The IUCN-led Science Task Force launches a new report on The Trinational Atlantic Forest Pact, a World Restoration Flagship

The Trinational Atlantic Forest Pact, recognised as one of the World Restoration Flagships by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, was established by the Trinational Ecological Restoration Alliance (Red Trinacional de Restauración del Bosque Atlántico) and the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact (AF-PACT) in 2009. This decades-long effort is a testament to cross-border cooperation, bringing together collaborative efforts between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to restore 1 million hectares of Atlantic Forest by 2030—one of the planet's most threatened biodiversity hotspots. The Trinational Pact is a model of collaborative bottom-up governance and is widely considered a successful and well-documented case study for implementing stakeholder involvement to promote large-scale restoration. 

“The Trinational Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact, recognised as a World Restoration Flagship, integrates multi-sectoral governance, a robust scientific basis, economic viability, and social inclusion, offering a replicable and inspiring model for large-scale restoration initiatives worldwide,” said Alex Mendes, Executive Secretary of the Atlantic Forest Pact.

According to the report—launched on Restoration Day in the Panda Pavilion at COP30—some key factors for the success of this flagship are governance, multilateral engagement, and alliance of interests. The Trinational Pact brings together around 360 organisations that have been working for over three decades to achieve conservation and restoration goals. This multiplicity is crucial for identifying opportunities and bottlenecks along the way.  

The report also highlights the importance of scientific Basis, ecological knowledge, and training and knowledge transfer in reaching the Trinational Pact’s goals. Much of the Pact’s mission is carried out through research and teaching institutions that co-produce protocols, theoretical frameworks, dissemination materials, and training courses adapted to regional ecological and socioeconomic conditions. The Trinational Pact also invests in professional training and information dissemination, offering courses and webinars to the entire productive chain of ecological restoration, from technical aspects to project management, qualifying restoration practitioners.  

Finally, the Pact relies on economic viability, value generation and public policy. The Trinational Pact recognises that the cost of restoration can be a significant barrier, so to overcome this, it integrates the economic dimension, promoting the view that forest restoration is not just an environmental obligation, but an economic opportunity capable of boosting the local economy and generating tangible benefits for local communities, leading to income and job generation.

“By using restoration as an economic opportunity, the Trinational Pact has been showing that large scale restoration can be achieved,” said Professor Leandro Tambosi, Member of the Science Task Force.

The report concludes with key recommendations for a successful large-scale restoration program, which involve empowering governance through participation, restoration as a catalyst for socioeconomic development, the imperative of scientific rigor and transparent monitoring, prioritising social inclusion and equity, and adaptive governance for long-term success. Much of the success of this initiative comes as a result of the Trinational Pact’s recognition that monitoring protocols, increasing communication, and raising awareness of social inclusion and gender equity are of utmost importance.

The report was developed by the Science Task Force of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, together with the Trinational Pact. The Science Task Force is organised by IUCN and has the goal to provide support to the activities of the Monitoring and Best Practices Task Force while support the work of Flagships through scientific review and recommendations.

The report is available for download on IUCN’s website. Visit IUCN's Science Task Force page to learn more about the work of the STF and its Members.