The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) opened this week registration for experts to serve as Expert Reviewers on the First-Order Draft (FOD) of the 2027 Methodology Report on Inventories for Short-lived Climate Forcers.
This Methodology Report, produced by the Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI), will provide guidance on measuring anthropogenic emissions from key short-lived climate-forcing substances, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and others, which significantly contribute to global and regional air quality and climate change.
Following the Second Lead Author Meeting held in Istanbul in October 2025, the authors of the Methodology report have prepared a first draft, which will be open for experts worldwide to review and provide comments as of early January 2026.
IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Co-Chair Mazhar Hayat
The review of the First Order Draft is the first of multiple review stages foreseen for every IPCC report. The review process is critical in preparing IPCC reports. It helps ensure scientific rigour, the widest range of perspectives, and relevance and guidance for those who compile emissions inventories.
Scheduled for release in 2027, the Methodology Report on Inventories for Short-lived Climate Forcers will be the first methodology report published by the IPCC in the seventh assessment cycle.
“We have more than 140 authors from 50 countries volunteering their time and expertise to develop the first draft of this long-awaited methodology report. We are now seeking experts worldwide to review and provide their comments, thus ensuring that this methodology report will reflect the latest scientific knowledge,” said Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Co-Chair Takeshi Enoki.
Expert Review is the first opportunity for experts to engage with the draft report. All review comments submitted by experts or governments are addressed by the authors. The comments and the author responses, together with the drafts, are published after the report is finalised.
“Engagement of Expert Reviewers is vital. Their insights will help authors to consider diverse perspectives and methodological approaches,” said Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Co-Chair, Mazhar Hayat.
The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, established under the European Climate Law, will continue to be supported in its second term (2026-2030) by Ottmar Edenhofer. The Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) has now been appointed by the Management Board of the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen for another four-year term on the Advisory Board, beginning on March 24, 2026.
The Advisory Board gives independent advice and produces reports on EU policies, and their coherence with the Climate Law and the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. It consists of 15 high-level scientific experts covering a wide range of relevant fields. Edenhofer is serving as the Advisory Board’s current Chair during its first term (2022-2026).
Ottmar Edenhofer, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
“I am very thankful for the great opportunity to continue supporting EU climate policy in this service role for the next four years,” says Edenhofer, who is also Professor for The Economics and Politics of Climate Change at the Technische Universität Berlin.
“The European Union has taken some important steps in recent years towards its declared goal of climate neutrality by 2050. It remains important to make climate policy cost-effective, socially balanced and consistent with the requirements of an internationally competitive economy. As a member of the Advisory Board, I will do my best to provide scientific advice to policymakers on this task,” adds Edenhofer.
The composition of the Advisory Board for the next four-year term has now been decided through an open, fair and transparent selection process lasting several months. The decision on who will chair the body in future is not expected until beginning of the second term.
The other members of the Advisory Board in the second term are: • Annela Anger-Kraavi – University of Cambridge • Constantinos Cartalis – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens • Suraje Dessai – University of Leeds’ School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability • Laura Díaz Anadón – University of Cambridge • Vera Eory – Scotland’s Rural College • Lena Kitzing – Technical University of Denmark • Kati Kulovesi – University of Eastern Finland • Lars J. Nilsson – Lund University • Åsa Persson – KTH Royal Institute of Technology’s Climate Action Centre • Keywan Riahi – International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis • Jean-François Soussana – French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment • Giorgio Vacchiano – University of Milan • Detlef van Vuuren – PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency • Zinta Zommers – University of Toronto
The Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) is advocating the operationalisation of Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) for Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) to strengthen Nigeria’s climate action efforts.
Mrs. Florence Ibok-Abasi, Country Director of SDN, said this at a workshop organised by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), in collaboration with SDN, and with support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) on Thursday, December 4, 2025, in Abuja.
The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to track and reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) like methane and black carbon, particularly in key sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture, and waste.
Florence Ibok-Abasi, Country Director of SDN
She said that SDN, in partnership with the NCCC, was working to integrate MRV for SLCPs into Nigeria’s national framework, ensuring accurate reporting and transparency.
This move aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to reducing methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 and achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) goals under the Paris Agreement.
“SDN has been working in the Niger Delta for over 20 years and, basically, our focus has been to support host communities to be able to engage with local governments, state governments and also oil companies.
“But beyond that, our mandate has actually been increased to providing technical assistance to the federal government, state governments and local governments as well.”
Ibok-Abasi explained that as an organisation, SDN treasured multi-stakeholder engagements, hence its name, Stakeholder Democracy Network.
“Today, we are looking at how we can continue to strengthen our MRVs.
“It is extremely important because you cannot reduce what you cannot measure, and that is why we are supporting strategies to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants such as methane.”
She explained that CCAC was actually very pleased with the work SDN had done so far, saying, “We are already discussing the possibility of a second phase to ensure this intervention is duly completed.”
She said the workshop was a follow-up, building directly on the initial capacity-building session critical to strengthening institutional capacity to operationalise the MRV for SLCPs in line with overarching institutional frameworks.
She added that it supported the improved integration of SLCPs into Nigeria’s national MRV framework in accordance with the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement.
Also speaking, Mr. Okebugwu Chukwuemeka, Assistant Director, NCCC, commended SDN for the partnership.
Chukwuemeka said that progress had been made with regard to MRV and their efforts, “so we encourage that this effort should be sustained.
“A lot of ideas are coming up and we are looking forward to seeing how we are able to harmonise these ideas to make sure that our MRV system, especially in the event of the short-lived climate pollutants, are properly integrated and estimated.”
In his remarks, Dr Bala Bappa, National Coordinator, CCAC, said the CCAC was a voluntary partnership of governments and other stakeholders committed to improving air quality and protecting the climate through targeted actions that reduced SLCPs.
Bappa said that Nigeria had been a long-standing and valued partner of the CCAC and over that over the years the Coalition had supported the country through a range of projects cutting across several sectors.
He noted that building on this partnership, “the CCAC is now supporting Nigeria to implement MRV for SLCPs in Key Sectors being implemented by SDN.”
He racalled that since inception of the Project, SDN had carried out a comprehensive stakeholder mapping and proceeded to carry out consultative meetings and stake holder engagements across various sectors towards a successful implementation of the MRV.
Bappa said a needs and gap analysis was carried out through consultations with the respective MDAs “and the outcome was presented to us and solutions highlighted at the last workshop.”
He added that the workshop would therefore,dwell further on the stakeholder engagements carried out and the progress made towards operationalilising the MRV in some sectors.
Dr Jude Samuelson, Head of Environment and Climate Change, SDN, commended the 16 MDAs for their cooperation and for adopting the recommendations generated through the project.
Samuelson said this had strengthened their efforts to improve MRV for SLCPs.
He reaffirmed SDN’s commitment to supporting the operationalisation of MRV systems and ensuring that MDAs across key sectors build the capacity needed to effectively implement SLCP MRV.
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo State, has inaugurated irrigation systems and research farm equipment to develop and deliver improved varieties more quickly and on a larger scale.
The project, funded by the Crops to End Hunger initiative (CtEH), was launched at the institute’s headquarters in Ibadan on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
IITA Director-General (DG), Dr Simeon Ehui, said the project would strengthen the institute’s capacity to better serve Nigeria’s farmers and Africa in general.
The Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Simeon Ehui; Chairman, IITA Board of Trustees, Dr Roel Merckx, inaugurating irrigation systems and research farm equipment on Thursday in Ibadan
The infrastructure, Ehui said, has improved IITA farm research, further enhancing its ability to conduct more efficient breeding trials, sustain year-round research, and respond better to climate variability.
“In practical terms, this means that we will be able to develop and deliver improved varieties to farmers faster and at a greater scale.
“For us at IITA, this is not just about new equipment. It’s about building a more resilient, productive, and sustainable system for Africa.
“These facilities will serve as platforms for innovation, training and partnership with the national resource systems and other stakeholders across the region,” he said.
The DG, while appreciating IITA staff for their hard work and dedication, commended the German Government and other partners for making the project a reality.
Other equipment inaugurated, aside from the irrigation system, include new tractors equipped with GPS systems, planters, manure spreaders and combine harvesters.
The Chairman, IITA Board of Trustees, Dr Roel Merckx, noting that mechanisation was a challenge in Africa, said the mechanised irrigation facilities would, however, ease the challenge of water access.
Merckx explained that the irrigation would also help researchers focus more on breeding additional crop varieties.
Mr. Alick Mulenga, IITA Head of Farm Management and Breeding Operations, said the mechanised equipment would enable them to be more efficient in executing their operations.
“Currently, everything we do in terms of planting, spraying the weeds, and harvesting is done manually.
“We are very inefficient because it takes time, while the window for us to plant and maintain the crop is very short.
“So, having this equipment is going to help us execute the operations quicker, more efficiently and reliably,” he said.
Mulenga said that the irrigation system would now allow them to plant more than one crop per season, different from when they had to rely on rainfall.
He said that the infrastructure would have a positive impact on breeders, the general public and smallholder farmers in Nigeria and across Africa.
Also, Mr. Richard Ofei, IITA Project Management Officer for Root, Tuber, and Banana, said the facilities would reduce human input, thus enhancing profits.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a decisive step to revitalise the gas industry and stabilise power generation after President Bola Tinubu authorised the settlement of N185 billion in long-standing debts owed to natural gas producers.
The move, endorsed on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, by the National Economic Council (NEC) headed by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, marked one of the most significant interventions in Nigeria’s energy sector in recent years.
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr Ekperikpe Ekpo, in a statement on Thursday, December 4, said clearing the arrears would deliver wide-ranging benefits, beginning with restoring investor confidence in the sector.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo
It will be recalled that the N185 billion legacy debts, a longstanding government obligation to gas producers for past supplies, had strained cash flow and hindered operations.
The debts had discouraged further exploration and production, and reduced gas supply for power generation, thereby worsening Nigeria’s power shortages and unreliable electricity supply.
The payment to be executed through a royalty-offset arrangement, is expected to restore confidence among domestic and international gas suppliers who have long expressed concern about persistent indebtedness in the sector.
Ekpo, however, described the approval as a “decisive step towards revitalising Nigeria’s gas sector and strengthening its power-generation capacity in a sustainable manner.”
He praised Tinubu’s leadership, stating that the intervention aligned with the Decade of Gas initiative, which aims to unlock more than 12 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of gas supply by 2030.
“Settling the debts is crucial to rebuilding trust between the government and gas producers, many of whom have withheld or slowed new investments due to uncertainty over payments,” he said.
Ekpo explained that improved financial stability would help revive upstream activity by accelerating exploration and production, ultimately boosting Nigeria’s gas output.
He added that increased gas supply would also boost power generation and ease the long-standing electricity shortages that continue to hinder businesses across the country.
According to the gas minister, these gains are expected to stimulate broader economic growth, as reliable energy underpins industrialisation, job creation and competitiveness.
He added that better fiscal discipline and enhanced transparency across the sector would further attract fresh investment from both local and foreign players.
The Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Mr. Ed Ubong, said the approved plan to clear gas-to-power debts showed commitment from President Tinubu to address structural weaknesses across the value chain.
“This decision underlines the Federal Government’s determination to clear legacy liabilities and give gas producers the confidence that supplies to power generation will be honoured.
“It could unlock stalled projects, revive investor interest and rebuild momentum behind Nigeria’s transition to a gas-driven economy,” said Ubong.
Prof. Femi Ayoade of Redeemer’s University, Ede in Osun State, says funding gaps, weak infrastructure, policy limitations, skill shortages and evolving regulations are preventing Nigeria from fully benefiting from biotechnology advancements.
Ayoade, a professor of Food and Environmental Biotechnology, said this while delivering the university’s 20th Inaugural Lecture on Thursday, December 4, 3035 in Ede, Osun.
The lecture had “Biotechnology as Divine Providence: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation” as its theme.
Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State
The don said biotechnology could be used as a tool for poverty alleviation and economic development in the country if effectively utilised.
Ayoade described biotechnology as a branch of science and a revolutionary force that is reshaping industries and improving the quality of life of millions of people across the globe.
He said biotechnology could also transform Nigeria’s agriculture, healthcare and environment if effectively utilised.
Ayoade said the government, academia and industry have to collaborate to maximise the potential of biotechnology and position Nigeria as a continental leader.
He added that biotechnology offers practical solutions to low yields and climate stress in the agricultural sector and could also help combat infectious and non‑communicable diseases through vaccines, diagnostics and therapies in the health sector.
“Biotechnology can generate industries, jobs and exports, strengthen food security and provide green technologies for sustainable growth,” he said.
Ayoade urged policymakers to foster a supportive environment that encourages biotechnology innovation, adding that the burgeoning youth population, strong agricultural base and growing research capabilities position Nigeria to benefit from biotechnological innovations.
The Edo State Government has laid claim to the disputed forest reserve between the Abere and Ajakuruma Ijaw communities in Ovia Southwest Local Government Area of the state.
Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Dennis Idahosa, made the claim during a peace meeting with leaders of the two communities in Benin on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Friday Aghedo, Idahosa, who is also the Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, classified the disputed territory as state-owned and not subject to communal ownership claims.
Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Dennis Idahosa
The deputy governor, who declared the exclusive right of the government over the land, warned both communities to desist immediately from laying claim to the land.
According to him, documentary evidence and verified digital coordinates confirmed that the forest reserve is under the authority of the Edo State Government.
He cautioned the communities against attempting to appropriate the area or escalate tensions.
“You cannot fight over what does not belong to you.
“Documentary evidence showed that the landmass in question belonged to the state, a process verified through the use of digital coordinates.
“Whatever we have done here today is in line with the law.
“Go back to your communities and ensure that there is peace.
“Anybody that wants to foment trouble should be ready to face the wrath of the law,” he said.
Idahosa directed residents of both communities to maintain peace and abide strictly by the resolutions of the State Boundary Committee, stressing that it was criminal for any group to lay claim to a government-owned forest reserve.
The deputy governor, however, commended the Chairman of Ovia Southwest Local Government Council, Mr. Nosakhare Edobor, for preempting what he described as a looming communal crisis that could have resulted in casualties.
Earlier, the council chairman, who disclosed that the dispute had lingered for about seven months, urged all communities in the area to prioritise dialogue and lawful engagement over violence.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) says Nigeria risks massive brain drain in the oil and gas sector due to poor remuneration.
Mr. Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, said this while briefing newsmen at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union on Thursday, December 4, 2025, in Abuja.
He said the sector was facing challenges arising from Naira devaluation and inflation, noting that oil and gas skills remained globally competitive.
Mr. Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN’s President
“A drilling engineer in Nigeria does the same job as one in the U.S. or Abu Dhabi,” he said.
Osifo said the union must take steps to bridge the wage gap to prevent members from leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.
“If we don’t act, the brain drain seen in other sectors will be child’s play,” he said.
He said PENGASSAN had recorded significant gains through collective bargaining across oil and gas branches.
“We signed numerous agreements across government agencies, IOCs, service and marketing sectors,” he said.
He said the agreements brought relief to members facing rising costs of living, adding that the association’s duty is to protect members’ jobs and enhance their pay.
Osifo urged companies delaying salary reviews and those foot-dragging as a result of the prevailing economic realities to do the needful.
He said the industry employed some of the nation’s best talents, making competitive pay critical to retaining skilled workers.
“This industry recruits the best. Companies must provide the best conditions,” he said.
On insecurity, Osifo urged government to take decisive action against terrorism and kidnappings across the country.
“We are tired of condemnations. government must expose sponsors and protect citizens,” he said.
He urged government at all levels to prioritise tackling insecurity through better funding and equipment for security agencies.
Osifo said PENGASSAN supported calls for state police to improve local security response, adding that decentralising policing will protect citizens better than rhetoric.
He also said economic indicators meant little, if food prices remained high and farmers could not return to farms due to insecurity.
“Nigerians want to see food on the table, not macroeconomic figures,” he said.
He urged government to coordinate fiscal and monetary policies to ensure economic gains reach households.
“Translate macro results to food on the table,” he said.
Natural Eco Capital has announced the successful validation of the No‑Objection Procedure (NOP) Manual for Green Climate Fund (GCF) projects at a two‑day capacity building and validation workshop held in Kano from December 2 to 3, 2025.
Prepared by Dr. Eugene Itua and the Natural Eco Capital team, the NOP Manual represents a milestone in Nigeria’s climate finance architecture, providing a transparent, predictable, and inclusive framework for accessing GCF resources.
The workshop, convened by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), brought together participants from government agencies, civil society organisations, private sector actors, academia, traditional institutions, and international partners.
Dr Eugene Itua
In her opening remarks, Teni Majekodunmi, Director‑General of the NCCC, represented by Benny Ejiofor, explained that the NOP Manual is Nigeria’s gateway to the GCF, ensuring compliance with international fiduciary, environmental, and social safeguards.
Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Kano State, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim, in his welcome address, showcased Kano’s progress in climate finance readiness, including the establishment of a State Platform on Climate Finance with support from the PACE–FCDO programme.
Managing Director/CEO of NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Babajide Arowosafe, represented by Abubakar Ahmed, emphasised the importance of strengthening the NOP to deliver bankable, compliant proposals, particularly in climate‑smart agriculture and rural infrastructure.
Key Outcomes
Validation of the Manual’s strategic alignment with Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 and LT‑LEDS, while noting the need for stronger mapping and quantitative GHG reduction estimates.
Endorsement of the step‑by‑step review cycle, service standards (80 days for standard projects, 100 days for high‑risk projects), and digital submission portal.
Confirmation of the 100‑point scoring matrix and the “Fatal Flaw Clause” to uphold environmental and social safeguards.
Recognition of the Manual’s emphasis on stakeholder inclusivity, with recommendations to strengthen accessibility for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and traditional institutions.
Agreement on biennial reviews of the Manual to ensure continuous improvement.
Recommendations
Participants called for:
Stronger alignment of Manual actions with NDC 3.0 and LT‑LEDS pathways.
Enhanced inclusivity and accessibility in grievance redress mechanisms.
Improved sectoral integration and institutional coordination.
Strengthened monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks with SMART indicators.
Nationwide training and capacity building, scaled to subnational levels and Local Government Areas (LGAs), to ensure uniform understanding and effective implementation of the NOP Manual.
Institutional support for Direct Access Entities, including sustainability reporting frameworks and risk management strategies.
Consensus
The workshop validated the NOP Manual as Nigeria’s bridge to the Green Climate Fund, providing confidence to investors, predictability to partners, and credibility to Nigeria’s climate finance architecture. Stakeholders reaffirmed their collective commitment to transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and nationwide capacity building.
The United Nations (UN) on Thursday, December 4, 2025, recognised three new World Restoration Flagships in Australia, Canada and South Africa, anchored in Indigenous Peoples and local knowledge. Announced ahead of the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), the new initiatives support agrifood systems, biodiversity and climate goals.
Jointly led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the awards are announced under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). The World Restoration Flagships represent some of the most ambitious, science-based, and inclusive examples of restoration in action.
Australian oyster reef. Photo credit: Simon Branigan
“One hectare at a time, governments, communities and partners are restoring forests, grasslands, shrublands, coastlines and marine environments,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “By combining lessons from Indigenous Peoples with modern science, we are restoring damaged ecosystems. One hectare at a time.”
“Real ecosystem restoration is accomplished from the ground up,” said FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu. “With Indigenous Peoples and local communities at the center, these new Flagships demonstrate the power of partnerships that bridge ancient wisdom with modern innovation, while strengthening agrifood systems, biodiversity and food diversity, and climate resilience.”
Australia’s once-abundant shellfish reefs – comprising oysters and mussels – have become critically endangered by overharvesting, sedimentation and pollution, among others. Between 2021 and 2023, The Nature Conservancy and the Australian Government embarked on the Reef Builder programme to rebuild these vital coastal ecosystems at 13 locations around the southern coastline, in partnership with local communities. The Nature Conservancy continues this partnership-based work to restore native shellfish reefs across 30 percent of their original locations around Australia’s expansive coast by 2030.
“Shellfish reefs are natural solutions to some of our greatest conservation challenges, and Reef Builder has shown that restoring them at a national scale is not only possible – it’s transformative,” said Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator Murray Watt. “This recognition as a UN World Restoration Flagship highlights Australia’s leadership in marine ecosystem recovery. Reef Builder is delivering real benefits for nature and communities alike; supporting local jobs, strengthening coastal resilience, and revitalising biodiversity along our shorelines.”
Shellfish reefs serve as natural ecosystem engineers, purifying water and providing habitat for hundreds of marine species. Since the initiative’s launch, it has helped remove nearly 15 tonnes of nutrient pollution, boost fish stocks, and has achieved significant biodiversity gains. The restoration project has generated over 425 jobs and $10 million by supporting over 50 small and medium sized businesses, which helps to reconnect coastal communities with nature and promote stewardship of the marine environment. This project involves the deep collaboration of many different groups, including Indigenous Traditional owners, fishers, restaurants, scientists and local communities.
Many salmon populations are in peril in Canada, with significant economic and cultural consequences – salmon hold profound spiritual value in the country, particularly for Indigenous communities. Since 2010, Parks Canada has collaborated with Indigenous Peoples and local communities on the Respectful Returns initiative, which focuses on restoring damaged rivers and streams in seven national parks along Canada’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
“Canada is honoured that Parks Canada’s salmon restoration initiative has been named a World Restoration Flagship by the United Nations Environment Programme. This global recognition shows what’s possible when we act boldly and work together,” said Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature.
“Guided by Indigenous knowledge and science, Respectful Returns demonstrates the power of collaboration to restore ecosystems and renew relationships with Indigenous communities whose cultures and livelihoods are tied to salmon. More than a project, it is a blueprint for restoration worldwide – where reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through shared stewardship and conservation go hand in hand to protect biodiversity and strengthen communities,” Dabrusin added.
By using new tools, sharing knowledge, and working together, the project has helped restore over 65,000 hectares of land and 228 kilometers of waterways. Respectful Returns has also created more than 100 jobs, supported research at three universities, and built strong partnerships with 32 organisations and communities.
The goal is to protect salmon and their habitats while strengthening the connection between people and nature. This work is helping both the environment and communities heal and grow together. In six out of the seven sites, salmon numbers have already increased.
One of South Africa’s most biodiverse yet neglected ecosystems is the native subtropical thicket. Thicket Restoration in South Africa unites over 60 initiatives across Eastern and Western Cape. The initiative aims to restore 800,000 ha by 2030.
Restoring thicket makes the soil more resilient, stores carbon and serves as fodder storage for large livestock and other large mammals during droughts, a high priority for a region that has experienced its worst drought in 100 years in 2023/24. It also provides a safe habitat for various native browser species, including black rhinos and African elephants, responding to long-term threats
Planting native species, clearing invasive plants and training communities in restoration is expected to create more than 1,000 rural jobs, improving the livelihoods of around two million people. The thicket’s revival also sequesters up to eight million tonnes of CO₂ annually, offsetting emissions equivalent to about 20 gas-fired power plants.
“The efforts that have been put into spekboom restoration will benefit future generations. We are banking for the long term,” said Luyanda Luthuli, a landscape practitioner of Living Lands, one of the organisations forming the initiative. “I am excited and hopeful for the future and for seeing the fruits of our labour towards restoring ecosystems, restoring resilience.”
Restoring ecosystems – restoring resilience
These three new World Restoration Flagships add to a growing portfolio of already 27 recognised flagships, collectively restoring over 18 million ha of diverse ecosystems worldwide, with plans to restore a total of more than 68 million ha.
The success of multiple ecosystem restoration initiatives highlights a central message of UNEA-7: restoring ecosystems is an essential pathway to strengthen resilience for people and nature, ensuring they thrive in tandem.
