We are blessed in Seattle to have a network of green spaces across our city. We understand, now more than ever, that we have to pour effort and intention into these spaces for them to continue to take care of us. Green Seattle Partnership is Seattle Parks and Recreation’s intentional work to restore urban ecosystems and connect people with nature and each other, fostering a culture of care and belonging.
This effort and intention have not gone unnoticed. We are excited to share that the Green Seattle Partnership was recognized by the United Nations as a World Restoration Flagship, one of only eight ecosystem restoration initiatives across the world to receive this esteemed award this year.
Seattle joined the UN’s Decade on Restoration in 2023 as part of a collaboration called Generation Restoration that brought together cities from across the world that were working on biodiversity and ecosystem restoration. Looking to cities as part of the solution was an innovative twist to an effort that traditionally considered landscape-scale restoration projects. We are honored to be one of three cities ever to receive this award for 2026.
The World Restoration Flagships are awarded under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). They recognize ambitious and promising examples of large-scale, long-term restoration and contribute to global commitments to restore one billion hectares of degraded ecosystems by 2030 – an area larger than China.
Announced on Restoration Day during the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia, the Green Seattle Partnership was recognized alongside restoration initiatives in China, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Italy.