Assessing how restoration can facilitate 30×30 goals for climate-resilient coastal ecosystems in the United States.

Abstract

Ecosystems globally have reached critical tipping points because of climate change, urbanization, unsustainable resource consumption, and pollution. In response, international agreements have set targets for conserving 30% of global ecosystems and restoring 30% of degraded lands and waters by 2030 (30×30). In 2021, the United States set a target to jointly conserve and restore 30% of US lands and waters by 2030, with a specific goal to restore coastal ecosystems, namely wetlands, seagrasses, coral and oyster reefs, and mangrove and kelp forests, to increase resilience to climate change. Although US efforts to conserve and restore coastal ecosystems have increased in recent decades, critical knowledge gaps about the effectiveness of past and current efforts remain. To address key knowledge gaps, we first collated information on current and historic extent and drivers of change for wetlands, seagrasses, coral and oyster reefs, and mangrove and kelp forests in the United States. We then synthesized guiding principles from the literature for restoration practitioners to evaluate ecosystem trade-offs, sustain and enhance ecosystem connectivity, bolster climate resilience, and promote social equity. Significant investment in standardized ecosystem mapping and monitoring and multispecies, landscape-scale restoration efforts can improve resilience of coastal ecosystems to climate change and help the United States achieve its 30×30 target.