Indigenous Knowledge at the Center of New UN Restoration Flagships

The UN has recognized three new World Restoration Flagships in Australia, Canada, and South Africa, all anchored in Indigenous Peoples’ and local knowledge. Announced on Thursday, 4th December 2025, ahead of the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), the initiatives support agrifood systems, biodiversity, and climate goals.

Jointly led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the awards fall under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). The World Restoration Flagships represent some of the most ambitious, science-based, and inclusive examples of restoration in action.

“One hectare at a time, governments, communities, and partners are restoring forests, grasslands, shrublands, coastlines, and marine environments,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “By combining lessons from Indigenous Peoples with modern science, we are restoring damaged ecosystems, one hectare at a time.”

“Real ecosystem restoration is accomplished from the ground up,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. “With Indigenous Peoples and local communities at the center, these new flagships demonstrate the power of partnerships that bridge ancient wisdom with modern innovation, while strengthening agrifood systems, biodiversity, food diversity, and climate resilience.”

Australia’s once-abundant shellfish reefs, comprising oysters and mussels, have become critically endangered due to overharvesting, sedimentation, and pollution. Between 2021 and 2023, The Nature Conservancy and the Australian Government launched the Reef Builder programme to rebuild these vital coastal ecosystems at 13 locations along the southern coastline, in partnership with local communities. The Nature Conservancy continues this work to restore native shellfish reefs across 30 percent of their original locations by 2030.

“Shellfish reefs are natural solutions to some of our greatest conservation challenges, and Reef Builder has shown that restoring them at a national scale is not only possible — it’s transformative,” said Australia’s Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator the Hon. Murray Watt. “This recognition as a UN World Restoration Flagship highlights Australia’s leadership in marine ecosystem recovery. Reef Builder is delivering real benefits for nature and communities alike: supporting local jobs, strengthening coastal resilience, and revitalizing biodiversity along our shorelines.”

Shellfish reefs act as natural ecosystem engineers, purifying water and providing habitat for hundreds of marine species. Since the initiative’s launch, it has removed nearly 15 tonnes of nutrient pollution, boosted fish stocks, and generated significant biodiversity gains. The project has created more than 425 jobs and USD 10 million in economic activity, supporting over 50 small and medium-sized businesses. It also brings together Traditional Owners, fishers, restaurants, scientists, and local communities to restore and protect marine environments.

Many salmon populations in Canada are under severe threat, with major economic and cultural implications, especially for Indigenous communities, for whom salmon hold deep spiritual significance. Since 2010, Parks Canada has collaborated with Indigenous Peoples and local communities on the Respectful Returns initiative, which focuses on restoring damaged rivers and streams across seven national parks on Canada’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

“Canada is honoured that Parks Canada’s salmon restoration initiative has been named a World Restoration Flagship by the United Nations Environment Programme. This global recognition shows what’s possible when we act boldly and work together,” said the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature. “Guided by Indigenous knowledge and science, Respectful Returns demonstrates the power of collaboration to restore ecosystems and renew relationships with Indigenous communities whose cultures and livelihoods are tied to salmon. More than a project, it is a blueprint for restoration worldwide, where reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through shared stewardship goes hand in hand with protecting biodiversity and strengthening communities.”

The program has restored over 65,000 hectares of land and 228 kilometers of waterways. It has created more than 100 jobs, supported research at three universities, and built strong partnerships with 32 organizations and communities. In six of the seven sites, salmon numbers have already increased. The initiative aims to protect salmon and their habitats while strengthening the bond between people and nature, helping both ecosystems and communities heal and grow together.

One of South Africa’s most biodiverse yet neglected ecosystems is the native subtropical thicket. The Thicket Restoration Movement unites more than 60 initiatives across the Eastern and Western Cape, with a goal of restoring 800,000 hectares by 2030.

Restoring thicket strengthens soil resilience, stores carbon, and provides vital fodder for livestock and large mammals during droughts, a critical need for a region that experienced its worst drought in a century in 2023/24. It also provides safe habitat for native browsers, including black rhinos and African elephants. Activities such as planting native species, clearing invasive plants, and training communities in restoration are expected to create more than 1,000 rural jobs, improving the livelihoods of an estimated two million people. The restored thicket is projected to sequester up to eight million tonnes of CO₂ annually, equivalent to the emissions of about 20 gas-fired power plants.

“The efforts that have been put into spekboom restoration will benefit future generations. We are banking for the long term,” said Luyanda Luthuli, a landscape practitioner at Living Lands, one of the organizations leading the initiative. “I am excited and hopeful for the future and for seeing the fruits of our labour towards restoring ecosystems and restoring resilience.”

These three new World Restoration Flagships join 27 previously recognized flagships, collectively restoring more than 18 million hectares of diverse ecosystems worldwide, with plans to restore over 68 million hectares.

Their success reinforces a central message of UNEA-7: restoring ecosystems is essential for strengthening resilience for both people and nature, ensuring they thrive together.