#RestorationBeginsWithMe
The United Nations (UN) has declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, in a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems around the world. Led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Decade is building a strong, broad-based global movement to ramp up restoration and put the world on track for a sustainable future. Only with healthy ecosystems can we enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change, and stop the collapse of biodiversity.
In the Caribbean, we are inviting you to join in this rallying call and participate in the conversation on ecosystem restoration. The campaign, launched on the International Day of Forests (IDF) under the theme “Restoration Begins With Me”, will culminate on World Environment Day (WED), when the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will be formally launched. The regional campaign theme addresses both the IDF and WED themes “Forest Restoration – A Path to recovery and well-being”, and “Ecosystem Restoration”, respectively.
Qualifying photos and videos will be featured in special online publications on Ecosystem Restoration in June 2021 (with full credit), as well as in a regional environmental forum.
About
The UNEP Global Environment Facility- funded Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management (GEF-IWEco) Project, the UNEP Caribbean Sub-Regional Office (CSRO), the Cartagena Convention Secretariat and the Food and Agriculture Organization Representation for Jamaica, the Bahamas and Belize are inviting people across the Caribbean to submit a photograph with a short description, or a short video, of an activity such as tree planting or caring, or anything associated with such an activity that shows how you value plants, trees or forests, and what they mean to you.
Read the rules below and submit your photo or video to restoration-begins-with-me@iweco.org before 31st May 2021.
Main Objectives
The objectives of the campaign are to:
- Raise awareness of the value of ecosystem restoration, the value of trees and forests, their contributions to ecosystem health and human wellbeing.
- Introduce the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, sources of information, its significance and tips on how individuals can take action to join this global conservation effort.
- Stimulate engagement and discussion on social media related to ecosystem restoration and biodiversity.
- Increase knowledge of the work of the UN.
Rules for participation
Participants should be from a UN Member State in the Wider Caribbean Region.
Each participant can submit up to 3 entries to restoration-begins-with-me@iweco.org. Make sure to include the following information:
- Name and Surname
- Date of Birth
- Title and Description of the Photograph (maximum 200 words)
- Location (country, region), and date of the photograph.
Entrants must own the copyright and must have taken the photographs/ videos themselves.
They may have been taken at any time prior to the contest launch.
If necessary, any file transfer service may also be used to send photographs or videos.
Photographs and videos should illustrate one or any of the following:
- Tree planting
- Tree caring
- The way/s you care for and value plants / trees / forests
Participants can also post their photos/videos if they have social media accounts, using the competition hashtag: #RestorationBeginsWithMe. The UN Environment Programme and FAO social media accounts may share and retweet entries on corporate accounts.
Format
Photographs must be submitted in .jpeg, .png, .psd, raw or .tiff format. Images should be submitted with the highest quality regarding file size, bit depth and resolution. Both colour and/or black and white images will be accepted.
Accompanying descriptions should be no longer than 200 words.
Videos must be submitted in .mp4, .mpg, .wmv, .avi, .or .mov format. They may not exceed thirty seconds. Videos should be submitted with the highest quality regarding file size, bit depth and resolution.
The material must not violate or infringe anyone’s rights, including but not limited to trademark, privacy, publicity or other intellectual property rights, or that constitutes copyright infringement.
The submission must not contain dates, texts, brand names, logos and/or trademarks;
The submission should be in English, Spanish or French.
Conditions and Copyright
The UN respects photographers and video-makers rights and does not claim copyright over images/videos submitted to this contest. The author retains full copyright in each entry. Whenever the image/video is published, the author will be credited.
Participation in the contest grants the above-named UN Organizations permission to use the image/video for the preparation of UN material and UN digital channels without owner expectations of compensation.
The UN does NOT own copyright and authors are free to use the image/video for other purposes at their choosing.
Jury
Submissions will be reviewed and judged by the Cartagena Convention Secretariat, UNEP GEF IWEco Project, the UNEP Caribbean Sub-Regional Office (CSRO), and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Submissions will be judged based on:
- Adherence to the rules;
- Awareness of the importance of ecosystem conservation and restoration, and the value of plants/trees/forests;
- Quality and creativity of the photograph or video.
Results
Qualifying submissions will be featured in the UNEP and FAO social media accounts.
Qualifying photographic submissions will be featured in our special World Environment Day Poster/s that will launch the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration in the Caribbean, and in a regional environmental forum.
Qualifying videos will be featured in our special World Environment Day launch video, and in a regional environmental forum.
If your photo or video clip qualifies you will also receive a package of goodies from the UNEP GEF IWEco Project.
Timeline
Submissions open: International Day of Forests, 21st March 2021
Submissions close: 31st May 2021
Announcement of qualifying submissions: World Environment Day, 5th June 2021
