Livelihood security policy can support ecosystem restoration

Earth faces an unprecedented ecological crisis: the destruction of its ecosystems. Despite increasing interest in restoration, including through the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (Decade), lack of financing and resources mean efforts to reverse degradation have advanced slowly. Restoration efforts require new approaches to ensure the needs of different stakeholders are met. However, analyses of policies and opportunities that help to finance restoration while improving socioecological outcomes, are lacking. This paper analyzes livelihood security funding and opportunities for ecosystem restoration, drawing on India's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the world's largest livelihood security program. The paper analyzes MGNREGA's performance between financial years 2013–2021, focusing on the financing of ecosystem restoration-related works, community mobilization and policy implementation in the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, the paper reflects on the benefits and shortcomings of MGNREGA and considers wider lessons for the Decade. MGNREGA generated significant funding flows and numbers of projects nationally, which can contribute to ecosystem restoration. Policy design enabled the continuation and increase of works even during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings demonstrate the potential of linking ecosystem restoration with development policies to unlock funds, on a national scale. To maximize contributions to ecosystem restoration nevertheless requires capacity building, inclusion of environmental indicators and integration of best ecosystem restoration practices.