The critical importance of land and water restoration

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Ecological restoration is vital for sustaining healthy habitats supporting human and wildlife populations in the United States. With limited intact natural ecosystems remaining, restoration plays a crucial role in reversing environmental degradation by halting harmful activities and implementing proactive management strategies. Beyond benefiting wildlife, restoring degraded lands and waters provides essential services to human communities, including clean water filtration, carbon sequestration, soil erosion prevention, and building resilience to catastrophic weather events. Restoration efforts help mitigate drought, curb the spread of invasive species, and enhance wildfire resilience and flood control. In addition, land and water restoration fosters economic opportunities for local communities through sustainable land management and thriving working landscapes.