This Unasylva issue aims at showcasing forest and landscape restoration (FLR) opportunities and recent developments that have the power to upscale restoration, in order to achieve the Bonn Challenge pledge, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other national and international commitments. The content adresses themes such as: i) restoration initiatives that differ from so-called business-as-usual by channeling more funds, empowering local stakeholders and providing stronger technical assistance through partners’ coalitions; ii) technical advances that can spread FLR and be mainstreamed thanks to factors such as low cost, adaptability, relevance to many ecosystems and contexts and ease of implementation; iii) the enabling factors for restoration, i.e. coordination, policy environment, resources, knowledge and capacities.