Reflecting on twenty years of forest landscape restoration

Twenty years ago, in 2000, the term “forest landscape restoration” (FLR) was first defined by a group that included among others, all of the authors on this paper. Today, FLR is widely accepted and promoted among diverse groups, at all levels, from the political to the scientific. To mark FLR's 20th anniversary, we look back at major progress and challenges faced to implement this concept since its definition. We explore specifically five questions: (1) What are the top achievements and milestones related to FLR in the last 20 years? (2) What are key FLR products? (3) What are major FLR projects worth showcasing? (4) What have been significant obstacles to FLR in the last 20 years? (5) What are priorities taking FLR forward? Our intention with this article is to contribute contextual material for the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration as well as to the many other ongoing FLR initiatives around the globe.