Ecosystem restoration is critical to preserving our planet's health. Species are essential components of ecosystems and contribute to the balance of their respective environments, so they play an essential role in this effort. In the case of ecosystem restoration species, restoring keystone species, those critical to the health of a specific ecosystem is critical for the area's sustainability. Furthermore, introducing new species into the habitat can help increase diversity while improving conditions for existing animals and plants. To ensure the success of the restoration, it is critical to approach the process with caution and knowledge. Furthermore, understanding the interactions between the species and the environment is required to ensure that any changes are effective.
From forests to farmlands, mountains to oceans, our modified and natural ecosystems provide numerous environmental, economic, and social benefits to both people and nature. Our forests are home to an estimated 80% of all amphibian species, 75% of all bird species, and 68% of all mammal species. Our freshwater bodies are home to one-third of all vertebrate species and 10% of all known species. Mountain ecosystems support roughly half of the world's biodiversity hotspots, while our oceans support 99 percent of all living space. These diverse ecosystems and species provide us with a variety of essential ecosystem services ranging from biodiversity and climate change adaptation and mitigation to economic, health, and security support.
According to figures from the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, Over 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered, while close to 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable. It is estimated that over a million species are threatened with extinction. Continued loss of species and degradation of habitats and ecosystems threatens humanity as a whole. All conversations were inspired by and seek to inform efforts towards the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero hunger), 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns), 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water). However, these ecosystems and their ability to provide these ecosystem services are being damaged, degraded, and destroyed, affecting both people and nature. We lost approximately 10 million hectares of forest per year between 2015 and 2020,1 and more than two-thirds of our ocean ecosystems are now damaged, degraded, or modified globally.2 On a finer scale, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species lists over 8,400 species as critically endangered and nearly 30,000 species as endangered or vulnerable.
We require healthy and productive ecosystems in order to reap the many environmental, economic, and social benefits they provide. Ecosystem restoration allows us to effectively halt and reverse degradation, improve ecosystem services, and recover biodiversity. It is estimated that the effective restoration of 15% of converted lands could prevent 60% of expected species extinctions.6 Furthermore, protecting existing intact ecosystems and restoring degraded ecosystems has the potential to contribute to more than one-third of the total climate change mitigation required by 2030. There are an increasing number of examples of the environmental, economic, and social benefits of restoring ecosystems and species around the world. The restoration of oyster reefs in Mobile Bay, Alabama, United States, resulted in a 53-91 percent reduction in wave height and energy at the shoreline, while the local economy benefited from improved seafood and increased fish stocks.7 Looking ahead, the Great Green Wall initiative aims to combine the restoration of 100 million hectares of degraded land with the promotion of peace and security across the Sahel.