On 16 October 2023, the IPSI Secretariat co-organised a side event at the 25th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 25) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nairobi, Kenya. The event highlighted the role of integrated landscape approaches in achieving the goals of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Opening the session, Rina Miyake (Programme Coordinator, UNU-IAS) underlined the complexity of establishing clear guidelines for policymakers on ecosystem restoration. She emphasised that global networks such as the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) play a vital role in navigating the intricacies of regional contexts. Wataru Suzuki (Director, Biodiversity Strategy Office, Nature Conservation Bureau, MOEJ) echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of partnerships in integrating research and policymaking.

Maiko Nishi (Research Fellow, UNU-IAS) explained that landscape approaches combine traditional knowledge with modern science. By integrating ecological, social, and economic factors into the management of resources within a specific area, landscape approaches promote sustainable practices, and safeguard both biodiversity and livelihoods.

The event showcased successful examples of restoration efforts featured in the new UNU-IAS book Ecosystem Restoration through Managing Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS). Jacqueline Mbawine (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting Manager, A Rocha Ghana) highlighted community-based woodland restoration for sustainable livelihoods in the Mole Ecological Landscape, Ghana. Yufen Chuang (Visual Designer and Programme Specialist, Farmers’ Seed Network, China) discussed the restoration efforts by local fishers in Sanniang Bay, including a conservation initiative for the endangered horseshoe crab.

Suneetha Subramanian (Research Fellow, UNU-IAS) announced the launch of a new guide for policymakers Using Landscape Approaches in National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Planning, developed jointly by UNU-IAS and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), with the support of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ). Monica Kobayashi (Programme Management Officer, CBD Secretariat) welcomed the publication and stressed the importance of collaboration between national governments and other stakeholders, including subnational governments working at the landscape level.

A panel discussion shared insights on accelerating the restoration of production landscapes and seascapes by 2030. The panellists underscored the urgency of adopting effective restoration measures and encouraging the exchange of knowledge and experiences to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity.

This side event was co-organised by UNU-IAS, IPSI, and MOEJ.