UN accelerating commitments to restoration of ecosystem in Africa

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is accelerating commitments to restoring ecosystem in Africa, said an official on Tuesday.

"We are accelerating commitments for ecosystem restoration to improve resilience in the region," David Cooper, deputy executive secretary of CBD told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-4).

Cooper noted that the CBD is developing initiatives that could help reverse climate change, biodiversity loss and combat desertification.

"We are urging UN member countries to meet the climate change initiatives that include carbon sequestration through their nationally determined contributions (NDC) to help protect land degradation and restore ecosystem, water supply, restore coral reefs and prevent soil erosion," he added.

With more than 4,700 delegates from the globe, the UNEA-4 is scheduled for March 11-15 in Nairobi. Many victims of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 were en route to participate in the assembly, according to a statement issued by UN Environment Program.