The United Nations has recognized major land restoration programmes in Brazil, the Sahel and Saudi Arabia as World Restoration Flagships. Together, the initiatives aim to restore almost 5 million hectares by 2030. The awards were announced on Aug. 26 at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The programmes are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which runs from 2021 to 2030. They focus on degraded ecosystems affected by drought, desertification and climate change.

Brazil Targets 2 Million Hectares In Cerrado

Brazil's Araticum Initiative is focused on the Cerrado, a highly biodiverse tropical savanna. The programme involves more than 180 organizations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, farmers, researchers and government institutions across nine states.

More than 27,000 hectares were under restoration by June 2026. The initiative uses natural regeneration, direct seeding and agroforestry with native species. Its target is 2 million hectares by 2030.

Saudi Arabia Expands Restoration In Arid Landscapes

Saudi Arabia's National Greening Program aims to restore 2.5 million hectares and plant 215 million trees by 2030.

By June 2026, the programme had brought 1 million hectares under restoration and planted 159 million trees. Activities include reforestation, controlled grazing, rainwater harvesting and restoration of native wildlife habitats.

Sahel Links Land Restoration With Food Security

The Sahel Integrated Resilience Initiative operates across Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. It had restored more than 335,000 hectares by June 2026 and aims to reach 470,000 hectares by 2030.

The programme combines land rehabilitation, soil and water management with livelihood assistance and school feeding. More than 4 million people have benefited, according to the UN.

The broader challenge remains significant. UN data show that at least 100 million hectares of land become degraded each year. Between 2015 and 2019, the global share of degraded land rose from 11.3% to 15.5%, affecting the well-being of an estimated 3.2 billion people.