Integral Ecological Restoration: Restoring the Link between Human Culture and Nature

The planet’s carrying capacity is close to its limit to support humanity development (Rockström et al. 2009). Deforestation, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, water contamination, air pollution, climate change, and ocean acidification (MEA 2005) happen together with increasingly high levels of poverty, inequalities, migration, prejudice, and violence worldwide. International commitments for environmental protection and poverty alleviation, as well as many national and international policies and economic instruments, have not achieved the desired outcomes to protect human beings and our natural heritage.

Scientific evidences corroborate that our linear development system is not suitable with the Earth’s natural cycles. Other societies failed in the past because they were unable to manage their environments properly (Diamond 2005) and our over-populated globalized civilization must learn from their errors to avoid a collapse on a larger scale. The rupture of the link between human culture and nature is the main cause of environmental and social degradation. Indeed, most human beings cannot identify their tangible (material and potentially destructive) and intangible (non-material and sublime) relation with nature. To build or rebuild this link we need more than technology and specialized knowledge. In this context ‘Integral Ecological Restoration’ represents the paramount solution worldwide.

Restoration Ecology has progressed significantly and there are several techniques available at different costs, which allow the science (restoration ecology) to be put into practice (ecological restoration) and scale up across different ecosystems. These advances are being published primarily in three international specialized scientific journals (Ecological Restoration, Ecological Management & Restoration, and Restoration Ecology) as well as others. However, science and technology are insufficient (Higgs 2005) because effective restoration depends on people having real engagement, empowerment, and development. As written by Jordan III (2003, page 16), “the future of a natural ecosystem depends not on protection from humans but on its relationship with the people who inhabit it or share the landscape with it”. Restoration primarily for ecological purposes can be an expensive and palliative solution where degradation of conserved ecosystems is still taking place for unsustainable resources exploitation or subsistence (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Rapid and unsustainable deforestation in the Amazon forest threatens both biodiversity and human connections with nature.Photo Credit: Danielle Celentano.

Integral Ecological Restoration is a social process that aims to integrate human well-being, environmental health, and spirituality, the non tangible relation between humans and nature. Its origin is in accordance with the Deep Ecology (Naess 1973) and Integral Ecology (Esbjörn-Hargens and Zimmerman 2009), disciplines that consider multiple perspectives and fully integrate humans with nature. Nature provides much more than ecosystem “services” as it is the essence of life. Integral Ecological Restoration’s goal is to restore or install the link between human culture and nature. For that, it requires the union of scientists from all the different backgrounds, local communities, religious groups, politicians, journalists, bankers, business, and each person that lives on Earth. The human population is very large and the demand for natural resources is increasing at unprecedented rates (MEA 2005). The extraction of natural resources and dedicates production systems do not optimize ecosystem support capacity but aim to maximize profits in accord with the practice of capitalism. Restoring the link between human culture and nature starts through the demystification of technology and questioning the paradigms of development and consumerism (Shiva 2013), but must continue through expansion of human awareness.

Integral Ecological Restoration starts at the individual scale in the mental environment. Once individual perception rises, inspiration and motivation transform this individual into a multiplier restorationist starting a chain, in his/her particular life, family, work, projects, or public decisions. This chain can lead Integral Ecological Restoration to the social scale and reflects as positive feedbacks on culture, behavior, and choices. Integral Ecological Restoration can scale up and promote (directly and indirectly) social and environmental revolutions worldwide, as real assistance for poor, banishment of exploitation, and promotion of peace and joy. To promote Integral Ecological Restoration in a world facing wars, famine, exodus, and primary forests cut may sound utopian. However, its...