Ecological Benefits of Plant Restoration
While ecologists have always worked to conserve and protect nature‚ in more recent times‚ restoration ecology has focused on maintaining an ecosystem that had previously existed in a landscape that has been degraded‚ damaged‚ or destroyed by human impact and its consequent effects․ The restoration of native habitats and communities not only provides benefits to the local flora and fauna‚ but also the climate and biogeochemistry‚ and the functionality and sustainability of those ecosystems that provide important ecosystem goods and services upon which society depends․ It helps us to reconnect with our environment‚ and with our place within the natural world․
One of the main advantages of ecological restoration is that it brings native habitats back to their natural state‚ providing a home to native species that have co-evolved with native plants‚ insects‚ animals‚ and microorganisms in an ecosystem that helps to maintain biodiversity․ As a habitat is restored‚ the wildlife that depends on it relies on it again for food‚ shelter and breeding․ For instance‚ planting out native wildflowers in an area that had previously been cleared and was then taken over by intrusive species‚ would mean inviting back birds and butterflies to collect the nectar and use the plants for nesting․ Restoration is not just about reinstating beauty to degraded land‚ but also about making future ecosystems resilient to climate change and other stresses that encourage degradation․
Ecological Restoration Supports Pollinators
Ecological restoration is also often performed to support pollinators‚ which are sometimes overlooked in ecosystems․ Many plants‚ including crops planted for human food‚ rely on pollinators like bees and butterflies for reproduction․ Conservation and restoration of native plant communities is a direct benefit‚ as it provides habitat for pollinators and can supply a diversity of plants with flowers blooming throughout the growing season․ By adding spaces filled with blooming native plants‚ we also help ensure that pollinators have a place to thrive in addition to crops and gardens․ It is the buzzing of bees‚ the flutter of butterflies‚ the cycles of life being restored‚ the symbiosis being nurtured‚ when we decide to restore instead of conquer and displace․
Another benefit of ecological restoration is healthy soil‚ an aspect of the environment that is overlooked when talking about the benefits of ecological restoration․ Healthy soil is the foundation of the ecosystem and plants cannot grow without soil․ Restoration may include reintroducing native perennial plants with deep roots that can break up the soil‚ allowing more water to infiltrate deeper layers․ Other restoration approaches include cover cropping and regular addition of compost․ Better soil leads to better natural and artificial systems and lowers the use of chemical fertilizers with their environmental toxicity which enables production to be maintained․ It is proposed that native habitat restored by the project will result in healthy soil organisms and above-ground ecosystem health․
Biodiversity is a key element to ecological restoration‚ and while many urban areas have been shown to have relatively low biodiversity because they lack diverse natural systems‚ they are also areas of great potential for restoration efforts․ Not only does landscaping with native plants provide a city with aesthetic value‚ but also habitat for many species of animals․ For example‚ small parks‚ roofs‚ or community green spaces can provide habitat for birds‚ insects‚ and small mammals․ These corridors allow animal movement from the urban area to larger areas․ Increasing biodiversity and habitat variety in urban areas makes urban development more successful‚ makes an area's ecosystem more resilient‚ and even increases the appeal and quality of life of that urban area․
Ecological Restoration Helps Combat Climate Change
Ecological restoration can help combat climate change through photosynthesis․ Carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere and used in photosynthesis by plants‚ which decreases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere‚ making plants an important part of the solution․ When forests‚ wetlands and grasslands are restored‚ additional ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration can be gained․ For example‚ reforesting degraded land‚ such as land cleared for agriculture‚ may cause a cooling of the air temperatures and higher humidity‚ thus creating microclimates for wildlife and humans alike․ It can help to restore connections between healthy ecosystems and climate‚ as healthy ecosystems are more able to withstand extreme weather events such as floods and droughts‚ and can act as a natural barrier to such events․
All in all‚ ecological restoration has many advantages for all dimensions: restoring native habitats creates ecosystems which provide diverse habitats for all kinds of animal and plant species‚ support pollinating animals‚ and help create healthy organic soils․ Urban biodiversity has the potential to set the stage for climate regulation and with each restored land area‚ we create not only a healthier and more stable environment for all living beings but also a legacy proving that through hard work and determination we can heal our planet and its ecosystems for future generations․ It is our job to be involved in these restoration activities‚ because the health of our planet is interconnected to our own health․
