Note by Paula Meli and Martín Sirombra
Argentine Ecological Restoration Network (REA)
Ecological restoration has gained importance in recent years as a way to reverse the effects of biodiversity loss and the ecosystem services provided by natural ecosystems, while also helping to improve human health, well-being and, in to some extent, contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
To discuss current scientific advances on this, from August 27 to September 1, the 7th World Conference on Ecological Restoration was held in Foz de Iguazú, Brazil, the largest gathering of scientists, professionals, policy makers, and students working in this area. countryside. On this occasion, more than 1,200 people from 65 countries participated.
During the six days, plenary sessions, symposiums and presentations were held, where restoration action based on efficient science was primarily emphasized, providing useful information for the development of initiatives that seek an effective balance between the benefits for biodiversity and the human society.
Likewise, opportunities and possible solutions were discussed to efficiently address the objectives of global restoration initiatives, such as the Bonn Challenge, which proposes the restoration of 350 million hectares of areas by 2030, and the 20×20 Initiative, which proposes restoring in Latin America 20 million hectares.
These initiatives ultimately seek to contribute to a large extent to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a set of universal goals to respond to the urgent environmental, political and economic challenges facing our world.
The Conference was particularly timely for Argentina, as the Forestry Directorate is currently drawing up a National Restoration Plan. Thus, the approach to concepts and experiences related to the necessary reconciliation of the productive and conservation sectors, added to the need to incorporate all social actors in decision-making on restoration, were priority issues.
It is hoped that this translates into a favorable context for the development of restoration actions, as promoted by the Ecological Restoration Network of Argentina, which is made up of regional Nodes that integrate all the ecoregions of the country.