Sustainable Solutions for Reducing and Restoring Negative Impacts on Nature

Human development and wellbeing depend on well-functioning ecosystems, a dependency that has become increasingly apparent with the rapid destruction and degradation of ecosystems and their delivery of services across the globe. A massive engagement is now in motion to improve this situation. For instance, the UN’s decade of ecosystem restoration, aiming to restore nature and provide sustainable solutions that benefit both nature and society. A key challenge in this process is a combination of the lack of empirical support for the benefits from actions planned or implemented, together with difficulties in communicating results to the relevant audiences, including scientists, developers, landowners, authority managers and the wider public. Challenges exist in transferring knowledge and engaging the relevant stakeholders necessary to incorporate an effective change and become part of the solution. Thus, how do we translate results and knowledge into action towards reducing and reversing damage to nature, ecosystem processes, biodiversity and ecosystem services in connection with new interventions? Furthermore, how and how much does the mitigation hierarchy contribute to sustainable solutions, avoiding damage to and restoring nature? Can constructing buildings, roads, wind power plants, dams, harbors, mines/quarries and more become new structures integrated into a landscape without compromising the ecological integrity, interactions, resilience and resistance of the site itself and its surroundings? How can “blue-green” solutions in, for example, urban areas contribute to ecological and population connectivity, increased biodiversity and reducing island biogeography of urban landscapes for species or habitats? Do the same mechanisms apply to rural landscapes? What results do we have and how can we show and communicate that when avoidance, mitigation, restoration and compensation are implemented, there are positive outcomes for nature and people? What decisions, actions and measures should be implemented where, how, when, for whom and why to ensure long lasting, positive results for both nature, local communities and more? The transfer of knowledge and results from various environments and settings, as well as projects with different timelines, can expand and secure the applicability of sustainable solutions. This in turn will reduce and restore negative impacts on nature and improve ecosystems and our own wellbeing.

Focus: How to avoid, mitigate, restore and compensate ecological functions, processes and values when conducting new projects, building infrastructure, renewable energy, mining, blue-green/nature-based solutions and more, in both rural and urban areas. Restoring long-term ecosystem integrity, connectivity, resistance and resilience for both nature and humans.

Scope: Research community, education, management authorities, governments, builders, mining companies and other commercial interests, landscape architects, NGOs, non-profit organizations, scientific studies and practical solutions.

Purpose: Quantify, communicate and promote best practice and innovative solutions towards avoiding ecological degradation and incorporating ecological restoration and nature-based solutions in connection with development and increased human activities in natural and urban environments.

Dr. Jonathan Edward Colman
Dr. Astrid Brekke Skrindo
Dr. Therese Fosholt Moe
Guest Editors

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• mitigation hierarchy
• ecological restoration
• ecosystem function
• ecosystem services
• connectivity
• blue-green solutions
• nature-based solutions