The power of ecosystem restoration
What is an Ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a living network made up of plants, animals, microorganisms, soil, water, air – and people. These biotic and abiotic elements are deeply interconnected, working together through food webs, nutrient cycles, and energy flows to sustain life on Earth. There are seven main types of ecosystems. Each plays a vital role in maintaining planetary balance and supporting human well-being.
Marine (Ocean)
Desert
Forest
Freshwater
Grassland
Tundra
Wetland
The chance that you end up on a planet with a highly oxygenated atmosphere, a freshwater system, fertile soils and plenty of biodiversity is incredibly small. We truly live in paradise.
John D. Lui – Founder, ERC Movement
Ecosystems are Life
Healthy, diverse ecosystems are the reason humanity exists. We emerged because nature was abundant, species-rich, and supported by a relatively stable climate with minimal pollution. We can still witness this richness today — in vibrant coral reefs, dense and resonant rainforests, vast migratory herds across savannahs, and meadows alive with insects and wildflowers.
Yet over time, many of these thriving systems have been simplified and degraded. By replacing natural diversity with vast monocultures like soy, grain, rice, and cattle, we have created ecological deserts. What once seemed efficient has revealed a deeper truth: human survival is inseparable from healthy, diverse ecosystems.
We now understand that Earth’s life-support systems are approaching critical thresholds, potentially within decades. If we are to secure a future for humanity, we must act swiftly to restore diversity to our planetary ecosystem. This means regenerating degraded lands – some damaged over thousands of years – and replacing them with thriving natural landscapes and diverse, regenerative agricultural systems worldwide. If we repair our planet, we can not only survive as a species – but we can also flourish.
1 million
of the world's estimated 8 million species of plants & animals are threatened with extinction
40%
of the global human population (3.2 billion people) is affected by ecosystem degradation
75%
of all arable land is already degraded or has collapsed
Inspiration from Restoration in Action
The story of the Loess Plateau in China is a powerful example of what is possible. Beginning in the late 1970s, one of the most severely eroded regions on Earth was transformed into a productive, resilient landscape through large-scale ecosystem restoration.
Documented by our founder, John D. Liu, this success inspired the evolution of the Ecosystem Restoration Communities movement.
Today, similar transformations are taking place across our global network – proving that degraded land can be healed, communities revitalised, and nature brought back to life.
Ecosystem Restoration has a Positive and Direct Impact on All our Lives
Healthy ecosystems underpin everything humanity needs to thrive. Yet nearly three-quarters of the world’s land is now degraded, and more than 3 billion people are affected by soil erosion caused by land mismanagement and unsustainable agricultural practices.
The restoration work at our communities delivers powerful, tangible benefits. It draws carbon down from the atmosphere and cools the Earth’s surface, helping stabilise the climate. It restores biodiversity, revitalises water systems, improves soil fertility, and reduces erosion, floods, and droughts. Entire food webs are re-established, increasing resilience in the face of climate extremes.
Just as importantly, restoring ecosystems reduces poverty by reviving sustainable, regenerative livelihoods in degraded regions – creating long-term natural and economic prosperity for all.
The Power of Community
At Ecosystem Restoration Communities, we believe that every individual has the power to create change. Through local, community-led restoration projects, degraded lands are transformed into thriving ecosystems that support biodiversity, climate stability, and human well-being.
Our approach is uniquely effective because it is rooted in people and place. Restoration projects inspire neighbouring farms and communities, accelerating regeneration across entire landscapes. By nurturing local leadership and enabling knowledge exchange, we are building a global movement where nature and communities flourish together – now and for generations to come.
Learn more about our approach to restoring the planet through community.
Restoring Ecosystems is a Truly Global Effort
In June 2021, the United Nations launched the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, recognising the urgent need to reverse land degradation. Failure to act threatens biodiversity, food and water security, livelihoods, and our ability to sequester carbon - one of the most effective tools we have to mitigate climate change and stabilise atmospheric CO₂ levels.
The message is clear: restoration is no longer optional. It is essential.
ERC is driving the global movement for ecological restoration by empowering everyday people to actively participate in the revitalisation of Earth's ecosystems.
