Ecological restoration of ecosystems

The Eagle Reef Project was launched to restore the health of Mobile Bay in response to habitat loss and declining fish populations due to the degradation of oyster and seagrass beds [REF 1, REF 6]. Originally planned in 2022 as an Eagle Scout service project by John Shell of Boy Scout Troop 147, the project has grown into a regional environmental initiative supported by Partners for Environmental Progress (PEP), the University of South Alabama’s Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, and municipalities such as the City of Fairhope [REF 3, REF 4, REF 7].
The project deploys preassembled mini reefs—constructed from plastic and PVC—beneath docks and piers across Mobile and Baldwin counties. These reefs, once colonised by filter feeders like oysters and barnacles, can filter up to 20,000 gallons of water daily and serve as habitats for fish, shrimp, and crabs [REF 1, REF 4]. The initiative aims to improve water quality, sequester nutrients, reduce algae, and restore marine biodiversity [REF 1, REF 6].
The Eagle Reef Project addresses critical coastal hazards, including water pollution, fish habitat loss, and the legacy of environmental disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill [REF 4]. It combines scientific monitoring, civic engagement, and scalable design to enhance the region’s climate resilience and ecological health [REF 1, REF 6, REF 7].

The Lower Perdido Islands – Bird, Robinson and Walker Islands – are located in the Perdido Pass, in Orange Beach. The area is a popular destination, attracting many visitors due to its blue-green water and diverse wildlife, which, however, leads to erosion from boat wakes and marine debris. Its popularity impacts these wildlife habitats, including the seagrasses, marsh and forests which provide habitat for nesting birds and nurseries for local fish. Therefore, the Nature Conservancy, the City of Orange Beach, Moffatt & Nichol, and Olsen Associates Inc. started working together in 2017 to create a conservation management plan for the Perdido Islands, as well as develop some restoration initiatives to support this critical habitat for the future [1,3]. This Lower Perdido Islands' restoration project is part of a larger Perdido Bay Watershed restoration plan [2]

Located southeast of Bayou La Batre, Coffee Island is a barrier island that provides a buffering capacity for shorelines in Mobile County [5]. Since 1950, the shoreline on the island has been eroding. In response, the Nature Conservancy has put in a ‘’living shoreline’’ construction in 2010 to reduce wave energy and decrease erosion the island has been facing [1]. A ‘’living shoreline’’, ‘’refers to the use of nature-based techniques and materials such as oyster shells, reef blocks, bagged shells, live shellfish, and plants to help protect eroding shorelines’’ [2]. While the living shorelines constructed in 2010 still provide habitat benefits, these efforts no longer protect the shoreline from erosion. This in turn threatens not only the island's buffering capacity, but also the integrity of the marsh on the island [5]. Therefore, the Nature Conservancy has secured funding for a second project on the island, the Coffee Island Restoration project (in 2023) that aims to implement a (longer) 5,000-foot living shoreline breakwater, including the use of ‘’super sacks’’ – a specific kind of sediment barriers functioning as dikes – to protect the coastline while enhancing habitat [4, 6]

The Ecological & Citizen Restoration Project in Carbet, led by ASSOMER, supports the city in sustainably developing its coastline. This coastal area serves multiple purposes—recreational, economic, and subsistence—making it essential to include the voices of its key user communities: fishermen, restaurateurs, residents, and tourists.
However, both these uses and critical spawning habitats are increasingly threatened by coastal erosion, which is worsened by urbanization. Beyond reducing nesting areas, urban expansion also creates light pollution, which disrupts nesting females and hatchlings that rely on moonlight reflections to navigate.
This project was selected during the inaugural Biodiversity Lottery, a French government initiative inspired by the Heritage Lotto (established in 2018). The funds will be dedicated to protecting Carbet’s turtle population. Key efforts include reforesting the beach to combat erosion and creating new nesting spaces for turtles.
By restoring vegetation in a way that addresses multiple environmental challenges, this initiative aims to raise public awareness and ensure long-term coastal preservation. (1,2)

In 2012, PRZHT (Pôles Relais Zones Humides Tropicales) initiated Project REMA, an effort dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of ponds in the Antilles, with backing from the IUCN. Wetland ecosystems in Martinique and the Caribbean had long been overlooked. However, interest in these habitats grew after PRZHT introduced an interactive virtual tour of Antilles ponds in 2019. Project REMA emerged in response to local concerns about the lack of technical resources for pond restoration in the French West Indies. While similar initiatives had been undertaken in France, there was no specific guide tailored to this region. Though originally conceived in 2012, the project remained dormant for several years before fully launching in 2019. Between 2019 and 2021, restoration experiments were conducted on 12 ponds across Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint-Martin, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive technical manual.
Building on this success, REMA II was introduced in January 2024 with a three-year scope. This new phase will focus on restoring and maintaining 80 ponds, both public and private, in Martinique and Guadeloupe. Additionally, it will address the management of invasive species and incorporate eDNA analysis to enhance conservation efforts. These small wetlands play a fundamental role in flood regulation, water storage, pollutant filtration, erosion control, and carbon absorption. They also provide refuges for biodiversity and contribute to the resilience of territories in the face of climate change.
(1, 2, 3)

Over the past century, vast portions of the world’s oldest forests have been lost to clear-cutting and managed forestry (1). Arboretum Detroit is working to counter this trend by reforesting Detroit’s urban landscape, transforming abandoned city blocks into thriving groves of trees (1). Each parcel of land features trees that showcase the unique contours and characteristics of specific species, creating a diverse urban forest mosaic across the city (1). These "forest patches" are protected, designed to mature safely for generations, offering a space of tranquility and natural beauty for all Detroiters (1).
Arboretum Detroit’s main goal is to cultivate environmental consciousness, inspiring the community to consider our interconnectedness with nature and our impact on it (1). Through their reforestation mission, they demonstrate the ecological, cultural, aesthetic, and economic value of trees, both locally and globally (1). Trees alter our environment by using their leaves to filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles. Deciduous shade trees cool homes in the summer and allow the winter sun to heat homes when they lose their leaves. Trees can serve as a windbreak. The more compact the foliage on the group of trees the more effective the windbreak. Their pilot project, launched on Earth Day 2019, brought these values to life. Volunteers and members planted 21 trees across the site, including species like Princeton Sentry Ginkgo, Redpoint Red Maple, Paper Birch, Cedar, Yew, and understory trees like Kousa Dogwood and Forest Pansy Redbud, enhancing the habitat for local pollinators and birds (2). The trees were arranged in trios, interspersed with native seeds, soil, compost, and glacial boulders to create a healthy and engaging environment for all (2).

The Mediterranean climate in Lisbon, already characterised by low precipitation, has been further exacerbated by climate change. The city faces challenges related to biodiversity loss, urban loneliness, and climate anxiety (1). To address these issues, Lisbon's urban development plans have prioritised the re-naturalisation of urban spaces and the integration of ecological networks. Urban nature is now a central component of the city's Master Plan (2012) and other strategic agendas (1).
It is being developed by the LISGREEN project, which aims to enhance ecological connectivity and mitigate the effects of urban heat islands in Lisbon. By establishing nature-based solutions, it aims to restore forests within the city (1, 2, 3). This project encompasses different strategies, such as the RENATURA pilot project. It is a collaboration with the NGO URBEM and involves active public participation in tree planting and forest maintenance. This initiative aims to educate the community about nature, promote well-being, and mitigate extreme climate events (1), through the creation of urban forests.
The main strategy is to create fast forests using the Miyawaki method, which involves dense planting of native trees, removal of invasive plants, and intensive initial care. This approach accelerates the growth of natural forests within a short period, using native species and reducing the need for watering (1)
The first fast forest was developed in Parque Casal Vistoso within Bela Vista Park, within the Eastern Green Corridor of Lisbon. The park is being underutilised because of the lack of shade (1). Thus, this initiative encouraged volunteers to participate in tree planting and forest maintenance activities (3). The NbS intervention began with a 300m² experimental plot near the Vale da Montanha pedestrian bridge and has since expanded to a new 1,500m² plot on the opposite side of the bridge (2). Over 500 volunteers joined the effort, planting more than 3,800 trees (1)

Public spaces in Colombo are disappearing due to rising land prices, causing infrastructure issues that harm citizens' health, especially in low-income areas (3). One proposed solution to address the problems caused by rapid urbanization is the creation of community gardens, which can at least improve low-income residents' diets and immune systems and address malnutrition (3).
Considering the limited urban space for both citizens and other living beings, the organization Eco-friendly Volunteers decided to create a community garden. The Metta Garden in Colombo (1, 2) aims to bring back urban biodiversity through organic home gardening, generating healthy food for people and creating living space for many other animals and plants (2). Following the Buddhist concept of Metta (loving-kindness to all beings), it promotes walking meditation paths and facilities to experience nature using all five sensory organs (1), in addition to being a place for experiencing loving-kindness for both human and non-human living beings, seen and unseen (4, 5).
It has become a training institute for many stakeholders seeking to grow organic food and earn a better income through the high demand for organic products (2). At the same time, it serves as a biodiversity spot, attracting butterflies, bees, and other forms of wildlife to an urban environment (2).
The area is located in the middle of a semi-urbanized area, on the outskirts of Boralesgamuwa (2, 3). Maintained by a group of volunteers, it features a greenhouse and a plot of land of around 5,000 sq feet, populated with vegetable patches, a butterfly garden, flowers and rare medicinal plants (3, 4). The garden was divided into four sections representing the Buddhist elements: water, heat, air, and solid. Each section features specific plants and designs, like a pond for water, a compost pit for heat, tall plants for air, and a rock garden for solid. The layout follows a mandala design based on permaculture principles (4).

Sri Lanka, particularly its low-lying coastal areas, faces recurring flooding challenges exacerbated by climate change, coastal erosion, and urbanization (1). Wetlands have emerged as crucial ecosystems in mitigating these risks, acting as natural sponges during heavy rainfall and releasing water gradually as flood levels subside (1). Beyond flood control, wetlands play a vital role in environmental quality. Their biodiversity helps filter pollutants and chemicals from the air and water, creating a healthier environment for both humans and wildlife (1). In 2018, Colombo was designated as a Global Wetland City under the Ramsar Convention, becoming the first and only capital city to receive this recognition (1). Recognizing the significance of wetlands as nature-based solutions, international institutions have prioritized their conservation through financing programs (1), and the city has developed projects to raise awareness and involve its citizens in their protection (1). These efforts have resulted in the creation of four wetland parks in the city, that comparing to a wetland, the wetland parks have more human intervention. Thus, they are focused on different topics and activities (2): Diyasaru Park, Beddagana Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), Kotte Rampart Wetland Park (managed by the Urban Development Authority), and the Gothatuwa Wetland Park (managed by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation) (2). Gothatuwa Park is the newest wetland park and it is located in the flood-prone Gothatuwa neighbourhood (1). Inaugurated in 2024, It has a recreational focus, with trails for cyclists and hikers, and together with the other wetland complex, this park is designed to make the wetlands a cornerstone of local people's lives (1). Currently, environmental education activities are carried out in the park, focusing on managing aquatic invasive plants, tree planting and solid waste collection (3).

The Thalangama wetlands are part of a network of wetland ecosystems around Colombo city that spread over 20 km2 and provide critical life support to the city. These ecosystems keep people safe from floods, cool the air, filter polluted water, provide food and medicines, and fight climate change (10). These wetlands have become an environmental protection area and a biodiversity hotspot in a rapidly urbanising environment, as they host an array of plants and animals, including the endangered fishing cat and otter (5, 10). In 2007, Thalangama Lake and its surroundings were declared an Environmental Protection Area (EPA) under the National Environmental Act (4, 5). This protected area covers approximately 118 hectares (4) and includes two man-made reservoirs: Thalangama Tank (11 ha) and Averihena Tank (3.2 ha), located just 300 meters apart (5). The area hosts floating and rooted plants, scrublands, and trees that provide habitat to up to 100 species of migratory, resident, and endemic birds throughout the year. In addition, the area supports 30 species of dragonflies, 12 species of reptiles, 10 species of mammals, and 15 species of freshwater fish (1, 4). Since the lakes and their surroundings were declared an EPA, only limited uses are permitted, such as traditional fishing and rice cultivation (4, 5). The lakes are also important for floodwater retention and have high scenic and aesthetic value, attracting many visitors, and scientific and educational activities (5, 13).
However, due to the area's rapid urbanisation, land values have increased significantly, leading to excessive landfilling and the reclamation of paddy lands for housing. This is compounded by the indiscriminate disposal of garbage and construction waste and the spread of invasive species (5). These challenges have also led to the engagement of surrounding communities in managing and maintaining it (11).