Ecosystem restoration is the process of aiding the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed[1][3]. It’s a proactive approach to reversing the negative impacts of human activities and natural disturbances on the environment[1]. Distinct from conservation, which focuses on preventing damage, restoration actively repairs already harmed ecosystems[1]. The United Nations has declared 2021-2030 as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, highlighting its global importance[1].
Why is Ecosystem Restoration Important?
* Biodiversity Recovery: Effective restoration can halt and reverse degradation, improve ecosystem services, and recover biodiversity[2]. Restoring ecosystems is estimated to potentially avoid 60% of expected species extinctions through effective restoration of just 15% of converted lands[2].
* Climate Change Mitigation: Protecting existing intact ecosystems alongside restoration efforts could contribute to over one-third of the climate change mitigation needed by 2030[2].
* Ecosystem Services: Restoration enhances and protects the livelihoods of people who depend on healthy ecosystems[4]. Healthier ecosystems lead to more fertile soils, larger yields of timber and fish, and bigger stores of greenhouse gases[5].
* Economic Benefits: Restoring degraded terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems could generate an estimated US$9 trillion in ecosystem services[5]. The economic benefits of restoration greatly outweigh the costs of investment, with inaction being far more expensive[5].
* Resilience: Degraded soils hinder food production and make agroecosystems more vulnerable to extreme weather[6]. Healthy ecosystems, including landscape features like tree lines and hedgerows, help with natural pest control and improve water and nutrient availability for crops[6].
How Does Ecosystem Restoration Work?
Restoration practitioners aim to create the right conditions for ecosystems to recover on their own[3]. This can involve various methods[1]:
* Erosion control
* Reforestation
* Removal of non-native species and weeds
* Revegetation of disturbed areas
* Daylighting streams
* Reintroduction of native species
* Habitat and range improvement for targeted species
* Establishing wildlife corridors
Restoration projects can be initiated by various entities, including governments, development agencies, businesses, communities, and individuals[5]. It is not always possible or desirable to return an ecosystem to its original state[5]. The goal is to guide a damaged ecosystem back to its historic trajectory, with consideration for modern ecological realities such as climate change[3].
Challenges and Considerations
While ecological restoration offers immense potential, it is not a substitute for conservation[3]. Restoration may not always succeed in re-establishing the full range of native species or the full extent of an ecosystem’s original structure and function[3]. Targets for restoration are based on the level of ecosystem degradation, how much functionality can realistically be restored, local community views, and the costs of restoration efforts[1].
The Future of Ecosystem Restoration
With biodiversity declining at unprecedented rates, and pressures on ecosystems intensifying, ecological restoration is crucial[4]. By restoring ecosystems, we enhance and protect the livelihoods of people, reduce the risk of natural disasters and move closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals[4][5].
Read More
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_restoration
[2] https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/ecosystem-restoration-and-species-recovery-benefit-people-and-planet
[3] https://ser-rrc.org/what-is-ecological-restoration/
[4] https://instituteofsustainabilitystudies.com/insights/lexicon/what-is-ecological-restoration-and-why-is-it-important/
[5] https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/what-ecosystem-restoration
[6] https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/importance-of-restoring-nature
[7] https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/b234f058-9f77-4481-b870-a7fa2e7ad5f8/content
[8] https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2022.856833