The National Committee for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Center for Sustainable Development Technologies (CSTU). The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku.
The main goal of the cooperation between the National Committee and CSTU is to accelerate the restoration of drained peatlands in Russia.
Peatlands, which cover only 3% of the world's land surface, store about 30% of soil carbon. They play a key role in climate regulation, preventing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change. However, despite the recognized importance of ecosystem restoration, only about one percent of all global investments is directed towards these goals, noted Vadim Petrov, the State Secretary of the National Committee for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, who signed the memorandum at an event in Baku.
“The National Committee for the UN Decade is designed to promote increased funding for ecosystem restoration projects in Russia, as well as to present effective solutions in this area to the international community, share the vast experience that our country has in implementing environmental projects, and promote Russian technologies developed by Russian scientists, thereby making an even greater contribution to achieving the global goals of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration,” he added.
The National Committee was established and began its work in 2024 on the basis of the Commission on Ecology and Sustainable Development of the Russian Public Chamber to ensure Russia's participation in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It is headed by Elena Sharoykina, Chairwoman of the Commission of the Russian Public Chamber.
“Peatlands play an important role both in the implementation of climate projects, storing almost a third of soil carbon, and in preserving biodiversity, despite covering only three percent of the world's land surface. We are very pleased to have CSTU as a partner, which provides effective and scientifically sound solutions for the rewetting of peatlands and restoration of their ecosystem functions, and has experience in the successful implementation of such projects. It is symbolic that the signing of the first memorandum of cooperation between the National Committee and CSTU took place on the sidelines of one of the most important annual UN conferences,” she said.
Joint efforts will be directed at preventing carbon emissions from drained peatlands, returning peatlands to their natural state, improving the ability of ecosystems to withstand extreme weather events, and protecting unique plant and animal species that inhabit peatlands.
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