A Planet in Repair: Reflections from Global Ecological Restoration Conference

By Phoebe Higgins and Elizabeth Vaccaro

Last month’s Society for Ecological Restoration global conference, held in Denver, Colorado, convened restoration practitioners, policymakers, scientists, and corporate leaders to collectively strategize how we heal the planet's degraded ecosystems. From the keynote presentations to panels, to small group discussions and in-depth presentations, several themes emerged that illuminate both the promise and the obstacles of this huge task. In no particular order, we wanted to share our reflections and takeaways:

Humans Are Inseparable from Nature & What That Teaches Us

Perhaps the most fundamental theme that resonated for us throughout the conference was the recognition that humans and nature are not separate. During one of the morning plenaries, James Rattling Leaf, Principal of Wolakota Lab and Tribal Advisor of the University of Colorado Boulder, declared,  “Humans are inseparable from nature." This perspective challenges a common view of conservation. Rather than “protecting” nature from people by locking it away, we must embrace a vision of coexistence where human communities and ecosystems are interconnected, intertwined living systems. 

Many speakers touched on the necessity of Tribal leadership and connectivity in active resource management as well. Restoring Indigenous sovereignty and cultural practices as not only an integral piece of sustainable conservation, but a crucial enabling condition for it. Published on September 30th– the first day of the conference– Kāwika Riley, Britnee Nguyen, Miriam Jorgensen, and Monte Mills’ policy paper, “Experts, not Obstacles: Indigenous Conservation Excellence and the Trap of Conservation at any Cost,” highlights this approach.  The majority of globally documented cases of Indigenous-led conservation, they write, “outperformed” other efforts across forestry management, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity outcomes. Environmental conservation, when applied through the lens of Indigenous stewardship, is an “invaluable tool” because of the multifaceted moral, political, and cultural dimensions, not in spite of them.

Global Momentum is a Win... and a Challenge

Global restoration efforts are not happening in isolation. Conference participants repeatedly referenced the ambitious global frameworks now supporting restoration work: the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), among others.

This constellation of international commitments is building momentum. The UN Decade on Restoration aims to prevent, halt, and reverse ecosystem degradation worldwide. SBTi is helping companies set nature-positive targets alongside their climate commitments. TNFD is pushing financial markets to account for nature-related risks and dependencies. Taken together, these frameworks are driving the push to align international conservation efforts, and to track progress across geographies and ecosystem types, rather than in isolation. 

The challenge now is translating these high-level commitments into on-the-ground action. We must capture the momentum created and the resources made available by these major players, either directly, by creating and solidifying pathways to funnel newfound attention and funding, or indirectly, by inspiring new parties to step up to the plate.

The Importance of Telling Restoration Stories

While restoration science has advanced tremendously, communicating successes to policymakers, funders, and the general public remains a challenge. More people need to see and understand that restoration actually works. 

Success stories need to be documented and shared widely– not just in scientific journals– through compelling narratives that capture how restoration transforms both landscapes and communities. These stories serve multiple purposes: (1) They build public support for restoration funding, (2) they provide templates for others to follow, and (3) they clarify that protection of landscapes is not the only pathway toward ecological health, but one of many.

The Restoration Funding Gap & How Corporations are Helping Fill It

One major challenge that emerged was the need to mobilize more funding. Dramatically. Current investment levels fall far short of what's needed to meet global restoration targets. Panelist Lourdes Robaina from reinsurance company, SCOR, cited UNEP’s “State of Finance for Nature” report, which estimates that $700 billion is needed to sustainably manage biodiversity and halt ecosystem destruction. Conference participants discussed various strategies to close this gap: blended finance models that combine public and private capital, payment for ecosystem services schemes, environmental credits, and innovative insurance products for addressing risk. There's also growing recognition that public funding mechanisms need updating to better support restoration work, including multi-year grants that more accurately match the long timeframes of ecological recovery.

A notable shift in the restoration funding landscape is the growing involvement of corporations, and the conference showcased several companies transforming pledges into programs. Heidelberg Materials, Mars Petcare, and Microsoft, among others, all shared various restoration investments and partnerships. 

These corporate commitments matter for two reasons: (1) They bring significant financial resources to restoration work, and (2) they signal that restoration is not a charitable side project, but an investment essential to business resilience and supply chain security. Corporations responsible for major ecological impacts are increasingly recognizing the need for public approval as being as critical to some business operations as shareholder value and revenue generation. In today’s digital marketing age, transparency and corporate responsibility are the new “licenses to operate”. Whether motivated by environmental regulation compliance, brand reputation, or altruism, it doesn’t really matter; the outcome is a better one. Corporations can, and should, continue to step up as drivers to environmental progress. Patagonia founder, Yvon Chouinard, said, “Earth is now our only shareholder. If we have any hope of a thriving planet- much less a business- it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resources we have.”

The Path Ahead 

The global frameworks are in place, corporate interest is growing, and scientific understanding continues to deepen. However, significant barriers remain. The path forward requires policy innovation that removes unnecessary obstacles, financial innovation that mobilizes capital at scale, and continued emphasis on the human dimensions of restoration work. The energy, creativity, and commitment visible at SER this year has stayed with us in the weeks after. The path ahead is complex and multi-sectoral, and the restoration community is ready to meet it.