One-Pager: Dressing up Nature to Restore Our Ecosystems

But amidst the damage, the global community has realized the need for restoration of our natural ecosystems. Member countries of the United Nations have designated the decade of 2021-2030 as the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/. The goal of this decade is to protect and revive ecosystems around the world. Its purpose is to promote the United Nation's environmental goals - specifically, to facilitate global cooperation for the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems.

Figure 1: UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030)

"Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet - and its people. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. It can help to end poverty, combat climate change and prevent a mass extinction. It will only succeed if everyone plays a part."

The reasons are manifold. Healthy ecosystems provide us with clean air and water, regulate climate, and offer invaluable resources. They harbor biodiversity, a tapestry of life essential for our health and well-being.

Restoration recognizes ecosystems as interconnected webs, where interventions ripple through food chains, nutrient cycles, and hydrological flows. Understanding these complex dynamics is crucial for effective action. Ecosystems are constantly evolving, and restoration projects must adapt to changing conditions and unforeseen challenges. Embracing flexibility and learning from failures is key to long-term success.

Restoration is not value-neutral. Defining the desired future state of an ecosystem involves weighing ecological integrity, cultural significance, and societal needs, often navigating conflicting priorities.

However, environmental degradation threatens not only the benefits that nature provides, but also our everyday life. Restoration offers a chance to:

The path to healing is diverse, depending on the specific ecosystem and its needs. Some approaches include:

Ecological Assessment	Detailed ecological assessments involve comprehensive studies of an ecosystem's pre-disturbance state, current condition, and potential future trajectories. These studies are essential for informed restoration planning as they provide baseline data, identify key environmental variables, and help predict how ecosystems might respond to different restoration actions. Techniques may include soil analysis, vegetation surveys, wildlife monitoring, and hydrological assessments. Key issues to keep in mind: Baseline Data Collection: Comprehensive data collection on soil, water, vegetation, and wildlife to understand the pre-disturbance state of the ecosystem. Monitoring and Evaluation: Continuous monitoring to assess the current condition and the effectiveness of restoration activities over time. Predictive Modeling: Using models to predict potential future trajectories of the ecosystem under different restoration scenarios.
Species Reintroduction	Species reintroduction involves the careful selection and reintroduction of native species to rebuild food webs, restore pollination services, and enhance biodiversity. This process requires understanding the historical range and habitat needs of the species, ensuring genetic diversity, and monitoring the reintroduced populations to ensure their establishment and integration into the ecosystem. Successful reintroduction can lead to the recovery of keystone species, improve ecosystem stability, and support the recovery of other native species. Key issues to keep in mind: Genetic Diversity: Ensuring the reintroduced populations have sufficient genetic diversity to adapt and thrive in the restored ecosystem. Habitat Suitability: Assessing and preparing the habitat to meet the needs of the reintroduced species, including food, shelter, and breeding sites. Post-Release Monitoring: Long-term monitoring of reintroduced species to track their survival, reproduction, and ecological impact.
Habitat Manipulation	Habitat manipulation encompasses a variety of techniques aimed at recreating suitable conditions for native species to thrive. Methods include controlled burns to manage vegetation and reduce wildfire risks, dam removal to restore natural river flow and aquatic habitats, and the removal of invasive species that outcompete native flora and fauna. These actions help restore natural processes and create environments where native species can flourish. Key issues to keep in mind: Controlled Burns: Using fire management techniques to reduce invasive species, promote native plant growth, and maintain ecological balance. Hydrological Restoration: Removing or modifying dams to restore natural river flows and aquatic habitats. Invasive Species Management: Systematic removal of invasive species and prevention of their re-establishment to allow native species to recover.
Assisted Natural Regeneration	Assisted natural regeneration leverages natural processes such as seed dispersal, germination, and ecological succession to restore ecosystems. This approach can be cost-effective and sustainable, requiring minimal human intervention. Activities may include protecting existing vegetation, enhancing soil conditions, and facilitating the growth of pioneer species that pave the way for more complex plant communities. By supporting these natural processes, ecosystems can recover more quickly and resiliently. Key issues to keep in mind: Minimal Intervention: Relying on natural processes like seed dispersal, germination, and succession with minimal human intervention. Protection Measures: Safeguarding existing vegetation and soil to facilitate natural regeneration and prevent further degradation. Supportive Activities: Enhancing conditions for natural regeneration, such as soil improvement and controlling grazing pressures.
Genetic Engineering	Genetic engineering in ecosystem restoration explores the potential of assisted evolution to enhance the resilience and adaptability of restored ecosystems. Techniques may include developing plant varieties with increased resistance to pests, diseases, or climate stressors, or engineering organisms to better withstand environmental changes. This innovative approach aims to accelerate natural adaptive processes and improve the long-term sustainability of restoration efforts. Key issues to keep in mind: Resilience Enhancement: Developing species with traits that increase their resilience to pests, diseases, and climate change. Ethical Considerations: Addressing ethical and ecological implications of releasing genetically engineered organisms into the wild. Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring all genetic engineering activities comply with relevant laws and guidelines.
Biomimicry	Biomimicry involves learning from nature's design principles to develop innovative restoration techniques and materials. By studying natural systems and processes, restoration practitioners can create solutions that are efficient, sustainable, and harmonious with the environment. Examples include designing erosion control structures inspired by plant root systems, developing water filtration systems based on wetland processes, and creating habitat structures that mimic natural formations. Key issues to keep in mind: Nature-Inspired Design: Creating restoration techniques and materials inspired by natural processes and structures. Sustainability: Ensuring that biomimetic solutions are environmentally sustainable and resource-efficient. Innovation and Adaptation: Continuously innovating and adapting techniques based on new insights from studying natural systems.
Large-Scale Landscape Connectivity	Restoring large-scale landscape connectivity focuses on creating and maintaining ecological corridors that connect fragmented habitats. This promotes species movement, genetic exchange, and the ability of organisms to respond to environmental changes. Efforts may include reforesting linkages between isolated patches, constructing wildlife crossings over roads, and protecting migration routes. Enhanced connectivity supports biodiversity, resilience, and the overall health of ecosystems. Key issues to keep in mind: Ecological Corridors: Establishing corridors that connect fragmented habitats, facilitating species movement and genetic exchange. Barrier Mitigation: Implementing structures like wildlife crossings to overcome barriers such as roads and urban areas. Habitat Continuity: Ensuring continuous and contiguous habitat areas to support species migration and ecological processes.

Ecosystem restoration is an imperative, multifaceted endeavor that harnesses a variety of innovative tools and strategies to address the extensive damage caused by human activities. From detailed ecological assessments that provide essential baseline data and predictive models, to the careful reintroduction of species that rebuild food webs and enhance biodiversity, each approach plays a crucial role in healing our natural world.

Techniques like habitat manipulation and assisted natural regeneration leverage both human intervention and natural processes to create environments where native species can flourish sustainably. Moreover, cutting-edge methods such as genetic engineering and biomimicry introduce new dimensions of resilience and adaptability, ensuring that restored ecosystems can withstand future challenges.

The ultimate success of ecosystem restoration depends on a holistic approach that encompasses large-scale landscape connectivity, ensuring ecological corridors that facilitate species movement and genetic exchange. This comprehensive framework underscores the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the need for adaptive, flexible strategies that can respond to evolving environmental conditions and unforeseen challenges.

As we embark on the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, it is imperative that global cooperation and collective action are prioritized. By integrating scientific knowledge with innovative practices and fostering a deep connection to nature, we can combat climate change, protect biodiversity, and enhance human well-being, paving the way for a healthier planet for future generations.

Annex 1: Ecosystem Restoration Standard The Ecosystem Restoration Standard (ERS) is a certification for nature-based restoration projects on the Voluntary Carbon Markets. It is designed to empower small-scale, community-led restoration efforts that combat climate change, uplift biodiversity, and improve livelihoods. By integrating next-generation dMRV (Digital Monitoring, Reporting & Verification) into the Standard we are able to continuously track progress across multiple baselines, providing greater traceability and transparency for project developers and buyers.

More info: Ecosystem Restoration Standard - https://www.ers.org/