The ongoing global mass extinction of biotic life threatens the institutional foundations of many developed nations, which have historically depended on exploiting natural resources. As we enter the global Age of Ecosystem Restoration, a transformative governance paradigm emerges that could guide societies through the current biodiversity crisis. This institutional shift requires states to fundamentally reimagine their relationship with nature. In this groundbreaking book, Dr Nick Kirsop-Taylor presents a compelling framework for state transformation grounded in socio-ecological practice and contemporary theories of governance and institutions. This book argues that nature-depleted regions must evolve into 'Nature Restoration States' – entities where place-based ecological restoration becomes the central organising principle of mission-driven governance. This represents a radical departure from extractive models towards regenerative institutional frameworks designed to navigate our ecological future. This book is essential reading for scholars and researchers covering environmental conservation and protection, environmental policy, and socio-ecological practices.
