Hectares of land and sea under restoration

Find out how we monitor impact across our projects

Overview

204,955

ha of land and sea directly under restoration.

This KPI records the area of degraded land or sea within the project landscape or seascape that is under restoration.

The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) defines degraded as ‘An ecosystem where, due to any process or activity, the viability of ecosystem functions and processes, and hence biodiversity, have been removed or lessened’. In our projects, we include degraded areas where key barriers to ecosystem recovery have been removed, and biodiversity restoration is either in progress or complete in this metric. We support projects to restore ecosystems to a position where they can recover themselves.

Cumulative area under restoration (ha)

How this performance indicator is measured

This indicator is evidenced through the provision of information from GIS maps (delineation of the areas), project progress reports and the monitoring of outcome indicators.

The Global Biodiversity Framework is currently developing a system which will use existing platforms, for example the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring (FERM), for collecting area-based information on ecosystem restoration.

Why this is important

Biodiversity is vital for life but across Europe, 81% of habitats are in a poor or degraded condition. The State of Nature in Europe report (2020), identifies agricultural activities, land abandonment, urbanisation and pollution as the main pressures on habitats and species. Forests, wetlands and grasslands are particularly threatened.

Policy relevance

Among the Global Biodiversity Framework’s key elements are four goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030. Target 2 is to restore 30% of degraded land, waters and seas to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, ecological integrity and connectivity. To meet this target Parties to the convention are required to undertake an assessment of degraded areas within a country and report on the type of restoration that is being undertaken. As restoration is a long-term process, the target captures restoration activities that are underway rather than completed.

This is encapsulated in the EU’s Nature Restoration Law, a key component of the European Green Deal, which is provisionally agreed and has legally binding targets to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and seas by 2030, rising to all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. It will require EU member states to submit and monitor the implementation of national nature restoration plans.

Project examples

Water flow restored to entire lake system in Ukrainian Danube Delta

A total of 33,138 hectares is under restoration, led by the Rewilding Ukraine team and the Izmail Department of Water Resources. This work is revitalising the Danube Delta and its communities by restoring connectivity and water flow. Recently, the Danube River was reconnected to the vast Katlabuh Lake through the Staronekrasivski Wetlands, creating a wetland area of over 8,500 hectares, one of the largest lake systems on Ukraine’s side of the delta.

Restoring Restricted Fishing Areas in Türkiye

Project partners AKD are undertaking a combination of patrolling, invasive species removal and clean-ups over 62,549 hectares of restricted fishing areas along the coastline in Southwest Türkiye. In response, the number of confirmed monk seal sightings has increased to 22 and the local fishing cooperatives are benefitting from the sales of invasive fish species.

Restoring grasslands in South-East Georgia

SABUKO have signed conservation agreements with local farmers in the Chachuna Managed Reserve to implement rotational sheep grazing over 2,000 hectares. This will give the grasslands a chance to improve their condition helping to address degradation. University students are involved with monitoring the vegetation response.

Deer management in the Cairngorms, Scotland

A deer management plan is under implementation over 58,000 hectares of the Cairngorms Connect project area. In 2023, at least 953 deer were shot supporting natural recovery of woodland without the need for fencing. Interventions have included tree planting over 68 hectares and the restoration of 35 hectares of bog woodland.

Purchase of grazing rights in the Iberian Highlands, Spain

A total of 7,645 hectares of grazing rights have been obtained in the southern part of the Iberian Highlands mountain chain and 73 animals released for natural grazing including Tauros, Pottoka horses, Przewalski’s horses and Serrano horses. This should maintain a diverse sward and suppress the succession of vegetation thus reducing biomass and the spread of wildfires.