Large areas of our planet have had their ecosystems fragmented, degraded or destroyed; we have rebuilt our own human ecosystem by reshaping the landscape and importing alien species (and diseases) through trades and travels. This affects the biodiversity that developed over millions of years, but also the ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being. Conserving and restoring natural spaces, both on land and in the ocean, will be essential for limiting carbon emissions and adapting to an already changing climate: creating protected areas, green and blue infrastructures, restoring habitats, ecosystems and species, rewilding and fostering nature-based solutions to address climate change impacts, can all contribute to reversing biodiversity loss.
Here, we focus on the challenges and success stories of nature conservation and restoration.