Nature-based Solutions to Restoration of Contaminated Soils and Enhance Biodiversity and Human Health

Abstract

The soil environment and its biodiversity are the basis of human health, but currently, soil degradation on a large scale is causing soil pollution and threatening human development. In this context, the use of conventional soil remediation techniques will lead to waste of resources and secondary contamination of soil, in contrast to nature-based solutions that use natural processes to restore the original contaminated soil resources and improve sustainability, which is an appropriate and sustainable approach to address the problems associated with soil contamination. In this paper, we compiled the nature-based remediation measures for contaminated soils and proposed ecologically oriented measures based on plants, soil microorganisms, biochar and soil animals, and engineering-oriented measures based on artificial wetlands, non-intensive agricultural management and green natural nanomaterials, and focused on their mechanism of action and synergistic relationship, focusing on the effects of the two together on the soil remediation process and results. The focus is on the added benefits of nature-based solutions in the process and outcome of soil restoration to enhance biodiversity and human health.