3  Ecosystems and State of Nature

Section Overview

Duration Slides Materials Key Points
45 min Section 1 Videos of Ecosystems Ecosystems are vital for humans and other living beings and need to be protected and restored.

3.1 Explanation of Key Terms

The workshop begins by clarifying the most important concepts: Restoration Businesses and Ecosystems.

Definition
Restoration Business
A Restoration Business incorporates ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation into the way it operates.
Definition
Ecosystem
A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. It includes not only the organisms but also the physical environment they inhabit, forming a complex web of relationships and dependencies.

The core idea of the Restoration Explorer and other projects like the Restoration Factory is that private sector initiatives need to be part of the solution to protect and restore ecosystems. Your cohorts will contribute to this goal significantly, so make sure to share the enthusiasm for their work with them.

3.1.1 Eight Core Ecosystems

The explorer tool is centered on eight different ecosystems:

  • Forests

  • Freshwaters

  • Mountains

  • Grasslands

  • Marine Coastal

  • Urban

  • Peatlands

  • Farmlands

You can read more about each ecosystem, including different examples of their use in the support material the ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PLAYBOOK.

In the following slides, present each ecosystem, its importance, and also reasons for and consequences of their degradation. The notes in the PowerPoint should provide you with some examples for all of the above.

It is important to highlight that businesses can contribute to restoring degraded ecosystems instead of contributing to their destruction.

3.2 Exercise: Ecosystem Matching

Group Exercise

To get the participants thinking about ecosystems, there are a seven videos of different ecosystems. Select and play some of them and invite your participants to think about their answers for a moment before discussing them in the group.

An alternative icebreaker is to let participants discuss in small groups how many ecosystems are involved in producing their favorite food. People are very surprised just how depended we are on ecosystems.

3.3 States of Degradation

To know how to restore an ecosystem, it is not only important to identify it, but also to determine its state. An ecosystem can be in four types of states.

Definition
Natural Ecosystem State
The original and undisturbed condition of an ecosystem, free from significant human influence or alteration. The natural state of an ecosystem represents its pristine or unmodified state, characterized by the balance of species, ecological processes, and environmental conditions that existed before human intervention.
Degraded Ecosystem
An ecosystem that has been adversely affected by various factors, such as human activities, pollution, or climate change, resulting in a decline in its health, diversity, and functionality.
Transformed Ecosystem
An ecosystem that has undergone significant changes, often as a result of human intervention or external factors, leading to a different composition and structure compared to its original state.

The fourth state is a combination of a degraded and transformed ecosystem.

These concepts can be confusing at first, but they are important to the functioning of the Explorer Tool and the success of the restoration businesses, so make sure that you understand them well and take enough time to explain them to your participants.

Tip

You can find additional information about the states of nature in the Report of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services on the work of its sixth session.

3.4 Restoration and Rehabilitation

Depending on the state of an ecosystem, it might not yet be possible to restore it fully to its natural state. It is important to highlight that rehabilitation measures, which improve the ecosystem, are just as valuable. Any progress away from degradation and towards restoration is something to strive towards, and celebrate once achieved!

Definition
Increase Natural Ecosystem Area
Increasing natural ecosystem area refers to the expansion or enhancement of the size and coverage of existing ecosystems or the creation of new ones. This may involve initiatives such as reforestation, afforestation, habitat restoration, or the establishment of protected areas to conserve biodiversity and enhance ecosystem services. The goal is to promote ecological balance, support wildlife habitats, and mitigate the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation.
Increase Ecosystem Integrity
Increasing ecosystem integrity involves measures to enhance the health, resilience, and functionality of ecosystems, ensuring they can sustainably provide essential services and support biodiversity. This may include efforts to reduce pollution, prevent habitat degradation, control invasive species, promote natural regeneration processes, and restore ecological balance. Enhancing ecosystem integrity contributes to the long-term sustainability of ecosystems and the well-being of both humans and wildlife.
Additional Resource