The process of ecologically restoring a site to a natural landscape and habitat that is safe for plants, wildlife, and humans is known as land restoration. It is essentially the process of restoring an industrial/service-based site to a natural landscape and bio-system that is safe for people, wildlife, and other plant communities. People are critical components of the environment. They coexist in delicate harmony with one another. Natural systems on the site might be affected when they are disrupted by human activity. This happens when buildings are demolished, roads are altered, or other forms of physical change occur. These changes impact the chemistry of the soil, water, air, and surrounding environment, altering the dynamics of local or regional ecosystems.
These changes may cause a wide range of environmental problems. Soil changes, for example, cause higher rates of soil erosion, compaction, and groundwater loss. Human activities such as land speculation, construction, strip mining, and industrial growth intensify these processes. The cumulative impact of these changes give rise to the term "land restoration," which refers to the return of biological diversity, ecosystems, and resources to their natural condition. Desertification is another issue with land degradation; it refers to the ongoing deterioration of dryland ecosystems caused by climate changes and human activity.
Deserts form when grasslands and croplands become unfit for plant and animal life. Desertification is most often caused by agricultural operations and the influence they have on the land as well as the environment. Land restoration is necessary when there is a sudden or rapid decline in the local or regional ecosystems. Land restoration initiatives may be extremely beneficial in situations including rivers and lakes, over-exploitation, water scarcity, and drought. In certain situations, where agriculture was the backbone of the economy in many parts of the nation, land restoration is critical to reviving the economy.
In places like Botswana's Okavango Delta, the Okavango River is being restored after years of neglect and fragmentation. The Okavango Delta has changed dramatically throughout the ages because to changing landmasses and desertification, and the forces of nature and geology continue to have an impact on its survival now. The Okavango Delta provides water to a million people and is one of Africa's most biodiverse areas. It is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, and it is home to more than 130 species of animals, 480 species of birds, 1,000 kinds of plants, and countless reptiles and fish.
Restoration initiatives are carried out to mitigate the environmental impact of human activity on the land. Typically, environmental devastation is caused by deforestation, pollution, salination, or other inevitable environmental calamities, for which land restoration works as a cure. Desertification is a major problem for environmental conservation and enhancement, as well as economic development and social stability. Desertification may cause serious water shortages and soil deterioration if it occurs quickly or in large numbers. As a result, drought may occur, making food and water resources even more critical. Land restoration is an excellent option in such circumstances.
This process is usually used for damage caused by natural disasters.
Land restoration helps to enhance the ecosystem services, repair a damaged land, and create a safe habitat for humans, plants, and wildlife.
The advantages of this process includes improving the tree cover, reducing long-term maintenance costs, and protecting and restoring natural area & native biodiversity.
Increasing demand for repairing the eco-system by preventing and controlling pollution is one of the major factors driving the market growth:
Increasing demand to monitor and manage land use in urban areas is the major factor expected to boost global land restoration market growth.
For instance, according to the Pakistan Environment Protection Act of 1997, regulatory framework for climate change related mandates from responsible agencies such as the Ministry of Environment.
