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Environmentally conscious citizens are invited to participate in the regional “Restoration Begins with Me” campaign to raise awareness about the value of ecosystem restoration.

It is being held by the Cartagena Convention Secretariat and GEF IWEco Project team, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Caribbean Sub-Regional Office and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representation for Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize.

The United Nations has declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, in a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems around the world. Led by the UNEP and FAO, the UN Decade is building a strong, broad-based global movement to ramp up restoration and put the world on track for a sustainable future.

People across the wider Caribbean are invited to submit a photograph with a short description, or a short video, of an activity, such as tree planting or caring, or anything associated with such an activity that shows how they value plants, trees, forests, mangroves and what they mean to them. Accompanying descriptions should be no longer than 200 words and can be made in English, Spanish or French.

The campaign, launched on the International Day of Forests (IDF) under the theme ‘Restoration Begins with Me’, will culminate on World Environment Day (WED), when the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will be formally launched.

The regional campaign theme addresses both the IDF and WED themes ‘Forest Restoration – A Path To Recovery And Well-Being’, and ‘Ecosystem Restoration’, respectively.  The objectives of the campaign are to:

• Raise awareness of the value of ecosystem restoration, the value of trees and forests, their contributions to ecosystem health and human well-being.

• Introduce the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, sources of information, its significance and tips on how individuals can take action to join this global conservation effort.

• Stimulate engagement and discussion on social media related to ecosystem restoration and biodiversity.

• Increase knowledge of the work of the UN. 

Photos and videos should be submitted to restoration-begins-with-me@cep.unep.org by May 17, 2021. Qualifying videos will be featured in a special World Environment Day launch video, and in a regional environmental forum.  

The participation guidelines are available on the Secretariat’s website.

Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification

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