Key Concepts for Defining Restorative Activities, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (July 2021)
Channel: CEM ERTG
Date: 2021-11-11

UCN CEM Ecosystem Restoration Thematic Group Webinar Series

Key Concepts for Defining "Restorative Activities" for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration  

Brock Blevins, Training Coordinator for NASA's Applied Remote Sensing Training Program (ARSET), Co-lead, IUCN CEM Ecosystem Restoration Thematic Group; 

Jim Hallett, Vice-Chair Society for Ecological Restoration; 

Cara Nelson, Professor University of Montana and Lead, IUCN CEM Ecosystem Restoration Thematic Group; 

Bethanie Walder, Executive Director, Society for Ecological Restoration

You can find the complete Series Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy4Yp_6qh0uEz_oq53_UhEDLHUZNPljRU

Abstract
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is a powerful initiative for positively addressing the co-crises of biodiversity and climate and for improving human wellbeing, health and livelihoods. But there is confusion about what qualifies as a restorative management activity and about the distinctions between forest and landscape restoration, ecosystem restoration, ecological restoration, and more. In order to develop a shared vision of ecosystem restoration for the Decade, 58 international experts on restoration and nature-based solutions met in April 2021for the Third Global Forum on Ecological Restoration. The Global Forums on restoration are organized biennially by CEM and SER to advance the science and practice of restoration. The UN Decade Best Practices Task Force was also a partner in the Third Global Forum. During the Forum, participants contributed to the identification of core principles for all types of restoration and restorative activities; the initial development of a framework for prioritizing the most impactful restorative activities; and draft preliminary standards of practice for restorative activities. Participants also drafted a preliminary definition of net gain across the continuum of possible restoration activities. In combination, these advances contribute to the development of a shared understanding of the concept of ecosystem restoration and the potential for investments in restoration to achieve measurable ecological and social improvements in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and the human communities that depend on them. This session of the IUCN CEM Ecosystem Restoration Thematic Group Webinar series will recap the SER Global Forum, present findings, and allow for comments and questions. The principles for ecosystem restoration and draft definition of net gain are currently undergoing a global consultation.