ReNo Restoration of damaged ecosystems in the Nordic countries

Abstract

The present book contains the result of the Nordic network ReNo – Restoration of Damaged Ecosystems in the Nordic Countries, which was launched in 2009 as a theme project of the Nordic Council of Ministers, appointed by the Icelandic Ministry for the Environment. All the Nordic countries and the associated territory of Faroe Islands participated in the network. Twelve Nordic institutions were directly involved in the ReNo network, representing the scientific community, public and private organisations and NGO’s working with ecological restoration. The primary tasks of the network were to assess and evaluate ecological restoration activities in the Nordic countries and consolidate information on ecological restoration in the region. The network held an international conference, Restoring the North, in 2011 on ecological restoration in northern regions. Over 30 publications were produced by the ReNo network or in conjunction with the network, including reports on the status of restoration in the Nordic countries, guidebooks on restoration, and selected contributions from the Restoring the North conference. Results from the network were also presented at workshops, seminars and short courses held by or in conjunction with the ReNo network, at the SER conference in Mexico 2011 and in various media. In addition, members of the ReNo network collaborated with the Ecological Restoration Task Force IUCN-WCPA on Best Practice Guidelines for Ecological Restoration in Protected Areas. The ReNo network has reviewed the extensive work on ecological restoration in the Nordic countries and recommends that this important activity should be more firmly anchored in Nordic environmental policy. The following subjects were identified as keys for enhancing ecological restoration in the Nordic countries: 10 ReNo - Secure a strong Nordic commitment to the Aichi targets of restoring 15% of damaged ecosystems by 2020 - Advocate a long-term ecological restoration policy, both on national and Nordic levels, and improve the legal framework for ecological restoration in the Nordic countries - Enhance Nordic cooperation on ecological restoration, within the Nordic region as well as in the EU and other international contexts - Make evaluation of ecological restoration projects mandatory, improve methods, and advocate the use of adaptive management practices for improving project implementation and management - Advocate development of guidelines for ecological restoration in the Nordic countries. Such guidelines are important for securing proper planning, implementation and follow-up of restoration projects - Invest in human resources, through education and other outreach activities related to ecological restoration, with a primary focus on actors in ecological restoration - Advocate public participation in ecological restoration and identify ways to increase public participation in restoration Ecological restoration has the potential to make a critical contribution for the benefit of the global environment, including fighting biodiversity loss; mitigating climate change; increasing resilience to environmental hazards; and improving general human living conditions. The ReNo network has consolidated knowledge on ecological restoration work in the Nordic region and facilitated exchange of this knowledge within and between the Nordic countries. It is the hope of the ReNo network group that this and other accomplishments of the network will benefit ecological restoration and environmental policy in the Nordic countries and strengthen Nordic influence on environmental policy in the EU and other international contexts