The economic opportunity of rewilding

4.4 Case study: Oyster restoration

The European native oyster (Ostrea edulis) is a bivalve mollusc that is found in shallow, subtidal coastal and estuarine areas. It is a keystone species in marine ecosystems, forming an important component of local food webs.

Watch this 2-minute video about the work of Oyster Heaven, to learn how restoring oysters and oyster reefs can purify water, reduce coastal erosion, take up nitrogen, create jobs and generate sustainable financing to scale up marine rewilding across Europe and beyond.

While credits can be used to help make payments for ecosystem services, they are often used to compensate or offset environmental harm elsewhere. Rewilders should therefore approach credits with caution to ensure that credits are really helping nature to recover overall.