Incorporating socioeconomic-ecological system to promote sustainable restoration: A case study in Changting, China

Abstract

The ultimate goal of ecosystem restoration is to ensure that Earth can support human life, in addition to protecting our planet's environmental health for its own sake. Unlike traditional ecological restoration efforts that focus only on ecological goals, China's Changting County adopted an integrated strategy oriented toward enhancing resident well-being, which combines socioeconomic development with ecological restoration to facilitate a transition to a green and sustainable society. To verify the feasibility of this approach, we conducted long-term monitoring in the county. By comparing a new approach with traditional ecological restoration, we found that changes in ecological restoration, resident livelihoods, and socioeconomic aspects were much better in the new project areas. Our results document that successful ecosystem restoration must be based on an inclusive approach that combines the needs of nature with those of people. By searching for a suitable industry (here, plantations and green industries) that can generate higher economic returns while protecting the environment, it's possible to achieve green industrial development while providing the residents of project areas with a high-quality socioeconomic and ecological environment. This also creates a virtuous cycle in which humans help nature while nature helps humans, leading to harmony between humans and nature.