Celebrated annually on 22 April, International Mother Earth Day calls attention to our planet as our shared home – and the fundamental risk its destruction poses to humanity.

Across the planet, nature is declining at an unprecedented rate. We are losing 10 million hectares of forests every year – an area larger than Iceland – and an estimated  1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. Yet a global shift is underway. Countries have committed to restoring at least 1 billion hectares of degraded land and coastal ecosystems by 2030, moving from ambition to action.

From global organizations to community initiatives, here are nine partners of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration leading race to restoration. 

How to restore a continent  

Across Europe, large-scale restoration efforts are taking place. Rivers are being reconnected, forests and wetlands are regenerating, and wildlife such as bison, wild horses, lynx, brown bears and vultures are returning. Rewilding Europe demonstrates how restoration at scale strengthens connectivity and climate resilience. From dam removal to the creation of Wilder Parks, these efforts are restoring ecosystems while supporting local economies. With over 1,000 Young Rewilders engaged across 31 countries, the movement inspires a new generation to see rivers, soils and wetlands not as separate resources but as one integrated life-support system.

Turning digital action into real-world environmental impact

Restoration is happening in unexpected places, even online. Dots.eco transforms digital interactions—like playing games, completing surveys, or making purchases—into tangible environmental outcomes by channeling these actions into funding for on-the-ground conservation partners. In a remarkable effort, 564,548 players came together, with their in-game actions helping generate support to protect 26,000 square kilometers of snow leopard habitat in Asia. By turning clicks into action, Dots.eco connects global audiences to the land and water systems they depend on.

Restoration where it matters: Transforming Nairobi’s Kibera settlement  

This urban initiative addresses two inseparable crises simultaneously: water insecurity driven by degraded and contaminated groundwater systems, and declining soil health. Urban-fringe communities like Kibera (Nairobi), one of Africa's largest informal settlements, are among the most exposed to these intersecting pressures, where limited infrastructure amplifies both environmental and livelihood risks. By closing the loop between water, waste, and soil systems, this model demonstrates that land and water rehabilitation can function as one integrated solution, even in the heart of a megacity.

A rehabilitated borehole now powers a social water enterprise in Kibera, providing clean water, toilets, and showers to more than 5,000 people each day. Waste from over 800 households is collected and composted, supporting vertical farming that improves enhanced food security, livelihoods, and the surrounding environmental conditions. Led by youth, Mtaa Safi Initiative are working to reduce pollution, restoring soil health, and improving the lives of thousands by providing access to essential services. quality of life through integrated local action.

Local communities at the forefront

Rare supports community-led conservation enabled through empowered local leaders, accessible technology, innovative finance, and behavior-centered design to create lasting restoration impacts. Coastal communities and farmers around the globe are taking charge of their resources, transitioning from being mere beneficiaries to active managers. On land, farmers lead peer-to-peer training to spark the shift toward regenerative practices that enhance soil health, manage pests, safeguard biodiversity, and help cut runoff that degrades freshwater systems. These same regenerative practices also reduce agrochemical runoff into water bodies, a key driver of freshwater quality decline identified by FAO AQUASTAT 2025 across multiple regions. In the ocean, over 96,000 km² are now under community-led management, safeguarding marine life and uplifting millions of livelihoods.

Science for mangroves

Guardiões do Mar  brings together research, education, and community action to restore coastal ecosystem restoration, while supporting and safeguarding vulnerable communities. The initiative has engaged over 250,000 young people and 8,000 teachers while advancing through its education programmes so far. In parallel, it pioneers research on plastic pollution and microplastics in mangroves.  

By combining science, education and restoration at its core, this initiative not only rebuilds the ecosystem but also strengthens awareness, informs policy, and unlocks climate finance opportunities.

Where wildlife and humans coexist

In India, restoration is a powerful response to both environmental and social challenges. The Aadivasi Welfare Foundation is working around the Dalma Elephant Corridor to restore degraded forest landscapes, strengthen wildlife corridors, and foster harmony between local communities and elephants. By planting over 7.9 million trees and revitalizing water systems, this initiative improves habitat connectivity, supports wildlife recovery, and strengthens rural livelihoods and community resilience.

Building global policy momentum  

Many efforts go beyond individual landscapes, creating the vital conditions needed to scale restoration to scale worldwide. The G20 Global Land Initiative, coordinated by United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is helping connect policy, finance and local action. With a goal to reduce degraded land by 50 per cent by 2040, it is supporting countries, institutions and grassroots initiatives to turn commitments into tangible progress. By elevating land restoration at the G20 level, it is helping turn political momentum into a restoration economy that delivers jobs, livelihoods, and long-term growth.

Between 2015 and 2019, the world lost at least 100 million hectares of productive land each year, with over 60 percent of degradation occurring on agricultural land, while the same sector accounts for 72 percent of global freshwater withdrawals. These interlinked pressures cannot be addressed in isolation. The G20 Global Land Initiative provides a critical platform to align land restoration with water governance, in line with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Targets 2, 10, and 14.

From glacier-fed headwaters to urban boreholes, from coastal mangroves to peatland fields, these initiatives demonstrate a clear reality: water security and land health are inseparable. With 1.7 billion people already affected by land degradation and freshwater availability declining, the scale of the challenge is undeniable. Yet these examples show that restoring land and water together, across all scales, is both necessary and achievable.

Cutting-edge tech reviving our oceans

Across global seas, from Fiji to the Galápagos Islands, fragile marine ecosystems are coming back to life. Seatrees unites community action with advanced tools like 3D photogrammetry to monitor reef health and guide restoration efforts. Coral fragments are being replanted, degraded reefs are healing, and new monitoring systems are capturing every step of this extraordinary recovery. This is where innovation meets local knowledge to restore life beneath the surface.

Transactions reforesting landscapes

Reduce Reuse Grow is actively restoring ecosystems across Tanzania, the Philippines, and Malawi by turning business transactions into restoration actions. The initiative has planted millions of native trees to revive ecosystems, rebuild soils, and support local livelihoods. Every donation or partner transaction result in the planting of a real tree, which is tracked through geolocation with planting and restoration progress monitored through remote sensing, field-based verification, regular audits, and real-time reporting. Local communities lead planting and care are engaged in project planning and implementation, including land identification, nursery development, site preparation, planting, and field-based verification, making restoration measurable and lasting for both people and nature.