Nature's Echo

We know that when Earth's ecosystems fall out of harmony, the damage can spiral out of control. But what if we could help nature to regain its balance?As a leading ecologist, Professor Thomas Crowther studies not just how species work individually but how whole complex ecosystems work to regulate themselves. When we set the right conditions for nature to thrive, each species helps to support the life of every other species. This means not just planting trees, but taking into account the fascinating role of fungi and soil bacteria, as well as the free movement of wild animals. By revealing how the feedback loops that generate sustainable ecosystems give rise to the stars, planets, and life; economic inequality and privilege; and the way we see the world, Restore shows how we can do our part so that nature can begin the vital process of healing itself.

Thomas Crowther is a professor in the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH Zurich, where he leads the Crowther Lab. He is chair of the advisory council for the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and founder of Restor, an online platform for the global restoration movement developed in partnership with Google. In 2021, the World Economic Forum named him a Young Global Leader.