2022 ENG ER PART 1 WEEK 1 LESSON 1

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration

Lesson 1

START

REFERENCE

Recognizing the extraordinary opportunity that ecosystem restoration creates for human well-being, food and job security, climate adaptation and mitigation, and more, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2021 the beginning of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.i

Welcome

To support the development and implementation of ecosystem restoration strategies, in 2016, the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration, or the STAPER.ii

This course will introduce you to the steps and activities of the STAPER, guiding you towards developing a plan to maximize the benefits of ecosystem restoration. Welcome to the course! Click on the Table of Contents on the left hand panel to navigate through the lesson.

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

This information is drawn from the following resources: i UNEP. 2021. Becoming #GenerationRestoration: Ecosystem Restoration for People, Nature and Climate. Nairobi. Available online here. ii CBD Secretariat & Society for Ecological Restoration. 2019. A Companion to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration - Resources, Case Studies, and Biodiversity Considerations in the Context of Restoration Science and Practice. Montreal, Canada Available here (p. 4).

Week 2

Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

week 1

Week 4

Week 5

Course structure

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

This course consists of two parts. Part 1 is titled "Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration" and is three weeks long. Part 2 is titled "Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions" and is five weeks long. You may choose to complete only one part of the course.Click on each week to learn more.

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration:

Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions:

Week 2

Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

week 1

Week 4

Week 5

Module 1

Course structure

Week 1 will set the stage for a deep dive into developing your own restoration plan. In Week 1, you will learn about the importance of ecosystem restoration, and the types of ecosystems and ecosystem services. You will also learn the basic principles underpinning the process of ecosystem restoration, the global policy frameworks guiding it, and how the STAPER fits into these frameworks.

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Welcome

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration:

Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions:

Week 2

Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

week 1

Week 4

Week 5

Course structure

In Week 2, you will be introduced to the technical assessment of opportunities for ecosystem restoration. In this week, you will learn how to identify and prioritize degraded lands for restoration action. You will also learn how to identify options to reduce the drivers of ecosystem loss and degradation, including through sustainably productive activities.

Assessment of Opportunities and Priorities for Restoration

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration:

Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions:

Week 2

Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

week 1

Week 4

Week 5

Course structure

In Week 3, you will learn how to account for the economic, legal, and institutional realities of your restoration program. You will learn how to identify gaps and necessary improvements in the institutional enabling environment for ecosystem restoration, including land tenure, and validate those with all stakeholders. In this week, you will also learn how the development of legal, economic, and social incentives can facilitate effective restoration interventions.

Legal, Policy and Governance Aspects

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration:

Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions:

Week 2

Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

week 1

Week 4

Week 5

Course structure

In Week 1, you will be introduced to the strategic planning processes and mechanisms for ecosystem restoration. In this week, you will learn how to engage all relevant stakeholders and rights holders, ensure gender balance, and incorporate the principle of free, prior, and informed consent into restorative interventions. You will review tools, strategies, and principles behind consultation, planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting, and start working on defining tasks, schedules, and budgeting.

Strategic Planning Processes

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration:

Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions:

Week 2

Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

week 1

Week 4

Week 5

Course structure

In Week 2, you will learn how to assess the costs and benefits of restoration and how and why to conduct a cost-benefit analysis. You will learn how ecosystem accounts are developed and incorporated into restoration program design. You will also review ways to develop an appropriate resource mobilization framework for ecosystem restoration.

Cost-benefit Analysis, Accounting Processes and Resource Mobilization

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration:

Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions:

Week 2

Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

week 1

Week 4

Week 5

Course structure

In Week 3, you will be introduced to the technical components of program implementation for ecosystem restoration. You will learn how to plan and implement the most appropriate restoration interventions for your context. You will gain an understanding of an ecosystem-based approach to restoration. Week 3 will also introduce you to the tools and strategies to address the challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples and local communities affected by restoration.

Selection and Implementation of Restoration Interventions

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration:

Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions:

Week 2

Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

week 1

Week 4

Week 5

Course structure

Week 4 will provide you with the tools and strategies to monitor, evaluate, and share lessons learned throughout your restoration program. In Week 4, you will learn about adaptive management, the purpose and importance of monitoring and evaluation, and how explicit feedback mechanisms can be used to improve the management of the restoration process.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration:

Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions:

Week 2

Week 3

Week 1

Week 2

week 1

Week 4

Week 5

Course structure

In Week 5, you will learn to develop an enabling environment for your restoration program by promoting and strengthening capacity building and development. You will gain an understanding of the value of and possible channels for exchanging expertise in order to improve restoration interventions.

Capacity-Building and Development

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration:

Applying Ecosystem Restoration Interventions:

Define ecosystem restoration and explain its importance.

Outline the types of ecosystems and ecosystem services.

Understand the difference between ecosystems and landscapes.

Explain approaches to and principles of restoration.

Lesson 1 objectives

Lesson 1 sets the stage for a deep dive into the detailed activities needed to design your restoration plan. In Lesson 1 you will learn to:

Place restoration in the context of large-scale initiatives and agreements.

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

REFERENCE

The variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.i

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

(of an ecosystem); A level of deleterious impact to ecosystems that results in the loss of biodiversity and simplification or disruption in their composition, structure, and functioning, and generally leads to a reduction in the flow of ecosystem services.i

REFERENCE

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Degradation

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed to reflect values regarded as inherent in the ecosystem and to provide goods and services that people value.i Ecological restoration aims to return the ecosystem to the condition it would have been in if degradation had not occurred, while also accounting for anticipated change.ii

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Ecological restoration

REFERENCE

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

This information is drawn from the following resource: i Gann G.D., Mcdonald T., Walder B., Aronson J., Nelson C.R., Jonson J., Hallet J.G., Eisenberg C., Guariguata M.R., Liu J., Hua F., Eheverria C., Gonzales E., Shaw N., Decleer K., Dixon K.W. 2019. International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration. Second Edition.Restoration Ecology (27(S1): 1-46). Available here (p. 15). ii Gann G.D., Mcdonald T., Walder B., Aronson J., Nelson C.R., Jonson J., Hallet J.G., Eisenberg C., Guariguata M.R., Liu J., Hua F., Eheverria C., Gonzales E., Shaw N., Decleer K., Dixon K.W. 2019. International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration. Second Edition.Restoration Ecology (27(S1): 1-46). Available here (p. 6).

The assemblage of biotic and abiotic components in water bodies or on land in which the components interact to form complex food webs, nutrient cycles, and energy flows.i

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

REFERENCE

Ecosystem

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

REFERENCE

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Ecosystem restoration

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

The process of reversing the degradation of ecosystems, such as landscapes, lakes and oceans, to regain their ecological functionality, and to improve the productivity and capacity of ecosystems to meet the needs of society. This can be done, for example, by allowing the natural regeneration of overexploited ecosystems.i

This information is drawn from the following resource: iIUCN. 2019. What is Ecosystem Restoration? Available here.

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

REFERENCE

Ecosystem services

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

The direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being. These include the production of clean soil, water and air, the moderation of climate and disease, nutrient cycling and pollination, the provisioning of a range of goods useful to humans, and potential for the satisfaction of aesthetic, recreation and other human values.i

Any intentional activity—including mitigation, rehabilitation and ecological restoration—that improves ecosystem functionality, ecosystem services, or biodiversity.i

REFERENCE

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Environmental repair

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

A process that aims to regain ecological functionality and enhance human well-being in deforested or degraded landscapes. FLR is not an end in itself, but a means of regaining, improving, and maintaining vital ecological and social functions, in the long-term leading to more resilient and sustainable landscapes.i

REFERENCE

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Forest & Landscape Restoration

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

This information is drawn from the following resource: iCBD Secretariat & Society For Ecological Restoration. 2019. A Companion to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration - Resources, Case Studies, and Biodiversity Considerations in the Context of Restoration Science and Practice. Montreal, Canada Available here (p. 13).

In planning contexts, a human-defined area of large spatial scale ranging in size from 3 km2 to c. 3002 km. A landscape is spatially heterogeneous in at least one factor of interest and often consists of a mosaic of interacting ecosystems.i

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

REFERENCE

Landscape

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

This information is drawn from the following resource: i IPBES. 2018. The IPBES Assessment Report on Land Degradation and Restoration. Montanarella, L., Scholes, R., and Brainich, A. (eds.). Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Bonn, Germany. 744 pages. Available here (p. 662).

Any activity of reducing impacts. In the context of this course, “mitigation” refers to work to protect ecosystems from impacts arising from human settlement and production.i

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

REFERENCE

Mitigation

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

This information is drawn from the following resource: i McDonald, T., Jonson, J., & Dixon, K. 2016. National Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration in Australia. The Journal of the Society for Ecological Restoration. Vol (24). Available here.

An ecosystem comprising organisms that are known to have evolved locally or have recently migrated from neighboring localities due to changing environmental conditionsincluding climate change.In certain circumstances,traditional cultural ecosystemsor semi-natural ecosystems are considered to be native ecosystems. The presence of non-native species or the expansion of ruderal species in native ecosystems are forms of degradation.i

REFERENCE

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Native ecosystem

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

Management actions that aim to reinstate a level of ecosystem functioning on degraded sites, where the goal is renewed and ongoing provision of ecosystem services rather than the biodiversity and integrity of a designated native reference ecosystem.i

REFERENCE

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Rehabilitation

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

A management activity that aims to remove sources of degradation.i

REFERENCE

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Remediation

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

REFERENCE

Restorative approaches

A “family” or “group” of inter-related restorative interventions that reduce degradation or improve conditions for the partial or full recoveryof ecosystems. For example,assisted natural regenerationcould be classified as anapproach to restoration. It canbe useful to conceptualize therange of approaches that can improve environmental conditions and reverse ecosystem degradation and landscape fragmentation along the ‘restorative continuum.’i

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

Any intervention - including actions, activities and treatments - intended to promote the recovery of an ecosystem or component of an ecosystem, such as soil and substrate amendments, control of invasive species, habitat conditioning, terracing, species reintroductions, and population reinforcements.i

REFERENCE

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Restorative interventions

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

A process whereby the biotic community of an area is substantially altered or substituted by another, along with the underlying ecological and human processes responsible for its persistence, often as a result of a deliberate decision to change the purpose for which the ecosystem is used.i

REFERENCE

The following terms will be used in Lesson 1. Please click the terms in the right hand panel to familiarize yourself with their definitions.

Transformation

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

Ecosystem

RESTORATIVE iNTERVENTIONS

Ecosystem restoration

LANDSCAPE

MITIGATION

NATIVE ECOSYSTEMs

REHABILITATION

REMEDIATION

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES

DEGRADATION

Ecosystem SERVICES

FOREST & LANDSCAPE RESTORATION

ENVIRONMENTAL REPAIR

TRANSFORMATION

Ecosystem properties

Although ecosystem types vary greatly, all ecosystems have five inherent properties. Click on each property to learn more.

COMPOSITION

STRUCTURE

FUNCTION

Temporal change

Complexity

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Ecosystems contain biological organisms (plants, animals, microbes) as well as abiotic components (substrates, water, and the atmosphere). Ecosystems can be characterized by these components.i

Composition

REFERENCE

The relative proportions of components within an ecosystem result in ecosystem structure. Structure includes relative proportions of different species and functional groups (such as producers, consumers, and decomposers), as well as the demographic structure within species (such as age distribution of trees), and spatial arrangement.

Structure

REFERENCE

All ecosystems exchange matter and energy between abiotic and biotic components.i

Function

REFERENCE

Ecosystem components are highly interdependent, such that a change in one component affects all other components in the system.i This attribute considers the wide variety of interactive processes, including how ecological structure and function interact at multiple scales (e. g., cells, organisms, populations).ii

Complexity

REFERENCE

Change is an inherent characteristic of all ecosystems, even in the absence of anthropogenic degradation. Ecosystems change over time due to external factors (such as changes in climate that result from changes in the Earth’s orbit, sunspot activity, ocean-atmosphere circulation patterns), or anthropogenic greenhouse gasses) and internal factors (such as succession).i

Temporal change

REFERENCE

Ecosystem types

The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology 2.0 defines 5 global realms, 25 biomes and 108 ecosystem functional types.Click on each realm to learn more.

Subterranean

Freshwater

MARINE

Atmospheric

While terrestrial ecosystems are the dominant focus of this course, it must be recognized that there is an inextricable link between the health of aquatic ecosystems, such as headwaters, and the health and functionality of terrestrial ecosystems, ecosystem services delivery, and human health and well-being.

TERRESTRIAL

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Terrestrial

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The terrestrial realm includes all dry land, its vegetation cover, proximate atmosphere and substrate (soils, rocks)to the rooting depth of plants, and associated animals and microbes. Water and nutrients are the principle resource drivers, with energy, oxygen and carbonrarely limiting.i

This information is drawn from the following resource: Keith, D.A., Ferrer-Paris, J.R., Nicholson, E. and Kingsford, R.T. (eds.). 2020. The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology 2.0: Descriptive profiles for biomes and ecosystem functional groups. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. Available here (p. 6).

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Subterranean

The subterranean realm includes the earth’s crust and subsurface voids characterised by an absence or very low intensity of sunlight. Energy is therefore a major resource driver in these ecosystems, although other resources such as water and carbon, may sometimes be limiting.i

Freshwater

The freshwater realm includes all permanent and temporary freshwater bodies as well as saline water bodies that are not directly connected to the oceans.Hydrological regimes defined by flow velocity and frequency, duration, depth and extent of inundation are critical to the structure and function of these ‘freshwater’ ecosystems.i

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resource: Keith, D.A., Ferrer-Paris, J.R., Nicholson, E. and Kingsford, R.T. (eds.) (2020). The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology 2.0: Descriptive profiles for biomes and ecosystem functional groups. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. Available here (p. 7).

Marine

The marine realm includes all connected saline ocean waters characterised by waves, tides and currents. These processes transport resources and biota over short temporal and local spatial scales (waves), while global circulation occurs over centuries via deep ocean currents. The availability of light and nutrients diminishes along depth gradients.i

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Atmospheric

The atmospheric realm includes the gaseous medium and its suspended particulate liquids and solids above the terrestrial realm, extending to the altitudinal limits of life. Altitudinal gradients strongly structure the diminishing availability of water, nutrients and oxygen, coincident with declines in ambient temperatures and barometric pressure, and increasing UV-B radiation.i

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Landscapes

Most of us have an intuitive understanding of the term “landscape.” We think of a piece of land we can view, usually from a prominent point. From an ecological perspective, a landscape is an area composed of multiple interacting ecosystems. For this reason, it can be understood as a changing mosaic of land cover units such as farms, arable fields, grasslands, forests, marshes, water bodies, and settlements, etc., which may be highly interconnected or dissected by linear elements such as roads, power lines, hedgerows, and rivers.iLandscapes have the following inherent properties:ii

COMPOSITION

STRUCTURE

FUNCTION

REFERENCE

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

This information is drawn from the following resources: iHermy, M. Landscape Ecology. Oxford Bibliographies. Available here. iiGann G.D., Mcdonald T., Walder B., Aronson J., Nelson C.R., Jonson J., Hallet J.G., Eisenberg C., Guariguata M.R., Liu J., Hua F., Eheverria C., Gonzales E., Shaw N., Decleer K., Dixon K.W. 2019. International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration. Second Edition.Restoration Ecology (27(S1): 1-46). Available here (p. 70).

Composition

The types of ecosystems within the landscape. The types of ecosystems within the landscape.i

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Structure

The size and spatial arrangement of ecosystems and their connectivity.i

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Function

Flows of energy, nutrients and biological organisms among patches.i

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Ecosystem restoration defined

Ecosystem restoration does not currently have a single definition. Review the following definitions to get an idea of the similarities between the conceptualizations of the term:

UNEP's definition

The definitions of ecosystem restoration have an important similarity, converging around the idea of contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity as well as creating social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Ecosystem restoration vsecological restoration

Ecosystem restoration vsrehabilitation

FAO's definition

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

A process of reversing the degradation of ecosystems, such as landscapes, lakes, and oceans to regain their ecological functionality; in other words, to improve the productivity and capacity of ecosystems to meet the needs of society. This can be done by allowing the natural regeneration of overexploited ecosystems or by planting trees and other plants.i This definition is used by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

UNEP's definition of ecosystem restoration

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This information is drawn from the following resource: i IUCN. 2019. What is Ecosystem Restoration? Available here.

The process of assisting in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed, and focuses on establishing the ecological processes necessary to make terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems sustainable, resilient, and healthy under current and future conditions while improving human well-being.i

FAO's definition of ecosystem restoration

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This information is drawn from the following resource: iFAO. 2021. Position Paper on “Ecosystem Restoration” of Production Ecosystems, in the Context of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030. Available here (p. 2).

Ecosystem restoration vsecological restoration

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Ecosystem restoration includes a broad range of ecosystem management interventions, from reducing societal impacts in production landscapes to fully recovering native ecosystems. Examples of ecosystem restoration include agriculture management to reduce soil erosion, installation of urban greenways, and remediation of mine-contaminated soils.

Ecological restoration is a specific type of ecosystem restoration practice and offers the highest level of ecosystem repair.i The goals of ecological restoration include both removing degradation, and restoring the designated area to the condition it would have been in now if degradation had not occurred.ii If the aim is to return a natural ecosystem back to its previous baseline state, this practice can be referred to as ecological restoration.

Hereafter, “restoration” refers to “ecosystem restoration”in the broad sense, as opposed to “ecological restoration,” which is an important subcategory of ecosystem restoration.

This information is drawn from the following resources: iUNEP. 2021. Becoming #GenerationRestoration: Ecosystem Restoration for People, Nature and Climate. Nairobi. Available here (p. 33). iiGann G.D., Mcdonald T., Walder B., Aronson J., Nelson C.R., Jonson J., Hallet J.G., Eisenberg C., Guariguata M.R., Liu J., Hua F., Eheverria C., Gonzales E., Shaw N., Decleer K., Dixon K.W. 2019. International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration. Second Edition.Restoration Ecology (27(S1): 1-46). Available here (p. 20).

Ecosystem restoration vsrehabilitation

Ecosystem restoration encompasses the terms ecological restoration and rehabilitation. A way to distinguish ecological restoration and rehabilitation is to distinguish between ecosystems that are in their natural state and transformed ecosystems.

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Variably Degraded State of the Natural Ecosystem

Variably Degraded State of the Transformed Ecosysem

Natural State of an Ecosystem

Restoration

TRANSFORMED ECOSYSTEM

In the case of transformed ecosystems, reversing the degradation of a specific function/service is understood to be rehabilitation.

Degradation

Restoration

Degradation

Restoration

Degradation

Degraded transformed ecosystems may also be restored directly to their natural state.

Natural ecosystems may be degraded in terms of the level of provision of ecosystem function and services.

Transformed ecosystems may be degraded in terms of the level of provision of ecosystem function and services (a degraded natural forest may not store as much carbon, a degraded agricultural plot may not produce as much crop). Reversing this degradation is understood as restoration in the case of natural ecosystem and rehabilitation (of a specific function/service), as well as in the case of the transformed ecosystem.

REDUCING

SOCIETAL IMPACTS

IMPROVING

ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT

REPAIRING

ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION

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Restorative continuum

Another way of distinguishing between different concepts related to ecosystem restoration is to place them on a ‘restorative continuum.’i As one moves from left to right on the continuum, both ecological health and biodiversity outcomes, and quality and quantity of ecosystem services increase. Ecosystem restoration encompasses the entire restorative continuum.

Reduced impacts

Remediation

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Actions that address ongoing degradation by reducing societal impacts of human production and consumption. The reduction of societal impact must be one that results in recovery or enhanced potential for recovery of ecological attributes.

The recuperation of polluted or contaminated sites.

INITIATING

NATIVE RECOVERY

PARTIALLY

RECOVERING NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS

FULLY

RECOVERING NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS

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Restorative continuum

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

REHABILITATION

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Focuses on repairing a specific ecosystem function or limited set of functions, in the context of areas including those used for production or human settlement.

Supposes a reference to the state of native (natural) ecosystem, and can include different degrees of recovery towards that state. Note that ecological restoration can occur in urban, suburban, agricultural, and industrial landscapes.

Ecosystem service types

As you are embarking on the journey of ecosystem restoration, you are likely guided by the desire to restore the services (direct and indirect benefits) that your ecosystem of interest provides. What kind of services are we talking about? Explore the infographic and click on each type of ecosystem service to learn more.

SUPPORTING

PROVISIONING

REGULATING

CULTURAL

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Supporting

Necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services, (for example,by providing plants and animals with living spaces, allowing for diversity of species and maintaining genetic diversity).i, ii

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resources: iMillennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis Report. Island Press, Washington, DC. Available here (Modified from p. vi). iiFAO. No Date. Ecosystem Services & Biodiversity (ESB). Available here.

The material benefits people get from ecosystems (such as supply of food, water, fibers, wood, and fuels).i, ii

Provisioning

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The benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes (such as the regulation of air quality and soil fertility, control of floods, or crop pollination).i, ii

Regulating

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Non-material benefits people gain from ecosystems (such as aesthetic and engineering inspiration, cultural identity, and spiritual well-being).i, ii

Cultural

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Ecosystems and human impact

Ecosystems, even natural ecosystems, do not exist without human impact. People and the rest of the biosphere are interdependent. An ecosystem should, therefore, be considered a socio-ecological system (an ecosystem, the management of this ecosystem by actors and organizations, and the rules, social norms, and conventions underlying this management). This understanding will allow all stakeholders to better navigate the inherent complexity of the ecosystem restoration process.

Approaches to ecosystem restoration

There are a variety of restoration approaches that can be applied depending on the type ofecosystem, level of degradation, or expectedbenefits of restoration. The continuum frompassive to active forms of restoration representsone way to conceptualize restoration interventions.There also exist other ways to organize thevariety of interventions.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) points out two main categories of interventions:i

ENABLING ABD INSTRUMENTAL INTERVENTIONS

Direct biophysicalINTERVENTIONS

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

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Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Enabling and instrumental interventions

Responses that aim to create a favorable environment for landholders or other stakeholders, to realize in a second stage biophysical and technical interventions.This category includes: legal and regulatory instruments; policy, institution and governance mechanism; economic and financial instruments; social and cultural instruments; rights-based instruments and customary norms.

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resource: iIPBES. 2018. The IPBES Assessment Report on Land Degradation and Restoration. Montanarella, L., Scholes, R., and Brainich, A. (eds.). Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Bonn, Germany. 744 pages. Available here (p. 29).

Direct biophysical interventions

Responses that aim to avoid or reduce land degradation. This category includes: Responses that aim to avoid or reduce land degradation. This category includes: conservation interventions; mitigating interventions; and restoration interventions focusing on ecosystem recovery.

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resource: iIPBES. 2018. The IPBES Assessment Report on Land Degradation and Restoration. Montanarella, L., Scholes, R., and Brainich, A. (eds.). Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Bonn, Germany. 744 pages. Available here (p. 29).

Principles of ecosystem restoration

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration defines eight principles that provide a framework to explain, define, guide, and measure the interventions and outcomes of ecosystem restoration. Click on each principle to learn more.

REFERENCE

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

This information is drawn from the following resource: iUNEP. 2021. Becoming #GenerationRestoration: Ecosystem Restoration for People, Nature and Climate. Available here (p. 33).

Restoration projects, programmes, and initiatives at all spatial scales, from individual sites to large landscapes and seascapes, play an essential role in achieving ambitious global targets for sustaining life on Earth. Successful ecosystem restoration aims to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which seek to end poverty, conserve biodiversity, combat climate change and improve livelihoods for everyone, everywhere. The SDGs are unlikely to be met unless ecosystem degradation is stopped and ecosystem restoration is undertaken at cumulative scales of hundreds of millions of hectares globally. Effective restoration simultaneously supports achievement of the biodiversity, climate, and land degradation neutrality goals of the Rio Conventions – Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – and allied global initiatives. Preventing, halting, and reversing ecosystem degradation, as a contribution to global targets, is a shared responsibility among all public and private sectors and stakeholders at local, national, and international levels.

Principle 1Ecosystem restoration contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and those of the Rio Conventions.

Principle 2: Ecosystem restoration promotes inclusive and participatory governance, social fairness, and equity from the start and throughout the process and outcomes.

All stakeholders, right holders, and especially under-represented groups (e.g. local communities, Indigenous Peoples, ethnic minorities, women, youth, and LGBTIQ+ people ), should be equitably and inclusively provided with opportunities to be engaged and integrated in meaningful, free, and active ways. Such inclusive participation is necessary for achieving the desired outcomes of restoration over the long-term, and should be promoted as much as possible throughout the process, from planning to monitoring. This participation can be achieved by securing equal and regular access to information and knowledge; recognizing and addressing social asymmetries through empowerment and capacity development of under-represented groups; seeking free, prior and informed consent ; providing effective incentives and improving livelihoods, food security, and opportunities for local communities; promoting co-management and ensuring a key role of local communities in decision-making; recognizing rights, needs, and concerns; fostering tenure security; pursuing fair and equitable distribution of benefits and responsibilities; and building dialogue, trust, and mutual respect through inclusive and transparent governance with mechanisms for impartial conflict resolution.

LEARN ABOUT MAJOR CATEGORIES OF RESTORATIVE ACTIVITIES

Principle 3: Ecosystem restoration includes a continuum of restorative activities.

Ecosystem restoration encompasses a wide range of activities, employed singly or collectively, that aim to repair degraded ecosystems of all kinds. To be considered ecosystem restoration, however, the activity must result in net gain for biodiversity, ecosystem health and integrity, and human well-being, including sustainable production of goods and services. Ecosystem restoration can be implemented in all types of degraded ecosystems, landscapes, and seascapes, including urban, production, cultural, semi-natural, and natural systems.

MAJOR CATEGORIES OF RESTORATIVE INTERVENTIONS

Reduction of negative environmental and societal impacts, including non-sustainable extraction and waste and pollution, and mismanagement

Removal of contaminants, pollutants, and other threats, often known as remediation

Rehabilitation of ecosystem functions and services in highly modified areas such as former mine sites and degraded production systems

Ecological restoration, which aims to remove degradation and assist in recovering an ecosystem to the trajectory it would be on if degradation had not occurred, accounting for environmental change.

Principle 4: Ecosystem restoration aims to achieve the highest level of recovery for biodiversity, ecosystem health and integrity, and human well-being.

Ecosystem restoration aims to achieve and sustain the greatest net gain possible, given project and programme level goals, for biodiversity, ecosystem health and integrity, ecosystem goods and services, climate-change mitigation, and human health and well-being at local, national, and global scales. It should enhance and not be a substitute for nature conservation, especially of areas with high ecological integrity and high value for ensuring ecological connectivity, as well as other priority areas for conservation, including those within Indigenous Peoples’ and traditional communities’ territories. Management practices intended to be restorative should support and assist natural recovery processes and not cause further degradation. The use of genetically appropriate germplasm of native species should be favoured, whereas non-native species that are potentially or already proven to be invasive should be avoided.

Principle 5: Ecosystem restoration addresses the direct and indirect causes of ecosystem degradation.

All restorative activities should concurrently address the direct and indirect causes of ecosystem degradation and fragmentation, and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services. If the causes are not addressed, restorative activities may fail over the long-term. During the planning phase of restoration projects, programmes, or initiatives, the degree and causes of degradation should be identified, and actions should be developed to reduce and mitigate their impacts at the appropriate scale. These actions should include eliminating incentives that directly or indirectly promote ecosystem degradation. Importantly, land uses and property regimes that promote ecosystem degradation and prevent the long-term permanence of restored ecosystems should be addressed. Adoption of sustainable practices that enhance biodiversity conservation (including in production systems), and contribute to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change, should be promoted; along with measures that reduce the environmental impacts of urbanization, infrastructure development, extractive activities, and unsustainable production and consumption. The development and implementation of plans and policy instruments that aim to prevent, halt, or reverse ecosystem degradation should incorporate ecological, cultural, and socio-economic considerations, and be harmonized with other policies and actions that govern and shape land and resource use to avoid confusion and conflict.

Principle 6: Ecosystem restoration incorporates all types of knowledge and promotes their exchange and integration throughout the process.

Ecosystem restoration should strive to integrate all types of knowledge – including, but not limited to, Indigenous, traditional, local, and scientific ways of knowing – and practices in order to achieve greater kinship with nature, cooperation, and effectiveness. Such integration will foster inclusive and consensual decision-making throughout the process, while enabling full participation of local stakeholders and right holders. Likewise, capacity development efforts should be focused on promoting mutual learning, as well as knowledge sharing among stakeholders and communities of practice at local, national, and global levels. In particular, knowledge about effective practices and innovative approaches should be systematically captured and shared to develop, adapt, and replicate successful experiences, and to avoid repeating mistakes. This will also allow for the identification of knowledge gaps and strategic research and capacity development priorities. Incorporation of Indigenous, local, and traditional knowledge should comply with the principles of free, prior, and informed consent. To facilitate exchange of knowledge and information, platforms and networks for documenting, integrating, and sharing should be developed and made widely available through regularly updated, easily accessible, understandable, and culturally appropriate communication and dissemination channels (taking into account languages and literacy levels).

Principle 7: Ecosystem restoration is based onwell-defined short-, medium-, and long-term ecological, cultural, and socio-economic objectives and goals.

During the planning phase of restoration projects and programmes, realistic and achievable short-, medium- and long-term ecological, cultural, and socio-economic objectives and goals should be established, based on a shared vision of desired outcomes. They should include targets and indicators that are measurable against the baseline condition, and that specify the direction (e.g. increase or decrease) and magnitude of change desired, and are time-bound, where appropriate. Inclusion of measurable objectives and goals will allow clear communication of expected results, set the basis for co-development of an implementation plan, and enable monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management. Tradeoffs among ecological, cultural and socio-economic objectives and goals should be addressed and reconciled through fair and transparent negotiation, and in a manner that does not compromise ecosystem recovery.

Principle 8: Ecosystem restoration is tailored to the local ecological, cultural, and socio-economic contexts, while considering the larger landscape or seascape.

Although ecosystem restoration can be undertaken at any spatial scale, from areas of less than a hectare to large landscapes or seascapes, the ecological, cultural, and socio-economic contexts, at both the local and larger landscape or seascape scale, should be taken into account throughout the process. Consideration of the local context facilitates alignment of project objectives and goals with local needs. Additionally, successful restoration depends on adequately addressing land- and seascape-level factors, including threats from the larger landscape or seascape, exchanges of energy and organisms across ecosystem boundaries, ecological and hydrological connectivity, and transboundary effects. Use of spatial planning processes will facilitate tailoring projects, programmes, and initiatives to the larger landscape, seascape, or ecoregion in order to maximize net gain for biodiversity, ecosystem health and integrity, and human well-being, including sustainable production of goods and services.

Principle 9: Ecosystem restoration includes monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management throughout and beyond the lifetime of the project or programme.

Monitoring of biodiversity, ecosystem health and integrity, and human well-being responses to restoration should be undertaken to determine whether objectives and goals are being met. For monitoring to be effective, it should begin at the inception of the project, programme, or initiative, to allow baseline measurements of relevant site- and landscape- or seascape-level indicators and assessment of the direction and magnitude of change over time. Different methodological approaches (from statistically rigorous to less formal) can be valuable for understanding patterns and processes of change. The engagement of stakeholders in monitoring can promote social learning, capacity development, and communication among stakeholder groups and communities of practice, at local, national, and global scales. Because restoration is a long-term endeavour and, therefore, changing conditions are inevitable, adaptive management — the iterative process of monitoring, evaluating, reflecting, and adapting activities and approaches as needed — allows identification of unanticipated (positive and negative) outcomes and improvement of future actions. Monitoring should continue beyond the lifetime of the project, programme, or initiative to capture medium and longer-term impacts.

Principle 10: Ecosystem restoration is enabled by policies and measures that promote its long-term progress, fostering replication and scaling up.

Ensuring an enabling policy environment, including through intersectoral policy coordination, is important for achieving restoration objectives and goals over the long-term. To this end, all relevant governance instruments (laws, regulations, policies, strategies and plans) should be mapped, adapted where appropriate, and integrated in the planning and implementation of projects, programmes, and initiatives. In addition, maximizing long-term net gain from restorative activities requires: coordinating actions among institutions, sectors and stakeholders, through a well-functioning governance system; fostering local, national, and international political commitment and transboundary agreements; providing capacity development opportunities to empower people, organizations, institutions and networks involved in restoration; mainstreaming effective practices to have broad influence and allow replication; identifying, mobilizing, and maintaining adequate funding (from government, private sector, international organizations, or other sources) to complete all phases of the process; developing income mechanisms (e.g. through sustainable production, ecotourism, payment for ecosystem services, and other sustainable uses of natural resources) that do not compromise the integrity of the restoration process and that support its financial viability; and protecting the security of stakeholders and rights holders, especially in areas of political or natural resource conflict. Likewise, promoting and replicating successful ecosystem restoration activities and approaches will facilitate and influence the design of laws, policies and measures — at local, national, and global levels — for helping prevent, halt, and reverse ecosystem degradation.

Global policy frameworks for ecosystem restoration

The international community has recognized the value of ecosystem restoration at different scales. Several international agreements promote a wide range of ecosystem management and nature-based solutions. These global initiatives and agreements largely focus on improving the ecological health and productivity of landscapes to support the current and future well-being of people, protect biodiversity, reduce disaster risk, and mitigate and adapt to climate change. For some initiatives, restoration is seen as a method to improve access to and sustainability of natural resources, while others recognize the potential of restoration to catalyze rural economies, provide jobs and income, and improve food and water security.i Click on each initiative/platform/agreement to learn more.

International Agreements

SDGs

UNFCCC

CBD

UNCCD

International POLICY PLATFORMS

The bonn challenge

Global Forest Goals

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Article 8 (f) of the CBD Convention text states that each Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate, rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of threatened species, inter alia, through the development and implementation of plans or other management strategies.iRestoration is mentioned or is important to multiple Aichi Biodiversity Targets (5, 6, 12, 14, 15) of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, and is expected to figure prominently in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that is being negotiated. To support the development and implementation of ecosystem restoration strategies, in 2016 the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration, or the STAPER.ii

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To guide capacity development efforts of government and non-government actors in support of the implementation of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the CBD has prepared a long-term strategic framework for capacity development beyond 2020. This framework is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the capacity development work of the Cartagena and the Nagoya Protocols.iii

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resources: iGann G.D., Mcdonald T., Walder B., Aronson J., Nelson C.R., Jonson J., Hallet J.G., Eisenberg C., Guariguata M.R., Liu J., Hua F., Eheverria C., Gonzales E., Shaw N., Decleer K., Dixon K.W. 2019. International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration. Second Edition. Restoration Ecology (27(S1): 1-46). Available here (p. 71-72). iiCBD Secretariat & Society For Ecological Restoration. 2019. A Companion to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration - Resources, Case Studies, and Biodiversity Considerations in the Context of Restoration Science and Practice. Montreal, Canada Available here (p. 4) iiiCBD. 2020. Draft Elements for the Long-term Strategic Framework for Capacity Development to Support Implementation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Available here (p. 1-2).

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

The UNCCD promotes land restoration and rehabilitation as part of the UNCCD strategic framework 2018-2030, and specifically achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), wherein, “the amount and quality of land resources necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security remain stable or increase within specified temporal and spatial scales and ecosystems.” LDN encourages countries to adopt a broad range of interventions to avoid or reduce land degradation through appropriate planning, regulation, and sustainable land management practices, combined with localized action to reverse past degradation, through land restoration and rehabilitation, to achieve a state of no net loss of healthy and productive land.i

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The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Restorative interventions are proposed or promoted as part of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the UNFCCC.i NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of these long-term goals. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.ii

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The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 call for restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems (Goal 14) and terrestrial ecosystems (Goal 15) that have been degraded, and to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.”i The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2021-2030 the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.ii

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resource: iGann G.D., Mcdonald T., Walder B., Aronson J., Nelson C.R., Jonson J., Hallet J.G., Eisenberg C., Guariguata M.R., Liu J., Hua F., Eheverria C., Gonzales E., Shaw N., Decleer K., Dixon K.W. 2019. International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration. Second Edition. Restoration Ecology (27(S1): 1-46). Available here (p. 13). iiCBD Secretariat & Society For Ecological Restoration. 2019. A Companion to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration - Resources, Case Studies, and Biodiversity Considerations in the Context of Restoration Science and Practice. Montreal, Canada Available here (p. 13 - 14).

The Bonn Challenge

The Bonn Challenge is the largest and most diverse initiative for large-scale restoration. This global effort seeks to bring 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.iThe Bonn Challenge has galvanized high-level national and subnational commitments from 74 governments, and land managers, totaling over 210 million hectares, to assess opportunities for, and implement restorative interventions using the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) approach.ii

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The Global Forest Goals and Targets

The United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030 provides a global framework for action at all levels to sustainably manage all types of forests and trees outside forests, and to halt deforestation and forest degradation. The historic agreement on the Strategic Plan was forged at a special session of the United Nations Forum on Forests in January 2017, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in April 2017. At the heart of the Strategic Plan are six Global Forest Goals and 26 associated targets to be achieved by 2030. Goal 1 sets out explicit targets for forest restoration.i

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resource: iUnited Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, DESA. 2019. United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030: Global Forest Goals and Targets. Available here.

THE STAPER

At their 10th Conference of the Parties (CoP) in 2010 the Parties to the CBD adopted the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (ABTs) - a set of 20 time-bound, measurable targets to be met by the year 2020. ABTs covered a range of actions on biodiversity that aimed at further implementing the objectives of the CBD by breaking down the actions into more manageable issues.i While restoration is mentioned in and is important to several of these targets, ABT15 called for the restoration of degraded ecosystems.iAt CBD CoP 13 in 2016, the Parties to the CBD adopted the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration (STAPER), a flexible framework of 24 steps for the implementation of ecosystem restoration at national, regional, subnational, and site levels within a land- and seascape perspective.ii The STAPER “unpacked” actions that can be taken toward achieving Target 15.iii Click on the icons below.

REFERENCE

PURPOSE

TARGET

REASONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

STAPER AND THIS COURSE

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

This information is drawn from the following resources: iSER. 2020. The Short Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration of the UN CBD. Relevance and Companion Resources. Webinar. Available here (6:16). iiFAO. 2020. News Article: The Short Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Available here. iiiCBD Secretariat & Society For Ecological Restoration. 2019. A Companion to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration - Resources, Case Studies, and Biodiversity Considerations in the Context of Restoration Science and Practice. Montreal, Canada Available here (p. 13 - 14).

Context of the STAPER: Purpose

The purpose of the STAPER is to promote restoration as “a contribution to reversing the loss of biodiversity, recovering connectivity, improving ecosystem resilience […] and improving human well-being while reducing environmental risks and scarcities.” Restoration is therefore understood as an opportunity not just to mitigate and reverse human impacts on the environment, but also one that, when applied at scale, can create net economic and social benefits.i

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resources: iFAO. 2020. News Article: The Short Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Available here. iiCBD Secretariat & Society For Ecological Restoration. 2019. A Companion to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration - Resources, Case Studies, and Biodiversity Considerations in the Context of Restoration Science and Practice. Montreal, Canada Available here (p. 13 - 14). iiiCBD Secretariat & Society For Ecological Restoration. 2019. A Companion to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration - Resources, Case Studies, and Biodiversity Considerations in the Context of Restoration Science and Practice. Montreal, Canada Available here (p. 5).

Context of the STAPER: Target

The STAPER is aimed at country Parties to the Convention, as well as any relevant organizations and initiatives aiming to develop and implement their restoration strategies. This course is, therefore, geared to government representatives interested in creating a blueprint for ecosystem restoration at the national or subnational level.

REFERENCE

Promote, support, and accelerate action in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of ecosystem restoration interventions at all levels.

Reasons for implementation

Identify and formalize regional, national, and local targets, policies, and actions for ecosystem restoration.

Identify and communicate the benefits of ecosystem restoration to generate public awareness, support, and involvement.

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resource: iSecretariat of the Convention On Biological Diversity. 2016. Ecosystem Restoration: Short-Term Action Plan. CBD/COP/DEC/XIII/5. Cancun, Mexico, 4-17 December 2016. Available here (p.4).

Expected outcomes of the course

The primary goal of this course is to help Parties to the CBD plan and implement ecosystem restoration interventions using the STAPER. While the STAPER comprises four groups of activitiesi that could be undertaken to accelerate ecosystem restoration, this course does not follow the breakdown of activities presented in the original CBD decision. For the purposes of this course, the STAPER activities have been grouped differently, and are presented in eight modules, each dedicated to a specific and more narrow aspect of a restoration program implementation. We encourage you to review all the modules to get a comprehensive picture of the activities involved in successful restoration programs and/or take a deep dive into specific aspects.

REFERENCE

This information is drawn from the following resource: iCBD Secretariat & Society for Ecological Restoration. 2019. A companion to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration - Resources, Case Studies, and Biodiversity Considerations in the Context of Restoration Science and Practice. Montreal, Canada. Available here.

Additional resources

CBD Decision XIII/5. Ecosystem restoration: short-term action plan

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Webinar: The Short Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration of the UN CBD

SER E-Learning Course: Overview of the Practice of Ecological Restoration

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

Congratulations on completing Lesson 1!

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

You should finish this module with an understanding of: Types of ecosystems and ecosystem services. Approaches to ecosystem restoration. Principles of ecosystem restoration.

To put the information you have learned to practice, please fill out the Workbook "Introduction to Ecosystem Restoration".

References

CBD. 2020.

FAO. 2020.

News Article: The Short Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Draft Elements for the Long-term Strategic Framework for Capacity Development to Support Implementation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

CBD Secretariat & Society For Ecological Restoration. 2019

A Companion to the Short-Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration - Resources, Case Studies, and Biodiversity Considerations in the Context of Restoration Science and Practice.

IPBES. 2018.

Position Paper on “Ecosystem Restoration” of Production Ecosystems, in the Context of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

The IPBES Assessment Report on Land Degradation and Restoration. Montanarella, L., Scholes, R., and Brainich, A. (eds.). Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

FAO. 2021.

IUCN. 2019.

What is Ecosystem Restoration?

The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology 2.0: Descriptive Profiles for Biomes and Ecosystem Functional Groups..

Keith, D.A., Ferrer-paris, J.R., Nicholson, E. & Kingsford, R.T. (eds.). 2020.

FAO. No Date.

Ecosystem Services & Biodiversity (ESB).

Gann G.D., Mcdonald T., Walder B., Aronson J., Nelson C.R., Jonson J., Hallet J.G., Eisenberg C., Guariguata M.R., Liu J., Hua F., Eheverria C., Gonzales E., Shaw N., Decleer K., Dixon K.W. 2019.

International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration. Second Edition. Restoration Ecology (27(S1): 1-46).

FAO. No Date.

Glossary of Restoration Interventions.

Hermy, M. 2012.

Landscape Ecology. Oxford Bibliographies.

McDonald, T., Jonson, J., & Dixon, K. 2016.

National Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration in Australia.

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

References

UNEP. 2021.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessmen. 2005.

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis Report.

United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat, DESA. 2019.

United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030: Global Forest Goals and Targets.

UNFCCC. No date.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): The Paris Agreement and NDCs.

BACK

The Short Term Action Plan on Ecosystem Restoration of the UN CBD. Relevance and Companion Resources. Webinar.

SER. 2020.

Secretariat of the Convention On Biological Diversity. 2016.

Ecosystem Restoration: Short-Term Action Plan. CBD/COP/DEC/XIII/5. .

About the Challenge.

The Bonn Challenge.

Becoming #GenerationRestoration: Ecosystem Restoration for People, Nature and Climate. Nairobi.

Maurer, B. 2009.

Ecological Complexity. ncyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science. Meyers, R. A. (Ed.).

Welcome

Course structure

L1 objectives

Glossary

Ecosystem properties

Ecosystem restoration

Restorative continuum

Ecosystem types

Ecosystem service types

Restoration approaches

principles of restoration

Globalframeworks

STAPER

Resources

L1 COMPLETE

REFERENCES

Landscapes

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