Comprehensive Analysis of Ecological Restoration Technologies in Typical Ecologically Vulnerable Regions around the World

Shuang Wang, Lin Zhen, Qi Luo, Yun-Jie Wei and Yu Xiao
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Shuang Wang: Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Lin Zhen: Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Qi Luo: China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Natural Resources, Beijing 100083, China
Yun-Jie Wei: School of Economics, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100049, China
Yu Xiao: Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-17

Abstract: Ecosystem degradation is a key issue facing the world. Rapid economic development has been achieved at the cost of degradation and environmental pollution, which has affected human well-being, particularly in fragile ecosystems. To achieve the United Nations sustainable development goals, it is essential to develop technologies to control degradation and restore ecosystems. However, a comprehensive assessment of the different types of degradation, of the methods used in different regions, and of the differences between regions has not been carried out. In this study, we examined databases of international organizations, interviewed experts to evaluate existing methods based on five dimensions, identified restoration technologies (hereinafter referred to as RTs) suitable for different types of degradation, and summarized the restoration effectiveness in different regions. We found 101 RTs around the world and found that the same technology can be applied in different regions. The RTs were dominated by engineering and biological RTs, accounting for 19.2–26.7% and 33.4–34.7% of the total, respectively. 45, 30, and 26 RTs were suitable for controlling soil erosion, sandy desertification, and degraded ecosystem, respectively. The average evaluation index of RTs for controlling these degradation problems are 0.81, 0.78, and 0.73, respectively meaning RTs used to fight soil erosion are more effective. The potential to transfer a technology to other regions and the readiness of the technologies were low for degraded ecosystems, and the ease of use was high for sandy desertification RTs. Although a given technology could be applied to different regions or degradation types, results varied. Our study will help ecosystem managers to deal with specific degradation issues, phases, and severities, and will support the transfer of RTs among regions.

Keywords: ecologically vulnerable region; restoration technology; technical evaluation; effect analysis; ecological restoration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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