WWF is pleased to join the Initiative 20x20 as a technical partner and contribute to the partnership’s goal of restoring 30 million hectares of degraded land in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030.
“Being a part of the Initiative will allow WWF to directly engage with stakeholders that share our vision of forest landscape restoration (FLR),” said Roberto Troya, Regional Director for WWF Latin America and the Caribbean. “WWF has a long history of working closely with governments, jurisdictions, companies and forest-dependent communities around the world to drive restoration activities on the ground. As part of the Initiative 20x20, we look forward to advancing the implementation of FLR in Latin America and collaboratively meeting the ambitious targets that have been set out.”
“We are delighted to have WWF now join the 20x20 effort. WWF brings considerable experience and knowledge essential to advance the restoration process in the region,” highlighted Walter Vergara, Coordinator Initiative 20x20 at World Resources Institute.
Over 40% of forests in Latin America and the Caribbean have been completely deforested or degraded in recent years. Restoration is not only critical for conservation but also yields valuable economic and climate benefits – potentially enhancing the productivity and food security of approximately 49 million undernourished people in Latin America and the Caribbean. It also offers important mitigation options, carbon sequestration and possibilities to increase ecosystem resilience, reducing the effects of climate change.
“As a technical partner, WWF will engage in the Initiative by sharing lessons learned, contributing to the task forces and to national restoration plans and policies, supporting regional integration and identifying new opportunities for landscape restoration,” noted Trevor Walter, WWF-Chile’s South American Forest and Restoration Alliance Coordinator.
Officially launched in 2014 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 20), the Initiative champions The Bonn Challenge, a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded land in restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030, and the New York Declaration on Forests, which strives to restore 350 million hectares by 2030.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, agriculture has expanded to an additional 36 million hectares since 2000 at the expense of forests and natural landscapes. The Initiative works to restore lands through long-term sustainable practices that promote economic efficiency, ecosystem sustainability, and social well-being in the region.
17 countries are currently part of the Initiative 20x20. It is led by the Latin American Ministries of Agriculture and Environment. Those ministries, in turn, are supported by 40 technical service partners, including WWF, amongst other civil organizations. Moreover, the Initiative is underpinned by financial partners driving innovative projects that produce social and environmental improvements for the local communities.
Current country commitments have well surpassed the original regional goal of 20 million hectares, reaching over 50 million in the region. At the same time impact investors have earmarked over $1.25 billion to support the implementation of these commitments in the region.
“The level of ambition in Latin America is commendable,” stated Troya. “Now we need to turn this ambition into action and the Initiative 20x20 provides a great platform to make that happen.”
Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay are so far the countries engaged in the Initiative.
“Being a part of the Initiative will allow WWF to directly engage with stakeholders that share our vision of forest landscape restoration (FLR),” said Roberto Troya, Regional Director for WWF Latin America and the Caribbean. “WWF has a long history of working closely with governments, jurisdictions, companies and forest-dependent communities around the world to drive restoration activities on the ground. As part of the Initiative 20x20, we look forward to advancing the implementation of FLR in Latin America and collaboratively meeting the ambitious targets that have been set out.”
“We are delighted to have WWF now join the 20x20 effort. WWF brings considerable experience and knowledge essential to advance the restoration process in the region,” highlighted Walter Vergara, Coordinator Initiative 20x20 at World Resources Institute.
Over 40% of forests in Latin America and the Caribbean have been completely deforested or degraded in recent years. Restoration is not only critical for conservation but also yields valuable economic and climate benefits – potentially enhancing the productivity and food security of approximately 49 million undernourished people in Latin America and the Caribbean. It also offers important mitigation options, carbon sequestration and possibilities to increase ecosystem resilience, reducing the effects of climate change.
“As a technical partner, WWF will engage in the Initiative by sharing lessons learned, contributing to the task forces and to national restoration plans and policies, supporting regional integration and identifying new opportunities for landscape restoration,” noted Trevor Walter, WWF-Chile’s South American Forest and Restoration Alliance Coordinator.
Officially launched in 2014 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 20), the Initiative champions The Bonn Challenge, a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded land in restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030, and the New York Declaration on Forests, which strives to restore 350 million hectares by 2030.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, agriculture has expanded to an additional 36 million hectares since 2000 at the expense of forests and natural landscapes. The Initiative works to restore lands through long-term sustainable practices that promote economic efficiency, ecosystem sustainability, and social well-being in the region.
17 countries are currently part of the Initiative 20x20. It is led by the Latin American Ministries of Agriculture and Environment. Those ministries, in turn, are supported by 40 technical service partners, including WWF, amongst other civil organizations. Moreover, the Initiative is underpinned by financial partners driving innovative projects that produce social and environmental improvements for the local communities.
Current country commitments have well surpassed the original regional goal of 20 million hectares, reaching over 50 million in the region. At the same time impact investors have earmarked over $1.25 billion to support the implementation of these commitments in the region.
“The level of ambition in Latin America is commendable,” stated Troya. “Now we need to turn this ambition into action and the Initiative 20x20 provides a great platform to make that happen.”
Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay are so far the countries engaged in the Initiative.
