We’re used to seeing maps that show the rate and spread of deforestation, and impacts that this degradation has on climate change. The Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration (GPFLR) has taken a different tact, along with partners, in their effort to map the opportunities for forest restoration.
The global map shows lands with characteristics that are favorable for restoration, and doesn’t aim to provide prescriptions for the approach to restore the landscapes. The exercise has determined that the sum total of land that is ripe for restoration is equal to the size of Russia, and that there are lands in each continent that are ripe for restoration opportunities, mostly where degradation and deforestation have already left their mark. The benefits of REDD-plus initiatives would positively impact biodiversity, climate, food security and livelihoods.
This preliminary map was prepared for the GPFLR by the World Resources Institute, South Dakota State University and IUCN, and is the starting point for a global assessment of restoration potential.
