THE AGADIR COMMITMENT TOWARDS A MEDITERRANEAN REGIONAL INITIATIVE ON FLR
The success of the fifth Mediterranean Forest Week, held in Agadir, Morocco, will culminate today in a commitment by nine country stakeholders – Algeria, France, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey – to support Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR), Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and biodiversity conservation efforts in the Mediterranean region. The new dynamic will be fundamental in realizing regional forest and landscape restoration goals that are key to the broader sustainable development agenda.
In support of the achievement of the Bonn Challenge and Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG15), this new regional dynamic will encourage political and administrative authorities at the national level, as well as stakeholders involved in the management of Mediterranean forest ecosystems and other wooded lands , to strengthen their respective Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) and conservation initiatives.
The dynamic, in the context of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 of the United Nations Forum for Forests (UNFF) and in line with the Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) objectives of the Rio Conventions and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, will pool efforts of main actors in the Mediterranean region.
Led by the Committee on Mediterranean Forestry, Silva Mediterranea, the new dynamic will aim at reaching the following objectives by 2030:
- Assess the ongoing national efforts on FLR to determine a voluntary regional target to be reached by 2030
- Reinforce regional cooperation on Forest and Landscape Restoration and Land Degradation Neutrality.
- Cooperate, among interested partners, to develop a consensual and diversified strategy for the financing of FLR efforts, and reinforce national capacities.
- Assess our respective efforts through the establishment of a voluntary monitoring and notification system for FLR and LDN efforts in the Mediterranean context.
Turkey has shown support for the Agadir commitment with a letter written by the Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs.Ismail Belen represented Turkey at the high level meeting held on Friday, March 24, 2017.
Related links
- Agadir Commitment (English)
- Agadir Commitment (French)
- 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- Bonn Challenge
- Fifth Mediterranean Forest Week
- Rio Conventions
- Silva Mediterraenea
- Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG15)
- United Nations Forum for Forests (UNFF)
- United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030