Today, environmental damage is occurring on a global scale. Many biomes are being damaged on a large scale by various factors. Global warming is pointed out as the main cause among many causes. Localized environmental destruction factors are also
included.
Massive environmental damage can cause negative feedback pathways in the ecosystem. For example, massive damage of rainforests can disrupt the C cycle in tropical areas. The increase in atmospheric CO2 due to combustion of fossil fuels and massive deforestation in tropical areas is a major cause of global warming today. The atmospheric CO2 concentration has risen from 290 ppm in 1860 to over 400 ppm today. Average temperatures also rose during the same period. Future predictions about the effects of global warming are appalling. These include more frequent and stronger typhoons, tornadoes, excessive heat waves, droughts, heavy rains, and other problems. Climate change alters the weather patterns, natural processes such as frequency and intensity of forest fires, pest and disease outbreaks frequency. In consequence, climate change increases disturbance and the results into species shifting and change in home range with altered habitat conditions. This intense disturbance would cause even more disturbance in the ecosystem, worsening the C balance and furthermore exacerbating climate change. It would cause negative feedback effects in so-called climate change. In this respect, measures are required to curb climate change through restoration of damaged ecosystems.
Natural areas with the integrate ecosystem can function as eco-friendly areas for the reproduction of flora and fauna under altered environment. However, in nature the ecological integrity tends to resists the environmental change as well as has buffering effect over the impact of climate change. They offer suitable habitat for long time duration for indigenous species and show better adaptability towards the newer environment.
Therefore, restoring the degraded nature as well as conserving the existing nature can contribute whether for mitigation or adaptation to climate change. Efforts aimed at restoring the natural habitat which leads to development of socio-economic resilience along with improvement in the adaptability at the community level.
Restoration activity removes species with invasive nature and effectively provides natural corridors for species migration. In this way maintenance of diverse gene pool can be achieved for long time duration. This therefore helps to develop resiliency against changing climate and other biotic stresses and increases the tolerance level of the organisms. This therefore develops resiliency of the ecosystem and the natural landscapes.
Ecological restoration, particularly in terms of reforestation and restoration of degraded land, is often recognized as one of the important responses to climate change because such activities help to influence the planet’s C budget in a positive way.