Can we truly reverse environmental collapse, or are we just building novel ecosystems?

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Ecological restoration aims to repair damaged landscapes, but it is far more than just planting trees. It is a complex, iterative process of balancing biodiversity, climate goals, and human needs. As ecosystems shift under climate change, the definition of success is evolving from restoring the past to managing for the future.

Ecological restoration is the deliberate process of assisting the recovery of ecosystems degraded by human activity, such as agriculture, mining, or pollution. Unlike conservation, which focuses on preventing further loss, restoration is a retroactive intervention. Practitioners use a spectrum of methods, ranging from passive approaches—like removing stressors or protecting land—to active measures such as hydrological engineering, soil amendment, and the reintroduction of native species. The ultimate goal is to reinstate the structure and function of an ecosystem so it can once again provide vital services, including carbon sequestration and water purification.

The field is currently grappling with the concept of the 'shifting baseline.' Traditionally, restorationists aimed to return sites to a pristine, historical state. However, because climate change and other human-driven factors continuously alter environmental conditions, this goal is increasingly viewed as impractical. Instead, modern strategies often focus on 'adaptive management'—a cyclical process of planning, monitoring, and adjusting actions based on real-time outcomes. This shift acknowledges that we may be creating 'novel ecosystems' that function well even if they do not perfectly mirror the past.

Success is not merely biological; it is deeply social and economic. Projects often fail when they ignore local land tenure security or exclude community knowledge. Furthermore, while restoration is a key strategy for climate mitigation, it faces significant funding hurdles. Private investors are often deterred by low short-term returns and unfamiliar risk profiles, leading to a reliance on public and multilateral capital. As global initiatives like the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration gain momentum, the challenge remains to align profit motives with ecological integrity while ensuring that restoration remains an equitable, community-led endeavor.

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