A UN report announced in Yerevan on 29 October 2026 says ecosystem restoration work covers 252 million hectares across 149 countries, while efforts still need to accelerate to meet 2030 targets.
The United Nations Environment Programme explained that these areas are under restoration, which does not mean their recovery is complete. The report was prepared jointly with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The report notes less documented progress in marine, coastal and freshwater ecosystems, while underreporting may understate the scale of work underway. It also estimates that annual restoration finance needs to rise from US$64 billion to US$296 billion by 2030.
Sources and verification
Nature is making a comeback, but the world must move faster to meet restoration targetsBased on the official UNEP report-launch statement, checked on 30 October 2026. The full report's tables were not all reviewed. Figures describe restoration underway, not completed recovery; this is not independent field verification.