Biodiversity crises a comparative analysis of biodiversity and ecosystem services by ecological restoration. A Review

The practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human intervention and action. However, the effectiveness of restoration actions in increasing provision of both biodiversity and ecosystem services have not been evaluated systematically. A meta-analysis of 20 restoration assessments in a wide range of ecosystem types across the globe indicates that ecological restoration increased provision of biodiversity and ecosystem services by 44 and 25%, respectively. However, values of both remained lower in restored versus intact reference ecosystems. Increases in biodiversity and ecosystem service measures after restoration were positively correlated. Results indicate that restoration actions focused on enhancing biodiversity should support increased provision of ecosystem services, particularly in tropical terrestrial biomes. Studies indicate that we have entered into a phase of mass extinctions 4,5, and have altered roughly half of the habitable surface of the earth, impairing and destroying several ecosystems.