ecosystem restoration: let's get (re)Wild!
In our April Rooting for Sustainability article (here>>>), we talked about peatlands, how crucial they are to fighting climate change, and ways in which this important ecosystem is being restored. In last month’s article (here>>>), we discussed biodiversity loss and the importance of protecting nature. One of the ways biodiversity and ecosystems can be protected is through restoration.
While conservation works to protect ecosystems and habitats as they are, ecosystem restoration’s primary focus is on restoring degraded or destroyed ecosystems. As we’ve seen, we are losing healthy ecosystems at an alarming rate. Ireland, for example, was once 80% covered in untamed forest - today it’s just 11%, with nearly half the protected native species and habitats in decline. In the past century, North America has lost more than 20% of its species, while South America and the Caribbean have seen a decline of 94% across studied populations!
While conservation works to protect ecosystems and habitats as they are, ecosystem restoration’s primary focus is on restoring degraded or destroyed ecosystems. As we’ve seen, we are losing healthy ecosystems at an alarming rate. Ireland, for example, was once 80% covered in untamed forest - today it’s just 11%, with nearly half the protected native species and habitats in decline. In the past century, North America has lost more than 20% of its species, while South America and the Caribbean have seen a decline of 94% across studied populations!
This graph shows us the decline, by region, of monitored wildlife populations. For these studies, scientists measured 38,427 populations across 5,268 species.
Why should we restore ecosystems?
Restored ecosystems have greater biodiversity, store more carbon, and have positive effects on soil health and water quality. The United Nations has designated 2021 to 2030 as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. By 2030, 350 million hectares will be under restoration, helping to remove up to 26 gigatons of greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere!
What exactly is ecosystem restoration?
There are many ways that ecosystems can be degraded. Pollution, the overgrazing of livestock, and biodiversity loss all negatively impact both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. At a certain point, ecosystems can get degraded to a level that they cannot recover on their own. When this happens, human-led restoration projects can help species and ecosystems recover.
For many of these projects, the first step is often removing the thing that causes the degradation in the first place. In peatlands, for example, preventing corporations from harvesting the peat for gardening soil can allow them to recover. Removing grazing animals to allow young trees to grow can restore forests and increase biodiversity. Sometimes, scientists must figure out how an ecosystem looked before it was degraded to understand what measures to take. Satellite images and mud or soil samples can help us understand when certain species entered ecosystems, what it looked like before, and what needs to be done in order to best restore it. Healthy ecosystems of the same type can also provide guidance.
For many of these projects, the first step is often removing the thing that causes the degradation in the first place. In peatlands, for example, preventing corporations from harvesting the peat for gardening soil can allow them to recover. Removing grazing animals to allow young trees to grow can restore forests and increase biodiversity. Sometimes, scientists must figure out how an ecosystem looked before it was degraded to understand what measures to take. Satellite images and mud or soil samples can help us understand when certain species entered ecosystems, what it looked like before, and what needs to be done in order to best restore it. Healthy ecosystems of the same type can also provide guidance.
A very valuable source of guidance is local and indigenous knowledge. They have a deep understanding of the local flora and fauna, the historical state of the ecosystem, and can often help to support species selection. It’s important to remember that Indigenous people have always been guardians of the land and have historically managed it in a sustainable way. It is because of the Western culture of overconsumption and extraction of resources that land needs to be restored in the first place.
Currently, there is a lot of debate going on about whether it is better to restore ecosystems to their previous levels or modify them in a way that might potentially make them more resilient to climate change. Many habitats can no longer be supported by a changing climate, so in some cases, ecosystem restoration will need to be approached with this in mind. This is an ongoing challenge for scientists and there is currently no consensus on the best way to move forward - it’s a lot of trial and error!
Currently, there is a lot of debate going on about whether it is better to restore ecosystems to their previous levels or modify them in a way that might potentially make them more resilient to climate change. Many habitats can no longer be supported by a changing climate, so in some cases, ecosystem restoration will need to be approached with this in mind. This is an ongoing challenge for scientists and there is currently no consensus on the best way to move forward - it’s a lot of trial and error!
Rewilding
Rewilding is a type of ecological restoration intended to increase biodiversity and restore the area’s natural processes. It is a new form of landscape management that involves returning a managed area back to nature while reducing human influence. Rather than focusing on restoring a particular species or ecological community, rewilding’s focus is a resilient and well-functioning broader ecosystem.
Land once used as pasture for livestock might get rewilded to allow room for trees and shrubbery, which would then bring back birds, insects, and small mammals. This in turn would improve the soil health, capture carbon, and reduce the risk of flooding.
Land once used as pasture for livestock might get rewilded to allow room for trees and shrubbery, which would then bring back birds, insects, and small mammals. This in turn would improve the soil health, capture carbon, and reduce the risk of flooding.
|
|
|
These images show us the difference in just 16 years of rewilding Carrifren, a 1600 acre glen in Scotland. To rewild the area, some trees were planted and a fence was put in to prevent deer from grazing. From there, Mother Nature took the reins!
|
Essentially, we can think of rewilding as taking something that was once managed by us and returning it to Mother Nature to let her do her thing. Rewilding helps to mitigate climate change, restore habitats, and can have impressive impacts on the ecosystem.
Reintroduction
One way that ecosystems can be restored is through the deliberate reintroduction of key species. While rewilding focuses on letting nature take over, with the idea that species will return on their own in time, reintroduction’s main emphasis is on actively reintroducing species. It often involves species that are either threatened or have been eradicated in certain habitats and it works to establish a healthy, self-sustaining population in the given area. There are, of course, a whole host of factors that need to be taken into account when planning reintroduction, such as genetic diversity, the presence of predators, and availability of food. However, when done correctly, species reintroduction can have astounding impacts on an ecosystem.
Success Stories!
|
Yellowstone Wolves
Perhaps the most famous and certainly inspiring example of successful reintroduction was the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park (United States) in the 1990s, after they were hunted to extinction in the early 20th century. They started with just 14 wolves from different packs in Canada and their reintroduction had a cascading effect that changed the course of the rivers in just 25 years! This incredible short video explains how it all happened! |
|
Great Green Wall in Africa
Stretching 8000 km across the width of Africa, the Great Green Wall is an ongoing restoration project aimed at reclaiming land lost to desertification. The drought-resistant acacia trees that are being planted protect the soil from erosion, hold water in the soil, and increase humidity while providing shade, reducing the need for watering. All of this prevents the expansions of the Sahara while fighting climate change and providing economic benefits to local communities. |
|
Knepp Estate
Today, the United Kingdom is ranked one of the worst for biodiversity health, with only half of its original nature intact. In fact, they’ve lost more biodiversity than any other G7 country. This puts them in the bottom 10% of 240 countries and territories globally! To combat this, the Knepp Estate, in southern England, began transforming their land in 2001. Spanning 3500 acres today, they transformed the estate from an intensive agricultural and dairy farm to the UK’s first major rewilding success story. They started by seeding native plants and removing fences to allow deer, Old English Longhorn cattle, Tamworth pigs, and lots of other animals to graze. Adopting a hands-off approach, the Knepp Estate has given most of its land back to nature. Today, birds and butterflies that hadn’t been seen in the area in hundreds of years regularly nest on its grounds and it boasts hundreds of species of local fauna, making it a real conservation eden! |
How Can We Help??
If you have a garden, there are a few ways you can rewild your own backyard. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing project, but every little thing you do can help create a more hospitable ecosystem for local flora and fauna.
If you live in the city and only have a balcony, there are things you can do too!
As trail runners, we spend a lot of our free time out in nature. It’s important that we respect local restoration efforts by staying on the path, respecting closed off sections of the trails, and lending our voice in the promotion of restoration projects!
- Instead of a manicured lawn, planting native species and insect-friendly plants helps to capture more carbon, attracts pollinators, and creates healthier soil.
- Allow weeds to grow - what we think of as weeds often greatly support insects and micro habitats. Additionally, the main ingredient in the most popular weed killers (glyphosate) has a potential link to increased risk of cancer, so it’s not good for the environment or human health.
- In the spring, don’t immediately cut your lawn, rather allow the grass and flowers to grow. This makes room for local biodiversity such as worms, snails, pollinators, and small mammals and gives insects the pollen and nectar they need to feed themselves and their offspring.
If you live in the city and only have a balcony, there are things you can do too!
- Plant native wildflowers on your balcony. In addition to being beautiful to look at, these will help pollinators and because native species have evolved over thousands of years to thrive in your local climate, they will be much more resilient against inclement weather.
- Add in some bee baths. In the summer months, bees get thirsty too, but bird baths and pools can be too deep and risk the bees drowning. Shallow basins with places for the bees to land and rest will be much appreciated additions to your mini ecosystem
As trail runners, we spend a lot of our free time out in nature. It’s important that we respect local restoration efforts by staying on the path, respecting closed off sections of the trails, and lending our voice in the promotion of restoration projects!
While staying informed about the climate crisis is vital, it's also important to celebrate progress!
With this in mind, our next Rooting for Sustainability piece will have a more positive focus. We will be highlighting some of the most inspiring success stories and breakthroughs happening in the climate world, proving that positive change is possible!
With this in mind, our next Rooting for Sustainability piece will have a more positive focus. We will be highlighting some of the most inspiring success stories and breakthroughs happening in the climate world, proving that positive change is possible!
Have a topic you want us to explore?
