A continental gathering for restoration

Africa is entering a decisive decade for ecosystem restoration. With more than 700 million hectares already degraded and climate-related risks intensifying across landscapes, restoration is no longer a peripheral scientific concern—it is central to securing water, sustaining biodiversity, reducing disaster risk, and supporting livelihoods across the continent. The urgency is no longer about understanding degradation, but about implementing restoration at scale in ways that are scientifically grounded, socially inclusive, and institutionally embedded. The Society for Ecological Restoration Africa Chapter (SER-AF), established in 2021, continues to play a central role in advancing restoration science, practice, and policy across the continent. Through its growing network of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, SER-AF has contributed to strengthening collaboration and knowledge exchange in ecological restoration. Building on this momentum, the Africa Ecosystem Restoration Symposium 2026 is convened as a continental platform to move beyond dialogue and towards coordinated implementation.