Ecosystem Restoration

Ecosystem restoration means assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded or destroyed, as well as conserving the ecosystems that are still intact. In the lead-up to the sixth UN Environment Assembly, the UN has announced seven new World Restoration Flagships. Read further to know all about the flagships.

Countries have already promised to restore 1 billion hectares – an area larger than China – as part of international climate, nature, and land goals.

However, little is known about the progress or quality of this restoration. With the World Restoration Flagships, the UN is honoring the best examples of large-scale and long-term ecosystem restoration in any country or region, embodying the 10 Restoration Principles of the UN Decade.

What is ecosystem restoration?

Ecosystem restoration means assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded or destroyed, as well as conserving the ecosystems that are still intact.

• Healthier ecosystems, with richer biodiversity, yield greater benefits such as more fertile soils, bigger yields of timber and fish, and larger stores of greenhouse gases.
• All kinds of ecosystems can be restored, including forests, farmlands, cities, wetlands, and oceans.
• Restoration initiatives can be launched by almost anyone, from governments and development agencies to businesses, communities, and individuals.
• That is because the causes of degradation are many and varied, and can have an impact at different scales.

As human activities increasingly impact natural environments, the need for restoration has become more urgent to preserve biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services, and combat climate change.

Ecosystem restoration can take many forms, depending on the specific goals, the type of ecosystem involved, and the extent of degradation.

Significance of Ecosystem Restoration

• Biodiversity Conservation: Restoring habitats helps conserve biodiversity by providing species with the conditions they need to thrive. It aids in the recovery of populations that may be declining and preserves the genetic diversity essential for species’ adaptation to changing environments.
• Climate Change Mitigation: Ecosystems such as forests, peatlands, and mangroves are significant carbon sinks. Restoring these areas can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate climate change.
• Enhancing Ecosystem Services: Healthy ecosystems provide invaluable services to humans, including clean water, air purification, pollination of crops, flood control, and recreational opportunities. Restoration efforts help ensure the continued provision of these services.
• Economic Benefits: Ecosystem restoration can also have economic benefits by creating jobs in activities like planting trees, managing protected areas, and eco-tourism. Moreover, restored ecosystems can support local economies through improved agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.

Ecosystem Restoration Practices

• Reforestation and Afforestation: Planting trees in areas where forests have been cut down or degraded and establishing forests on lands that historically have not contained forests.
• Wetlands Restoration: Re-establishing the water flow and native vegetation of wetlands that have been drained, filled, or otherwise altered.
• River and Stream Restoration: Removing barriers like dams, re-meandering channels that have been straightened, and restoring riparian vegetation to improve water quality and habitat.
• Peatland Restoration: Blocking drainage channels to raise the water table and reintroduce native plant species in degraded peatlands.
• Coral Reefs and Mangroves: Replanting mangroves and transplanting corals or using artificial structures to promote coral growth in damaged reef areas.
• Grasslands and Savannas: Removing invasive species and reintroducing fire as a management tool to maintain ecosystem health.

Challenges and Considerations

• Technical Challenges: Restoration projects often face technical challenges, such as the selection of appropriate native species, determining the best methods for re-establishing those species, and managing invasive species that may have taken over degraded landscapes.
• Social and Economic Considerations: Ecosystem restoration must consider the needs and rights of local communities, including access to resources and land use. Projects can be more successful when they involve local communities in planning and implementation, ensuring that restoration efforts also support local livelihoods.
• Funding and Longevity: Restoration projects can be expensive and require sustained funding and effort over long periods, as ecosystems can take years or even decades to recover fully. Securing ongoing funding and political support is crucial for the success and sustainability of restoration efforts.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Effective restoration requires careful planning, ongoing monitoring, and evaluation to assess progress and adapt management strategies as necessary. This helps ensure that restoration goals are met and that the ecosystem can sustain itself in the long term.
• Global Initiatives: Recognizing the urgent need for widespread ecosystem restoration, global initiatives such as the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 aim to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. These initiatives seek to galvanize support and action from governments, NGOs, businesses, and communities.

UN World Restoration flagships

The UN General Assembly has declared 2021–2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

The World Restoration Flagships are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) which aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.

The seven New World restoration flagships are:

The Terai Arc Landscape (Nepal)

• The initiative aims to restore the forests of critical corridors of the Terai Arc Landscape a biodiversity hotspot shared by India and Nepal in collaboration with local communities working as citizen scientists, community-based anti-poaching units, and forest guards, among others.
• Measures like the restoration of 66,800 hectares of Nepal’s forests, among others, were said to improve the livelihoods of about 500,000 households in the country, the UN bodies observed.

Restoring Mediterranean Forests

• The initiative involves the countries of Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye. It consists of a novel approach said to have protected and restored natural habitats and vulnerable ecosystems.
• It is also said to have led to around two million hectares of forests restored across the region since 2017.
• Along with this, over eight million hectares are planned for restoration by 2030.

Regreening Africa (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia)

• Regreening Africa’s agriculture is expected to benefit over 6,00,000 households.
• As per the statement, it continues to increase carbon storage, boost crop and grass yields, make the soil more resilient (by preventing floods), and treat it with fixed nitrogen that acts as a natural fertilizer.
• It is expected to bring 5 million hectares under restoration by 2030, boosting biodiversity and supporting local communities.

Sri Lanka Mangrove Regeneration

• The initiative is a science-driven program co-led by local communities.
• It focuses on the restoration of natural balance in the ecosystem.
• Since its launch in 2015, efforts have led to 500 hectares of restored mangroves, according to the UN statement.
• Some 10,000 hectares are slated for restoration by 2030, with 5,000 households to benefit and more than 4,000 new jobs to be created.

Living Indus

• The initiative received approval from the Pakistan parliament in the wake of the devastating 2022 climate change-induced floods.
• Its official launch took place at the 27th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm el-Sheikh.
• The initiative aims to restore 25 million hectares of the river basin by 2030, encompassing 30 percent of Pakistan’s surface area through the implementation of 25 high-impact interventions for policymakers, practitioners, and civil society.
• It designates the Indus River as a living entity with rights — a measure taken to protect rivers elsewhere as well.
• It involves Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, India, New Zealand, Peru and Sri Lanka.

Acción Andina (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Perú)

• The social movement led by Peruvian conservation non-profit ECOAN aims to protect and restore a forest area of one million hectares.
• About 25,000 people from remote Andean communities are engaged in the process of restoring 5,000 hectares and protecting more than 11,000 hectares of Andean forests.

African Farmers Transforming Food Systems (Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya)

• Growing forests in Africa’s drylands initiative aims to expand from 41,000 restored hectares today to 229,000 hectares by 2030.
• With the involvement of African farmers, tens of millions of trees are planted under the project every year, the intergovernmental bodies noted.
• Its visions also support many more through 230,000 jobs created.
• Trees for the Future assists hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers in several African countries – from Senegal to Tanzania – to fight soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

Way Forward

Ecosystem restoration is a powerful tool for addressing environmental degradation, but it is just one part of a broader strategy that must also include the protection of existing intact ecosystems and the sustainable management of natural resources. Restoration projects work best when they are part of an integrated approach to land and water management that balances ecological, social, and economic objectives.

The growing recognition of the importance of healthy ecosystems to human well-being and survival has led to increased investment in restoration projects around the world. By prioritizing ecosystem restoration, societies can work towards more resilient and sustainable landscapes that support both biodiversity and human prosperity for generations to come.

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• Nature-based solutions
• River Rejuvenation Projects

-Article by Swathi Satish