Ecosystem restoration importance and ways to do it

According to the latest data, some 13,235 sq km (5110 sq miles) was lost during the 2020-21 period, the highest amount since 2006. That’s utterly mind-numbing. Do you know why? Well, go on reading this piece of content.

Sweco Urban Insight Report states that our ecosystem’s health is going from bad to worse at an alarming pace. This poses a serious threat to our economy, our planet, and all walks of life. Be it food, air, land, or water - a deteriorating ecosystem in a long run is posing threat to the human race and an imminent threat to probably a million other species.

So what could be done to slow it down and restore the ecosystem?

As we are realizing the threat, more scientific research and studies are being done to restore the ecosystem and biodiversity to bring a balance to nature. Healthy restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem, especially in urban areas undoubtedly is a vital step as it is set to play a huge role in fighting the climate change challenges against us.

Importance of Restoring Ecosystem & Biodiversity

Some of the many reasons why every single one of us must do our bit toward ecosystem restoration are shown below:

• Forests approximately remove 430 million tons of carbon dioxide and store 13% of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions.

• Trees around residences can save energy consumption for heating by 20–50% and air conditioning by 30%. It can cool the air by 2°C to 8°C.

• Trees and vegetation reduce stormwater runoff by capturing and storing rainfall in the canopy and releasing water into the atmosphere through evapotranspiration.

• 1/3rd of a tree’s biomass is below ground in the roots.

• Carbon is stored in the soil, which can in turn offset 5–15% of global emissions.

• Parks & urban forests maintain, restore, and enhance biodiversity within cities.

• Spending time near trees and nature improves physical and mental & physical health conditions.

• A mature/leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale over a year.

• The strategic placement of trees in urban areas can cool the air by 2°C to 8°C, reducing the urban heat island effect.

“Healthy ecosystems provide us with ecosystem services that give us oxygen to breathe, provide us with food and medicine, clean our water, regulate our climate, provide recreational benefits and inspire cultures around the world. We need to protect ecosystems to ensure those services continue and ensure our continued survival and wellbeing.”, says Leonora Hunt, Ecologist at Sweco.

5 Simple Yet Effective Ways to Restore the Ecosystem

1. Step Up to the “Trees” 

Yes. The first and foremost way to restore biodiversity and in turn, our ecosystem, is through active efforts behind plantation and nurturing of the trees. The vision is not just to plant a seed or sapling, but to take care of the planted tree in your backyard till it's fully grown. Treat it as one of your own. Select the right species for the right spots to boost their chances of survival so that they could thrive for decades.

2. Let the Nature Self-heal

Nature heals on its own and reverses the impacts and adversities laid by human interference. We have seen the positive effects of this thing during the lockdown periods of Covid-19. It is vital that we allow natural processes to take place and repair damaged ecosystems, restore barren degraded landscapes and most importantly rebuild biodiverse habitats.

So if you own a garden, a farm, or a yard full of planted trees and vegetation,  allocate a section for rewilding and watch wildflowers, native plants, birds, insects, bees and other animals return to the area.

3. Slow Down Meat Consumption

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, animal agriculture accounts for roughly 14.5% of the world’s greenhouse gases each year. It also uses 83% of farmland and generates 60% of food-related emissions is one of the primary drivers of deforestation. So help restore ecosystems by eating less meat.

4. Volunteer/Support Green Businesses & Communities

A lot of restoration projects are already underway and these active groups of people are always keeping their doors open for someone to pop in to join hands. Jump online and search for such happenings or bodies that are closest to you. 

Also, support the manufacturers and businesses who are going green. Buy and promote their products that have no such characteristics which could harm nature, animals, or our ecosystem. Your loyalty and support for these companies will only encourage or force more businesses to go green.

5. Practice Inclusive Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

A solid monitoring system to track the progress and whereabouts of any restoration project is pretty much needed. This model also requires a sheer amount of focused time, effort, specialized team, and of course money. The ideal practice would be to help such projects by giving donations or investments for a good cause. 

Bringing awareness to the local communities and then spreading the word on a global scale is a huge challenge. However, with a collective effort, we can achieve that beautiful dream of getting the best out of nature and restoring or balancing our ecosystem sometime in the future.

We Track & Quantify Global Green Space. We are HUGSI.

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