Smart Net-Zero

October 14, 2025 | Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) |

The UN has announced 4 new World Restoration Flagships, covering 18 countries and restoring over 500,000 hectares across forests, rangelands, and degraded landscapes. The selected initiatives include: Jordan’s community-driven rangeland restoration, post-wildfire forest recovery in the Republic of Korea, a transboundary restoration program across nine African and Asian nations, and a global bamboo-based restoration initiative spanning Africa, Asia, and Latin America. One flagship alone has already mitigated more than 30 million tons of CO₂e, demonstrating large-scale climate benefits. The awards highlight how ecological restoration strengthens soil carbon storage, biodiversity, and watershed health while supporting local livelihoods. FAO and UNEP will provide visibility, technical support, and investment mobilization under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.