The launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021 – 2030) is likely to accelerate the number and scale of ecological restoration projects being implemented across the globe. However, there is a growing concern in the biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration community that not enough attention is being paid to which species are being planted and where. Ecological Restoration can provide a huge opportunity for biodiversity conservation; however, projects which focus on exotic species provide limited benefit to biodiversity and can actually cause harm if planted in the wrong places.

The webinar “Ecological Restoration- Increasing Demand for Native Species” took place on 27th of July at 14:00 BST, and explored different methods to increase the demand for native species in ecological restoration projects. Speakers included:

• Jennifer Possley, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, USA
• Dr Ethan Freid, Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve, The Bahamas
• Dr Santiago Madriñán, Fundación Jardín Botánico de Cartagena “Guillermo Piñeres”, Colombia

Missed it? Watch it here

Why not follow the discussion on the BGCI Forum? Ask questions to our presenters and the rest of the community here.