A/RES/73/284 United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) large-scale private projects on land rehabilitation and sustainable land management worldwide through the launch of the Land Degradation Neutrality Fund, 15 Taking note of the Ramsar Strategic Plan 2016–2024, adopted at the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, 16 which includes targets for the restoration of wetlands, including in connection with biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation, Noting that the world’s forest area decreased from 31.6 per cent to 30.6 per cent of global land area between 1990 and 2015, but that the pace of loss has slowed in recent years, Noting also the invitation extended to countries by the Committee on Forestry of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Unite d Nations, at its twenty-fourth session, to actively pursue more integrated approaches to the restoration of degraded lands, support the development of financing mechanisms dedicated to ecosystem restoration and better engage the private sector in restoration initiatives, 17 Recalling the United Nations strategic plan for forests 2017–2030 18 and the need to reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through sustainable forest management, including protection, restoration, afforestation and reforestation, and increase efforts to prevent forest degradation and contribute to the global effort to address climate change, 19 Acknowledging the emergence of voluntary restoration initiatives and commitments at all levels, created to spur ambition and action to restore ecosystems across the world, Taking note of existing restoration initiatives such as the Pan-African Action Agenda on Ecosystem Restoration for Increased Resilience, undertaken with a view to reversing the loss of biodiversity and ecological infrastructu re, combating land degradation and desertification, mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change, enhancing resilience and improving people’s well-being, Welcoming the fact that, to date, almost 60 countries have announced political commitments to bring more than 170 million hectares of degraded land under restoration as part of the Bonn Challenge, Noting that, in spite of political commitment, additional momentum is needed to generate the necessary transformational impact at all levels in order to conserve and restore ecosystems and to achieve sustainable development, Noting also that restoration needs to be carried out in ways that balance social, economic and environmental objectives and with the engagement of relevant stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and local communities, _______________ 15 The establishment of the Fund was welcomed in paragraph 6 of the Ordos Declaration, adopted at the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, held in Ordos, China, from 6 to 16 September 2017 (ICCD/COP(13)/21/Add.1, decision 27/COP.13, annex). More information on the Fund is available at www.unccd.int/actions/impactinvestment-fund-land-degradation-neutrality. 16 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 996, No. 14583. 17 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, document COFO/2018/REP, para. 20 (d). 18 See resolution 71/285. 19 Global forest goal 1 of the United Nations strategic plan for forests 2017–2030. 4/6 19-03519