Ecological restoration brings benefits

31 July 2009

Study shows the economic and environmental benefits of ecological restoration.

Research co-authored by BU Professor Adrian Newton and published in the leading journal Science this week shows that ecological restoration in areas of environmental degradation can help reverse global biodiversity losses, as well as promoting recovery of ecosystem services.

However, the paper also shows that measures of biodiversity and ecosystem services are higher in pristine land, freshwater and marine systems than in restored systems. Examples of ecosystem services include improved water quality and increased carbon storage, services which benefit human well-being.

The research was carried out by an international team from the University of Alcalá in Spain, the UK’s Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and BU. The publication marks the third time in less than six months that BU expertise has featured in Science providing an excellent indicator of the University’s engagement in world-leading research.

Professor Newton, an environmental conservation expert from BU’s Centre for Conservation Ecology and Environmental Change said: "These results highlight the importance of ecological restoration approaches for addressing the environmental degradation that has occurred in many parts of the world. The research suggests that restoration can offer a 'win-win' solution, by increasing the provision of environmental benefits to people, while at the same time increasing biodiversity."

Lead author, Professor José M. Rey Benayas from the University of Alcalá and President of the International Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration said: "In addition to the improved biodiversity resulting from ecological restoration, our findings show that such restoration also has benefits for ecosystem services. These services can act as an engine of economy and a source of green employment, so our results give policymakers an extra incentive to restore degraded ecosystems.”

The research team analysed results from 89 restoration assessments carried out in a wide range of ecosystem types across the globe. On average, ecological restoration increased provision of biodiversity and ecosystem services by 44% and 25% respectively. Increases in biodiversity and ecosystem service measures following restoration were positively correlated. However, values of both remained lower in restored than in intact (undamaged) reference ecosystems.

The research was partly supported by the ReForLan project, an international initiative involving researchers from six countries, funded by the EC and co-ordinated by Professor Newton. The project focuses on the ecological restoration of native forest in dryland areas of South America to examine whether such restoration might be cost-effective, when the value of different ecosystem services is taken into account. The potential impacts of ecological restoration on biodiversity are also being explored.