Ecosystem restoration is on the global agenda. The United Nations is dedicating a Decade to it, it’s at the heart of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and it’s the theme for World Wildlife Day 2022. But what does ecosystem restoration actually mean? Show Ecosystem restorationThe goal of restoration is to protect and recover the integrity of damaged, destroyed and intact ecosystems, including a rich array of freshwater, marine and land ecosystems, as well as urban areas. According to the IPBES Global Assessment, 75% of land worldwide has been significantly changed, 66% of ocean area is experiencing increasing negative impacts, and over 85% of global wetlands have been lost. Between 2010 and 2015, around 32 million hectares of primary or recovering forest were lost in megadiverse tropics. Faced with the unprecedented degradation of the natural world, ecosystem restoration is more important than ever. However, restoration efforts cannot be effective unless we protect keystone species within these ecosystems, especially those that are endangered. Endangered Keystone speciesKeystone species are species that are key in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystems they belong to [IUCN]. Without keystone species, ecosystems and all species living in them would experience drastic changes that could threaten their existence. Global ecosystem restoration efforts depend on urgent action to conserve endangered keystone species.
Among the many keystone species that are vulnerable or already endangered is the jaguar (Panthera onca). The jaguar is the largest feline of the Americas, and plays a key apex predator role in forests and grasslands by maintaining balance in the food chain and preserving a healthy ecosystem [Ifaw]. For example, jaguars prey on other mammals such as deer, peccaries and capybaras, and without them these species would overpopulate and cause devastating impacts on vegetation. This would lead to the loss of thousands more species.
But there is hope. Efforts by Rewilding Argentina, Yaguara Panama Foundation, and many more organizations are helping to find long-term, locally-led solutions to promote holistic co-existence of humans and jaguars, maintain jaguar populations and, as such, preserve the functioning of their ecosystems.
Coral has become one of the most mainstream examples of human activity’s damaging impact on biodiversity. The degradation of coral causes it to lose its fantastical colours, and some of the world’s wonder with it - but it also represents a huge threat to ocean ecosystems. Ivory tree coral (Oculina varicosa), native to the waters of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, is another keystone species at risk of extinction. Unlike key predators, which keep other species’ populations in check, ivory tree coral is essential to its ecosystem because it provides a critical source of food and shelter for thousands of invertebrate and fish species.
Bryophytes, more commonly known as mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, are crucial to the survival of peatlands, and in turn to the regulation of the climate. Bryophytes slow down microbial activities that produce important greenhouse gases [The Conversation] and form the bulk of peat which locks down carbon dioxide. Yet the IUCN Red List estimates that 22.5% of bryophyte species are threatened with extinction at the European level [IUCN]. Without these bryophytes, peatland ecosystems cannot function effectively.
Get Involved
Raising awareness about the importance of ecosystem restoration and endangered keystone species is a great way to get organizations and individual people involved in local restoration efforts.
Knowledge is power! Knowing which species need attention in your local community and how to help is essential in starting and/or supporting local restoration initiatives. If you need inspiration, check out local initiatives led by members of the Decade Restoration Implementers’ Hub (see below) or read the Ecosystem Restoration Playbook, an informative guide outlining various approaches to ecosystem restoration. The CBD Secretariat is working to launch an Online Course on Ecosystem Restoration in collaboration with UNDP and the Learning for Nature Platform. The course is based on the short-term action plan on ecosystem restoration. Stay tuned for the dates of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)!
The Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) globally connects young people who are passionate about biodiversity to inspire and raise awareness. GYBN represents the voice of youth globally in the negotiations under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). By joining GYBN, you can be part of the solution for nature and start a local chapter of GYBN. Do you already work in ecosystem restoration? Apply to join the Decade Restoration Implementers’ Hub to receive added support in your restoration efforts and be part of a global movement dedicated to restoring biodiversity. ----------------Related WebsitesWorld Wildlife Day 2022 References[THE CONVERSATION] How scientists are restoring boreal peatlands to help keep carbon in the ground, the Conversation, Bin Xu, The Conversation, 8 avril
2021 [IFAW] Saving the jaguar, an icon of biodiversity across the Americas, Kaila Ferrari, IFAW, 3 March
2020 [IUCN] European Red List of Threatened Species, IUCN, last visited on
12/02/2022 [IUCN] IUCN glossary and definitions of terms, last updated on 3 May
2021 [OCEANA] Ivory Bush Coral, Oceana, last visited on 12/02/2022 [UN DECADE] Oceans and coasts, UN Decade on Ecosystem
Restoration,last visited on 12/02/2022 [UNEP] Rewilding jaguars to restore nature in the Americas, Thais Narciso, UNEP, 12 Jan,
2022 What is a keystone predator and why is it so important?In a marine ecosystem, or any type of ecosystem, a keystone species is an organism that helps hold the system together. Without its keystone species, ecosystems would look very different. Some ecosystems might not be able to adapt to environmental changes if their keystone species disappeared.
Why are keystone species important for biodiversity?Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether. Keystone species have low functional redundancy. This means that if the species were to disappear from the ecosystem, no other species would be able to fill its ecological niche.
How does keystone predators maintain species diversity?In communities, a predator can increase the species diversity by consuming the dominant species (prey) in that community. In a specific ecosystem, a keystone species has a massive impact. Keystone predators' role is to minimize the other organisms' effects on that community.
Why are predators important in biodiversity?Predators are critical for healthy ecosystems, ensuring that a greater variety of species survive and thrive by keeping prey populations in check. While many predator species are threatened today, our wolf use case shows us that there is hope.
|