Habitat Restoration
The process of returning a damaged or degraded ecosystem to a healthier, more natural state.
Definition
Habitat restoration involves actively repairing ecosystems that have been damaged by human activity, natural disasters, or invasive species. Common restoration activities include replanting native vegetation, removing invasive species, restoring natural water flow, and reintroducing native wildlife.
Successful habitat restoration can rebuild biodiversity, improve water quality, and increase an ecosystem's resilience to climate change, often within just a few years of sustained effort.
In Practice
Removing an old dam and allowing a river to return to its natural course is a form of habitat restoration that can restore fish migration routes and rebuild surrounding wetland ecosystems.