Urban Rewilding
One-Pager: Dressing up Nature to Restore Our Ecosystems

	Hari Srinivas
	One-Pager Series C-068

Human activities have left their mark on Earth's ecosystems, with complex impacts of degradation and resilience. From deforestation and pollution to unsustainable consumption and production practices, our ecosystems are in dire need of healing.

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.

"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."

Why do we need to restore ecosystems?

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:

• Combat climate change: Forests store carbon, while healthy wetlands buffer against floods and droughts. Restoration empowers these natural solutions.
• Protect biodiversity: By restoring habitats, we create sanctuaries for countless species, preventing extinction and safeguarding the web of life.
• Boost economies and livelihoods: Sustainable restoration projects create jobs, generate income opportunities, and attract tourism.
• Enhance human well-being: Access to nature improves physical and mental health, fostering a deeper connection with the environment.

How Do We Restore?

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

• Reforestation: Planting native trees to rebuild forests, crucial for carbon capture and biodiversity.
• Rewilding: Allowing natural processes to reclaim degraded areas, fostering self-sustaining ecosystems.
• Restoration agriculture: Employing sustainable practices to improve soil health and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.
• Wetland restoration: Restoring wetlands to filter water, control floods, and provide habitat for diverse species.

Some of the policy tools that are being used for restorations include:

• Ecological Assessment: Detailed studies of the ecosystem's pre-disturbance state, current conditions and potential trajectories are essential for informed restoration planning.
• Species Reintroduction: Carefully selected native species are reintroduced to rebuild food webs, restore pollination services, and enhance biodiversity.
• Habitat Manipulation: Techniques like controlled burns, dam removal, and invasive species removal aim to recreate suitable conditions for native species to thrive.
• Assisted Natural Regeneration: Facilitating natural processes like seed dispersal and succession can be a cost-effective and sustainable approach to restoration.

What are some of the tools that can be used for restorations?

• Ecological Assessment: Detailed studies of the ecosystem's pre-disturbance state, current condition, and potential trajectories are essential for informed restoration planning.
• Species Reintroduction: Carefully selected native species are reintroduced to rebuild food webs, restore pollination services, and enhance biodiversity.
• Habitat Manipulation: Techniques like controlled burns, dam removal, and invasive species removal aim to recreate suitable conditions for native species to thrive.
• Assisted Natural Regeneration: Facilitating natural processes like seed dispersal and succession can be a cost-effective and sustainable approach to restoration.
• Genetic Engineering: Exploring the potential of assisted evolution to enhance the resilience and adaptability of restored ecosystems.
• Biomimicry: Learning from nature's design principles to develop innovative restoration techniques and materials.
• Large-Scale Landscape Connectivity: Restoring ecological corridors to connect fragmented habitats and promote species movement across vast landscapes.