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An ecosystem perspective is interdisciplinary and holistic, recognizing the interconnections among ecosystem components. The ecosystem approach incorporates social, economic and environmental elements into its definition (Environment Canada 1995). In instances where ecosystem initiatives fail to generate the body of public and political support necessary to address complex issues, barriers can often be found in the ecosystem initiatives themselves. Systemic barriers to the restoration of aquatic ecosystems are generated by the reluctance of some initiatives to go beyond pure sciences and an inability to integrate social, economic and environmental interests. It is common practice to allow the issues at hand to define the scale of an ecosystem initiative. Experience has shown that the issues at hand can also define the appropriate level of engagement. This paper explores Level 3: Community-Based Ecosystem Initiatives and the qualities that enable Level 3 initiatives to avoid and overcome systemic barriers to the restoration of aquatic ecosystems.