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Ecorestoration for Environmental Sustainability-An Introductory Framework

Arnab Banerjee1*, Manoj Kumar Jhariya2, Surendra Singh Bargali3 and Debnath Palit4

1Department of Environmental Science, Sant Gahira Guru Vishwavidyalaya, Sarguja, Ambikapur (C.G.), India

2Department of Farm Forestry, Sant Gahira Guru Vishwavidyalaya, Sarguja, Ambikapur (C.G.), India

3Department of Botany, Kumayun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India

4Durgapur Government College, J.N. Avenue, Durgapur, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Managing forests is a key strategy for offsetting C (carbon) footprints in the globe. Deforestation and other unsustainable land use practices promote C emissions into the atmosphere. Anthropogenic environment of the entire global earth ecosystem is showing an abrupt change. Such changes are evident from various forms of natural calamities and hazards that is leading toward an unsustainable environment for the mankind to live in the upcoming times. Ecorestoration is an approach that integrates various principles from diverse disciplines and applies them on diverse habitat types of the earth surface. Ecorestoration has become a key element and issue to address diverse and major environmental issues, such as food security, biodiversity conservation, regulation of the economic growth, water quality, health and safety issues, climate change mitigation, and adaptation. Therefore, ecorestoration should work for societal upliftment leading to overall environmental sustainability. Ecological restoration too some extent leads to generation of employment opportunities. In this connection, one report briefs that ecological restoration process in United States has generated more than one lakh twenty five thousand jobs directly along with creation of 95,000 jobs indirectly. Proper policy and planning is required for successful implementation of the ecorestoration approaches. Further, strategies such as developing climate resiliency of the novel ecosystems and agroecosystem, developing green infrastructure and nature-oriented solution practices needs to be focused for overall environmental sustainability.

Keywords: Ecorestoration, sustainability, environmental degradation

1.1 Introduction

Land degradation is a major environmental issue on global basis. It is estimated that the total cost associated with land degradation process includes up to 17% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Thus, ecorestoration approaches have become the need of the hour in order to avoid such economic loss across the globe. The term ecological restoration simply implies the ecosystem recovery process from a degraded situation [1]. The process is very much important when self-regeneration ability of the ecosystem gets impaired. Therefore, the focus of ecological restoration includes restoration of ecosystem services, functions, and processes. Some of the land uses, such as agricultural land use, undergo intensive modification due to higher production of food. Therefore, extensive modification of the land surface usually takes place through altered land use practices. According to one estimate, globally, the land degradation consists of more than 900 million hectare of degraded croplands, and overall up to 6 billion hectare land has degraded due to variable reasons, which are more than half of land surface at the global level [2, 3]. Significant amount of economic loss is associated with altered land use along with various forms of land use change [4]. Ecological restoration is an important process that helps to improve the quality of degraded land to promote crop yields and various other forms of benefits in the form of ecosystem services [4, 5].

Globally, various ecosystems are undergoing several process of ecosystem degeneration due to practices of modernized agricultural systems. Considering the fact of maximizing the yield minimum attention is being given to environmental aspects. Altered land use in the form of conversion forest land for agricultural production and animal husbandry practices has taken place due to benefits in terms of more economic gain. Further, no proper attention has been given to the soil and land resources for their contribution toward agricultural production. No proper sustainable approaches are available toward proper land management and conservation of stock of capital resources that is required for agricultural production. Therefore, various nations across has taken initiatives at global level to frame policies and regulatory framework to reduce the hazards over land surface. Overall, the process of degradation of land is considered to have huge social and economic costs, which can be mitigated through various ecological restoration processes. Restoration of degenerated lands is a key element toward the various approaches to inhibit the spreading of agricultural land use in place of forested land use. Subsequently, it would also help to fulfill growing energy demands and address the issue of food crisis [6, 7].

Ecorestoration approaches would also bring benefits in terms of improving various forms of ecosystem services along with natural resource conservation [8]. Overall they will bring various forms of tangible and non-tangible benefits (Figure 1.1). It includes conservation of natural resources, biodiversity conservation along with sociocultural and economic benefits to the people [8-10]. According to one research report, ecological restoration of grasslands reflects benefit-cost ratio of 35:1 along with addition benefits [11]. Ecological restoration, to some extent, leads to generation of employment opportunities. In this connection, one report briefs that ecological restoration process in United States has generated more than one lakh twenty five thousand jobs directly along with creation of 95,000 jobs indirectly [12]. Such type of benefits has lead to the promotion of ecorestoration process up to a hundredfold increase [9]. Globally, in various conventions, treaties have been organized as well as UN-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasized the importance of ecorestoration for achieving sustainable development [13]. The target of LDN till 2030 can be achieved through massive ecorestoration processes [14]. As per the Paris agreement in 2015, UNFCCC has mentioned the importance of increasing forest cover and stock of soil carbon to combat changing climate. Various policy frameworks have been already implemented worldwide to promote the ecological restoration process [15]. Further promotion of ecorestoration process requires extensive activities, research and extension [15]. The present chapter would address the issue of ecological restoration on global basis along with recent approaches and advances across various ecosystem services.

Figure 1.1 Fundamental issues addressed through ecorestoration process.

1.2 Global Scenario of Ecosystem Types and Their Degradation

Under the changing environmental condition the various ecosystem and habitat types is undergoing severe changes and is under the forefront of rapid degeneration (Table 1.1).

Table 1.1 Global scenario of ecosystem degradation and necessity of ecorestoration approaches.

1.2.1 Agroecosystem

Agroecosystem is the essence of life as it is the main production unit that supports the human consumption as well as provides...