UfM spearheads efforts to restore Mediterranean landscapes and combat desertification

June 10, 2024
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On World Environment Day, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) reaffirms its commitment to restoring Mediterranean landscapes, combating desertification and strengthening the resilience of its communities. Through innovative projects and strong partnerships, the UfM is making significant strides towards a sustainable future where both nature and people thrive.

The Mediterranean faces unique environmental challenges as its rich biodiversity is threatened by climate change, desertification, and water scarcity. The UfM’s Environment Agenda, 2030GreenerMed, tackles these challenges through its third axis, which focuses on protecting, preserving, managing, and restoring natural resources.

2030GreenerMed fosters collaboration with key partners to ensure comprehensive Mediterranean forestry and landscape restoration efforts. Successful initiatives include:

  • Collaboration with FAO’s Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM) and Silva Mediterranea linked with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This collaboration also took the form of the UfM-labelled project, Scaling up forest and landscape restoration, to build regional and national capacity in the Mediterranean region, with Lebanon and Morocco as key focus countries.
  • Working with EFIMED to preserve Mediterranean Forest Genetic Resources and promote sustainable value from these landscapes.
  • Partnering with PRIMA on nature-based solutions to enhance ecosystem resilience and promote sustainable food systems.
  • Engaging with the Convention on Biological Diversity, UNFCCC, and UNCCD (where UfM holds observer status) to align efforts.
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Countries covered:

  • Algeria
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • Palestine *
  • Syria *
  • Tunisia