola Agostini, lead natural resources specialist, World Bank, provided a technical insight into some of the issues facing the region. Photographs of Tashkent in Uzbekistan taken during its first dust storm ever, in late 2021, dramatically highlighted the impact of degraded drylands on human wellbeing.
‘In the mountains, rivers of mud from erosion flow during heavy rains,’ added Agostini. ‘All these disasters have huge economic impact. Every year, from the Aral seabed alone, sand and dust storms generate losses of over USD 44 million, including health impact and crop losses averaging USD 11.6 million per year. Continuing practices will result in loss of benefits averaging USD 32.6 million per year. Landscape degradation costs the regional Central Asian economy at least 4% of gross domestic product.’ READ FURTHER FROM THE LINK ABOVE
His Excellency Minister of Korea Forest Service Choi Byeong Am officially launched the Landscape Partnership Asia on Monday 2 May 2022 at the World Forestry Congress in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
His Excellency Minister of Korea Forest Service Choi Byeong Am. Photo: Korea Forest ServiceHis Excellency Minister of Korea Forest Service Choi Byeong Am. Photo: Korea Forest Service
‘Drylands and drought-prone areas are not only ecosystems but also home to 2.5 billion people,’ he said. ‘Around 30% of the world’s drylands are located in Asia and most of them are in need of restoration. This is not impossible to achieve. The Republic of Korea restored its forests despite hard times. When our reforestation activities started, the GDP per capita of Korea was not even USD 500. After the Korean War, from 1973 until 1987, we have planted over 10 billion trees. Without technology and resources, we achieved success only due to people’s willingness to participate, without distinction between women or men. Currently, countries in Asia have better conditions than Korea at that time so I strongly believe that if you have the willingness, you can do it.
‘The launch of the Landscape Partnership Asia comes at very much the right time. The Republic of Korea, as a member of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization [AFoCO], will put all its effort into positively and actively supporting the Landscape Partnership Asia. AFoCO is already acting as the Partnership’s Secretariat.’
Ricardo Calderon, executive director, Asian Forest Cooperation Organization. Photo: Korea Forest ServiceRicardo Calderon, executive director, Asian Forest Cooperation Organization. Photo: Korea Forest Service
Ricardo Calderon, executive director of AFoCO, emphasised that the Partnership was an ‘Evolving, multi-stakeholder platform that seeks to implement performance-based investments in restoring Asian drylands and drought-prone areas. The partners range from public through private to civil society. It will seek commitments and funding from implementing, technical, financial and political partners.’
The Partnership — which was co-founded by AFoCO, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and the Global EverGreening Alliance — plans to realise by 2032 that national dryland restoration efforts are substantially enhanced with large areas brought under integrated dryland and drought management.
‘We are aiming for a minimum of 10 million hectares,’ he said. ‘Training and capacity building at various levels will be the backbone and project goals will align with national and international commitments that will be quantified based on investment and impact. AFoCO, a formal intergovernmental body, is committed to providing the bridge in order to enhance cross-sectoral cooperation, broaden coordination and coherence of the sustainable management of forests.’
Robert Nasi, managing director of CIFOR-ICRAF, noted that ‘drylands have been largely neglected so far by the restoration or climate agendas. Yet they harbour large amounts of unique biodiversity and of carbon thanks to their sheer size. Asian drylands have been even more neglected than other drylands. Dryland resources for crops, wood products or grazing are essential to the livelihoods of millions yet are among the most degraded and mis-managed lands. This makes the Landscape Partnership Asia totally relevant and more than timely. We still have time to turn the tide but not much.’
Paola Agostini, lead natural resources specialist, World Bank, provided a technical insight into some of the issues facing the region. Photographs of Tashkent in Uzbekistan taken during its first dust storm ever, in late 2021, dramatically highlighted the impact of degraded drylands on human wellbeing.
‘In the mountains, rivers of mud from erosion flow during heavy rains,’ added Agostini. ‘All these disasters have huge economic impact. Every year, from the Aral seabed alone, sand and dust storms generate losses of over USD 44 million, including health impact and crop losses averaging USD 11.6 million per year. Continuing practices will result in loss of benefits averaging USD 32.6 million per year. Landscape degradation costs the regional Central Asian economy at least 4% of gross domestic product.’ READ FURTHER FROM THE LINK ABOVE
Keywords
Asia
land restoration
ecosystems restoration
drylands
partnerships
agroforestry
SDGs targets