Meet the planet’s most effective engineers (no planning permission required)

From the tiniest worms to charismatic beavers, the ability of nature’s engineers to modify landscapes, regulate water flows, and enhance biodiversity provides invaluable lessons for humans as we grapple with climate change and habitat destruction

In Idaho, NASA satellite data has revealed that beaver-engineered wetlands act like natural water banks, increasing water retention even during severe droughts. By slowing down water flow and creating ponds, these industrious creatures help landscapes stay green when everything else is parched.

If you think Room to Improve has the ultimate dream team of architects, wait until you hear about nature’s engineers... some of them have been at it for thousands of years, and they don’t even need Dermot Bannon’s vision (or budget).

From dam-building beavers to hardworking worms, the natural world is full of creatures that shape their environment in ways that benefit not just themselves, but entire ecosystems. Across the planet, species big and small act as architects of the wild, altering landscapes in ways that protect coastlines, enrich soil, and even change the chemistry of the land itself. But who are these ecosystem engineers? There are many, but here are a few that deserve our admiration.