The UN on Tuesday awarded seven conservation initiatives the “World Restoration Flagships” designation for using renaturation to halt and reverse environmental destruction. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN’s World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) honoured the seven for their efforts to restore areas that have been damaged by forest fires, droughts, pollution or deforestation. The award winners can now receive UN technical and financial support. “For too long economic development came at the expense of the environment,” said UNEP President Inger Andersen. “Yet today we see …