Welcome to the virtual Ecosystem Restoration Classroom: a new initiative to take young South African learners -- and others -- on a journey across three unique landscapes threatened by human development.

Launched on World Environment Day by UNEP and partners, this compelling virtual tour, featuring videos and animation, seeks to bring ecosystem restoration to life by transporting school children out of the classroom and into the landscapes that the world is trying to save during the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which launches today.

The aim is to raise awareness about how humanity is damaging the natural world and show students how ecosystems can be revived. Because, after all, at the end of this 10-year push to revive our natural systems, the world’s children will be taking their places as the leaders of the future.

A direct response to COVID-19, the video-based content – which will be subtitled in three local languages – features footage from three iconic landscapes in the Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal provinces, as well as interviews with experts in the field. The virtual Ecosystem Restoration Classroom will target 1,000 primary schools and aims to empower students to be ecosystem ambassadors.

“Our beautiful planet we call home needs our help to survive,” said Latita Liebenberg, who hosts the series. “As a young South African, I would like to encourage all young people to use this Decade of Ecosystem Restoration to make greener choices, to ensure sustainability and leave our planet in the best possible shape for our future and generations to come.”

Read more here about the Ecosystem Restoration Classroom, which is a joint partnership between UNEP, CapeNature, Western Cape Government Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa. 

On this World Environment Day, join #GenerationRestoration and find out more about how to heal our planet.