SALUS Global Knowledge Exchange’s Post

We are thrilled to share this exciting news! Our Executive Director, George D. Gann, CERP, was a contributing author on the recently published Explore before you restore: Incorporating complex systems thinking in ecosystem restoration. 🌿 Ecosystem restoration offers hope for a thriving planet and people. It promises to reverse damage, restore habitats, and revive biodiversity through efforts like reforestation, wildflower meadow enhancement, wetland restoration, and coral reef restoration. But why do some restoration projects succeed while others falter? Embracing Complex Systems Science (CSS) concepts like regime shifts and ecological resilience could offer valuable insights. This published framework highlights how CSS influences restoration outcomes by impacting degradation and recovery paths. Read it at the link below! https://lnkd.in/gybhYqZw

⭐New Guidelines Launched! 📘Guidelines for the Restoration, Creation & Management of Salt Marshes and Tidal Flats 📅Last week, Wetlands International hosted a successful webinar for the global launch of the Guidelines for the Restoration, Creation & Management of Salt Marshes and Tidal Flats. 🌱The guidelines are scientifically rigorous and practically applicable, supporting practitioners and decision-makers to effectively plan, design, implement and evaluate restoration projects, using best practices. They have a particular focus on supporting the restoration and creation of habitats critical for migratory waterbirds. 🤝These guidelines are a collaborative effort between Wetlands International and the Conservation Evidence Group at Cambridge University, incorporating insights from an international panel of experts. 🌍 We encourage everyone to consult these guidelines in their future projects to ensure the sustainability and resilience of coastal ecosystems. 👉View and download the guidelines here: https://lnkd.in/gHUVj5vZ #NatureBasedSolutions #saltmarshes #tidalflats #biodiversity #climateaction

#invasivespecies #INNS are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity globally. So is #climatechange. But restoring islands by removal/ #eradication of INNS increases climate resilience. It's a no brainer really! . . . #naturebasedsolutions #rewilding #restoration #nature #conservation

Working with nature could include things like wildlife ponds and perch poles that attract birds to come and poop out a wonderful combination of seeds and nutrients. In monoculture tree plantations, birds seed in the next layer of diversity. If the monoculture is managed as a nurse crop, a more diverse forest can grow underneath. But if the monoculture is managed as a crop, killing the diverse understory to facilitate crop growth, less biodiversity. Learn how to work with nature!

Restoring islands from the threats of invasive mammals can protect and restore carbon stocks of native woody vegetation that exist nowhere else in the world. A new study just published in Environmental Research Letters authored with the support of my colleagues at FLINTpro, terraPulse, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, University of Maryland, and ASU Center for Biodiversity Outcomes leverages AI, modeling, and carbon accounting to evaluate changes in forests over the last 40 years on nearly 1,000 islands, for the first time ever, using #NASA Earth Observations. We use these to report on the positive effects of island restoration on climate and develop a scalable framework to inform policy-making. Thanks to Predator Free 2050 Limited, Salesforce Nature Accelerator, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Biological Diversity and Ecological Conservation, Clare.nz, and many others for making this possible. #remotesensing #islandrestoration #climatesolutions

🌿 Exciting news from the global scientific community! The recent Nature publication, "Global change drivers of forest degradation," highlights the critical challenges facing our forests worldwide. 🌍 Prof. Robin Chazdon from the Forest Research Institute (FRI) contributed to this impactful study, which examines the drivers of forest degradation and the urgent need for conservation strategies. As a Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher, Prof. Chazdon’s expertise in forest ecology and restoration is invaluable to understanding and addressing these global challenges. Read the full paper here to learn more about how we can better protect our forests: https://lnkd.in/gEynZSBp #ForestResearch #Sustainability #FRI #ClimateChange #Conservation #UniSC

Ecological restoration and rewilding: two approaches with complementary goals?

Brooke Williams, James Watson, Jonathan Rhodes, and past CBCSers Hawthorne Beyer, Renato Crouzeilles and Anazélia Tedesco have published a paper in the journal Nature in collaboration with Conservation International titled “Global potential for natural regeneration in deforested tropical regions”. Their new research shows that natural forest regeneration in tropical regions – without costly interventions – can restore over 215 million hectares of forest, an area larger than Mexico. The world has committed to ambitious forest restoration targets, such as Target 2 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In some locations, these can only be achieved through cost-effective forest restoration techniques. The dataset that they have released, which shows the potential for natural forest regeneration (between a value of 0–1) across tropical Earth at a 30m resolution, informs on where the natural forest regeneration can be leveraged to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. Read the paper here:

Here are some of the charming puffins that inhabit the island of Craigleith in the Firth of Forth that are the focal point of my ongoing research efforts. I'm spearheading a project with the #ScottishSeabirdCentre, generously funded by #NatureScot's Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) - our main objective is to enhance the habitat on Craigleith through the implementation of effective strategies aimed at controlling the spread of nettles. By doing so, we aim to create a more hospitable environment for these unique seabirds, ensuring their long-term sustainability and preservation. Through meticulous observation and data collection, we will be able to pinpoint the areas most affected by nettles and tailor our intervention strategies accordingly. This collaborative effort not only benefits the puffin population but also contributes to the overall biodiversity and ecological balance of the island. The success of this project will serve as a testament to the positive impact that targeted conservation efforts can have on coastal ecosystems.

The Maurepas Swamp restoration project, which redirects the Mississippi River to rejuvenate wetlands, represents a critical turning point in how we approach our environment. Rather than focusing solely on protection, it highlights the importance of regeneration—reviving ecosystems to allow nature’s inherent wisdom to guide us. At ReEarth AI, our mission aligns with this philosophy: enabling regenerative processes that not only sustain but enhance biodiversity. This is not just a fight for survival—it’s a commitment to flourishing. By leveraging mindful technologies and embracing natural cycles, we can go beyond safeguarding nature to restoring its vitality. Let’s champion projects like this and rethink how we connect with the living world. Regeneration isn’t just a strategy; it’s a path toward coexistence. 🌎 https://lnkd.in/dNqMyxYh #Regeneration #ReEarthAI #SustainableFuture #NatureHealing #WetlandRestoration #AIForNature #EcosystemRenewal #ClimateSolutions