Sustainable and holistic approaches to restoring aquatic ecosystems: An overview

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are essential to the biosphere. Increasing pollution, depletion of natural resources, the introduction of invasive species and climate change adversely affect aquatic ecosystems. Restoration of river and marine ecosystems includes managing catchments, enhancing in-stream conditions, preserving aquatic habitats, replenishing depleted species populations, and cleaning up pollution. Developing a restoration plan includes the restoration goals and objectives, conducting the on-site assessment, developing a restoration strategy, creating a detailed plan, implementing the restoration plan, and monitoring and adapting the program. Stakeholder engagement is crucial throughout the process. Restoration can be challenging due to various factors, including limited resources, conflicting objectives, unpredictable environmental conditions, and invasive species. Successful restoration efforts require careful planning, coordination, and flexibility to adapt to changing needs and achieve desired outcomes. The future of ecosystem restoration looks bright, with global initiatives aiming to restore millions of hectares of degraded land and marine ecosystems by 2030. Technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs support restoration efforts, and community stewardship will likely increase with restoration initiatives.