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Zhang H, Lee CKF, Law YK, Chan AHY, Zhang J, Gale SW, Hughes A, Ledger MJ, Wong MS, Tai APK, Hau BCH, Wu J. Integrating both restoration and regeneration potentials into real-world forest restoration planning: A case study of Hong Kong. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 369:122306. [PMID: 39216351 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Forest restoration is a vital nature-based solution for mitigating climate change and land degradation. To ensure restoration effectiveness, the costs and benefits of alternative restoration strategies (i.e., active restoration vs. natural regeneration) need to be evaluated. Existing studies generally focus on maximum restoration potential, neglecting the recovery potential achievable through natural regeneration processes, leading to incomplete understanding of the true benefits and doubts about the necessity of active restoration. In this study, we introduce a multi-stage framework incorporating both restoration and regeneration potential into prioritized planning for ecosystem restoration. We used the vegetated landscape of Hong Kong (covering 728 km2) as our study system due to its comprehensive fine-resolution data and unique history of vegetation recovery, making it an ideal candidate to demonstrate the importance of this concept and inspire further research. We analyzed vegetation recovery status (i.e., recovering, degrading, and stable) over the past decade based on the canopy height data derived from multi-temporal airborne LiDAR. We assessed natural regeneration potential and maximum restoration potential separately, producing spatially-explicit predictions. Our results show that 44.9% of Hong Kong's vegetated area has showed evidence of recovery, but remaining gains through natural regeneration are limited, constituting around 4% of what could be attained through active restoration. We further estimated restoration priority by maximizing the restoration gain. When prioritizing 5% of degraded areas, the increment in canopy height could be up to 10.9%. Collectively, our findings highlight the importance of integrating both restoration and regeneration potential into restoration planning. The proposed framework can aid policymakers and land managers in optimizing forest restoration options and promoting the protection and recovery of fragile ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Zhang
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Calvin K F Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying Ki Law
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Aland H Y Chan
- Department of Plant Sciences and Conservation Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- Flora Conservation Department, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Hong Kong, China
| | - Stephan W Gale
- Flora Conservation Department, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Hong Kong, China
| | - Alice Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China; Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Martha J Ledger
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Man Sing Wong
- Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Amos P K Tai
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Billy C H Hau
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jin Wu
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China; Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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2
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Fekete R, Valkó O, Fischer LK, Deák B, Klaus VH. Ecological restoration and biodiversity-friendly management of urban grasslands - A global review on the current state of knowledge. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 368:122220. [PMID: 39154386 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
In the face of the global biodiversity decline, ecological restoration measures to actively enhance urban biodiversity and options for biodiversity-friendly greenspace management are high on the agenda of many governments and city administrations. This review aims to summarize and advance the current knowledge on urban grassland restoration by synthesizing research findings on restoration approaches and biodiversity-friendly management measures globally. Indeed, we found restoration approaches to be generally effective in increasing biodiversity; yet, there were variations in the outcomes due to the difference in soil disturbance methods, management regimes, the set of species introduced to a site, and the specific local setting. Based on the reviewed studies, we formulated recommendations for maximizing restoration success of urban grasslands through: i) creating a network of heterogeneous urban greenspaces and enhancing connectivity between them; ii) maintaining the spontaneous vegetation in vacant lots and wasteland sites that can provide habitats for various invertebrate species; iii) evaluating actual soil conditions, soil seed bank, and seed rain before restoration efforts take place since these seed sources could considerably affect the restoration outcomes, iv) preserving nutrient-poor conditions in urban greenspaces instead of introducing nutrient-rich topsoil; v) shifting to less intensive, biodiversity-friendly management in urban greenspaces by reducing mowing frequency and avoiding the use of chemicals; and vi) utilizing native dry grassland species for climate adaptation without irrigation. We further identified knowledge gaps regarding i) city-scale and regional-scale effects of restoration, ii) effects of interventions on multiple taxa and multiple ecosystem services, iii) restoration in small versus mega-cities, and iv) in the global south. These gaps should be addressed in future studies for making general guidelines for urban grassland restoration broadly applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Fekete
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, H-2163, Vácrátót, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Hungary; University of Debrecen, Department of Botany, H-4032, Debrecen, Egyetem sq. 1, Hungary; HUN-REN-DE Conservation Biology Research Group, H-4032, Debrecen, Egyetem sq. 1, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Valkó
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, H-2163, Vácrátót, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Hungary.
| | - Leonie K Fischer
- Institute of Landscape Planning and Ecology, Universität Stuttgart, Keplerstr. 11, 70176, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Balázs Deák
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, H-2163, Vácrátót, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Hungary
| | - Valentin H Klaus
- ETH Zürich, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
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3
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Montaldi A, Iamonico D, Del Vico E, Valeri S, Lasinio GJ, Capotorti G. Green infrastructure design for the containment of biological invasions. Insights from a peri-urban case study in Rome, Italy. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 365:121555. [PMID: 38924891 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Secondary shrublands and transitional woodland/shrub formations are recognised to be particularly susceptible to plant invasions, one of the main global threats to biodiversity, especially in dynamic peri-urban landscapes. Urban fringes are in fact often the place for the sprawl of artificial surfaces, fragmentation of habitats, and complex land transitions (including both agriculture intensification and abandonment), which in turn increase propagule pressure of exotic species over residual semi-natural ecosystems. Within this framework, the present study was aimed at analysing i) how landscape composition and configuration affect the richness of woody exotic species in shrubland and transitional woodland/shrub patches, and ii) how this threat can be addressed by means of green infrastructure design in a peri-urban case study (Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy). Accordingly, the occurrence of exotic plants was recorded with field surveys and then integrated with landscape analyses, both at patch level and over a 250 m buffer area around each patch. Thus, the effect of landscape features on exotic plant richness was investigated with Generalised Linear Models, and the best model identified (pseudo R-square = 0.62) for inferring invasibility of shrublands throughout the study area. Finally, a Green Infrastructure (GI) to contain biological invasion was planned, based on inferred priority sites for intervention and respective, site-tailored, actions. The latter included not only the removal of invasive woody alien plants, but also reforestation and planting of native trees for containment of dispersal and subsequent establishment. Even though specifically developed for the study site, and consistent with local government needs, the proposed approach represents a pilot planning process that might be applied to other peri-urban regions for the combined containment of biological invasions and sustainable development of peripheral complex landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Montaldi
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Duilio Iamonico
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Eva Del Vico
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Valeri
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Jona Lasinio
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Statistical Sciences, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Capotorti
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Environmental Biology, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
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4
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Mutillod C, Buisson É, Mahy G, Jaunatre R, Bullock JM, Tatin L, Dutoit T. Ecological restoration and rewilding: two approaches with complementary goals? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:820-836. [PMID: 38346335 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
As we enter the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) and address the urgent need to protect and restore ecosystems and their ecological functions at large scales, rewilding has been brought into the limelight. Interest in this discipline is thus increasing, with a large number of conceptual scientific papers published in recent years. Increasing enthusiasm has led to discussions and debates in the scientific community about the differences between ecological restoration and rewilding. The main goal of this review is to compare and clarify the position of each field. Our results show that despite some differences (e.g. top-down versus bottom-up and functional versus taxonomic approaches) and notably with distinct goals - recovery of a defined historically determined target ecosystem versus recovery of natural processes with often no target endpoint - ecological restoration and rewilding have a common scope: the recovery of ecosystems following anthropogenic degradation. The goals of ecological restoration and rewilding have expanded with the progress of each field. However, it is unclear whether there is a paradigm shift with ecological restoration moving towards rewilding or vice versa. We underline the complementarity in time and in space of ecological restoration and rewilding. To conclude, we argue that reconciliation of these two fields of nature conservation to ensure complementarity could create a synergy to achieve their common scope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémentine Mutillod
- Avignon Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie IMBE, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, site Agroparc BP 61207, Avignon Cedex 09, 84911, France
| | - Élise Buisson
- Avignon Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie IMBE, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, site Agroparc BP 61207, Avignon Cedex 09, 84911, France
| | - Gregory Mahy
- Avignon Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie IMBE, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, site Agroparc BP 61207, Avignon Cedex 09, 84911, France
- Université de Liège, Biodiversité et Paysage, 27 Avenue Maréchal Juin, Gembloux, 5030, Belgique
| | - Renaud Jaunatre
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INRAE, UR LESSEM, St-Martin-d'Hères, F-38402, France
| | - James M Bullock
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, OX10 8BB, Wallingford, UK
| | - Laurent Tatin
- Avignon Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie IMBE, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, site Agroparc BP 61207, Avignon Cedex 09, 84911, France
| | - Thierry Dutoit
- Avignon Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie IMBE, Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, site Agroparc BP 61207, Avignon Cedex 09, 84911, France
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5
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Kharouba HM. Shifting the paradigm: The role of introduced plants in the resiliency of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17319. [PMID: 38804095 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Current ecological communities are in a constant state of flux from climate change and from species introductions. Recent discussion has focused on the positive roles introduced species can play in ecological communities and on the importance of conserving resilient ecosystems, but not how these two ideas intersect. There has been insufficient work to define the attributes needed to support ecosystem resilience to climate change in modern communities. Here, I argue that non-invasive, introduced plant species could play an important role in supporting the resilience of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change. Using examples from multiple taxonomic groups and ecosystems, I discuss how introduced plants can contribute to ecosystem resilience via their roles in plant and insect communities, as well as their associated ecosystem functions. I highlight the current and potential contributions of introduced plants and where there are critical knowledge gaps. Determining when and how introduced plants are contributing to the resilience of ecosystems to climate change will contribute to effective conservation strategies.
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Simões LHP, Guillemot J, Ronquim CC, Weidlich EWA, Muys B, Fuza MS, Lima RAF, Brancalion PHS. Green deserts, but not always: A global synthesis of native woody species regeneration under tropical tree monocultures. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17269. [PMID: 38563238 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Tree monocultures constitute an increasing fraction of the global tree cover and are the dominant tree-growing strategy of forest landscape restoration commitments. Their advantages to produce timber are well known, but their value for biodiversity is highly controversial and context dependent. Therefore, understanding whether, and in which conditions, they can harbor native species regeneration is crucial. Here, we conducted meta-analyses based on a global survey of the literature and on a database created with local, unpublished studies throughout Brazil to evaluate the regeneration potential of native species under tree monocultures and the way management influences this regeneration. Native woody species regeneration under tree monocultures harbors a substantial fraction of the diversity (on average 40% and 68% in the global and Brazilian surveys, respectively) and abundance (on average 25% and 60% in the global and Brazilian surveys, respectively) of regeneration observed in natural forests. Plantations with longer rotation lengths, composed of native tree species, and located adjacent to forest remnants harbor more species. Pine plantations harbor more native individuals than eucalypt plantations, and the abundance of regenerating trees is higher in sites with higher mean temperatures. Species-area curves revealed that the number of woody species under pine and eucalypt plantations in Brazil is 606 and 598 species, respectively, over an aggregated sampled area of ca. 12 ha. We highlight that the understory of tree monocultures can harbor a considerable diversity of regenerating native species at the landscape and regional scales, but this diversity strongly depends on management. Long-rotation length and favorable location are key factors for woody regeneration success under tropical tree monocultures. Therefore, tree monocultures can play a role in forest landscape restoration and conservation, but only if they are planned and managed for achieving this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura H P Simões
- Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Joannès Guillemot
- Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols, Montpellier, France
- Eco&Sols, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAe, Institut Agro, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Bart Muys
- Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matheus S Fuza
- Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renato A F Lima
- Department of Biological Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro H S Brancalion
- Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Re.green, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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7
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Bartholomew DC, Hayward R, Burslem DFRP, Bittencourt PRL, Chapman D, Bin Suis MAF, Nilus R, O'Brien MJ, Reynolds G, Rowland L, Banin LF, Dent D. Bornean tropical forests recovering from logging at risk of regeneration failure. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17209. [PMID: 38469989 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Active restoration through silvicultural treatments (enrichment planting, cutting climbers and liberation thinning) is considered an important intervention in logged forests. However, its ability to enhance regeneration is key for long-term recovery of logged forests, which remains poorly understood, particularly for the production and survival of seedlings in subsequent generations. To understand the long-term impacts of logging and restoration we tracked the diversity, survival and traits of seedlings that germinated immediately after a mast fruiting in North Borneo in unlogged and logged forests 30-35 years after logging. We monitored 5119 seedlings from germination for ~1.5 years across a mixed landscape of unlogged forests (ULs), naturally regenerating logged forests (NR) and actively restored logged forests via rehabilitative silvicultural treatments (AR), 15-27 years after restoration. We measured 14 leaf, root and biomass allocation traits on 399 seedlings from 15 species. Soon after fruiting, UL and AR forests had higher seedling densities than NR forest, but survival was the lowest in AR forests in the first 6 months. Community composition differed among forest types; AR and NR forests had lower species richness and lower evenness than UL forests by 5-6 months post-mast but did not differ between them. Differences in community composition altered community-weighted mean trait values across forest types, with higher root biomass allocation in NR relative to UL forest. Traits influenced mortality ~3 months post-mast, with more acquisitive traits and relative aboveground investment favoured in AR forests relative to UL forests. Our findings of reduced seedling survival and diversity suggest long time lags in post-logging recruitment, particularly for some taxa. Active restoration of logged forests recovers initial seedling production, but elevated mortality in AR forests lowers the efficacy of active restoration to enhance recruitment or diversity of seedling communities. This suggests current active restoration practices may fail to overcome barriers to regeneration in logged forests, which may drive long-term changes in future forest plant communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Bartholomew
- School of Geography, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Richmond, UK
| | - Robin Hayward
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | - Daniel Chapman
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | | | - Reuben Nilus
- Forest Research Centre Sepilok, Sandakan, Malaysia
| | - Michael J O'Brien
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Almería, Spain
| | - Glen Reynolds
- SE Asia Rainforest Research Partnership, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Lucy Rowland
- School of Geography, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Daisy Dent
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
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8
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Tedesco AM, López-Cubillos S, Chazdon R, Rhodes JR, Archibald CL, Pérez-Hämmerle KV, Brancalion PHS, Wilson KA, Oliveira M, Correa DF, Ota L, Morrison TH, Possingham HP, Mills M, Santos FC, Dean AJ. Beyond ecology: ecosystem restoration as a process for social-ecological transformation. Trends Ecol Evol 2023:S0169-5347(23)00036-8. [PMID: 36898928 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem restoration conventionally focuses on ecological targets. However, while ecological targets are crucial to mobilizing political, social, and financial capital, they do not encapsulate the need to: integrate social, economic, and ecological dimensions and systems approaches; reconcile global targets and local objectives; and measure the rate of progress toward multiple and synergistic goals. Restoration is better conceived as an inclusive social-ecological process that integrates diverse values, practices, knowledge, and restoration objectives across temporal and spatial scales and stakeholder groups. Taking a more process-based approach will ultimately enable greater social-ecological transformation, greater restoration effectiveness, and more long-lasting benefits to people and nature across time and place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anazélia M Tedesco
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Sofía López-Cubillos
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; International Institute for Sustainability Australia, Canberra, ACT, 2602, Australia
| | - Robin Chazdon
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Jonathan R Rhodes
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Carla L Archibald
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Melbourne, Burwood Campus, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Katharina-Victoria Pérez-Hämmerle
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Pedro H S Brancalion
- Department of Forest Sciences, 'Luiz de Queiroz' College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Kerrie A Wilson
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | | | - Diego F Correa
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Liz Ota
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Tiffany H Morrison
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Hugh P Possingham
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Morena Mills
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Angela J Dean
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
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Hartup J, Ockendon N, Pettorelli N. Active versus passive restoration: Forests in the southern Carpathian Mountains as a case study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 322:116003. [PMID: 36067667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Active and passive restoration are both increasingly considered as options for nature recovery, with potential to help address the current climate and biodiversity crises. So far, however, there is little practical information on how to gauge the benefits and limitations of each approach, in terms of their effects on large-scale ecosystem composition, structure, and functioning. To address this knowledge gap, this study used satellite remote sensing to investigate changes in land cover and primary productivity within the forests of the Făgăraș Mountains in southern Romania, where large-scale restoration and land abandonment have simultaneously taken place across the past two decades. To our knowledge, this study is the first to contrast the impacts of active and passive restoration within a single landscape on components of ecosystem structure and functioning at such temporal and spatial scales. Results show active restoration activities to be very effective at facilitating the recovery of cleared forests in small parts of the landscapes; but they also highlight substantial areas of natural forest expansion following agricultural abandonment, in line with regional trends. Altogether, our approach clearly illustrates how freely available satellite data can (1) provide vital spatially explicit insights about large-scale and long-term transformations in ecosystem composition, structure and functioning; and (2) help contrast the impacts of restoration approaches on vegetation distribution and dynamics, in ways that complement existing ground-based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Hartup
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY, London, UK; Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Nancy Ockendon
- Endangered Landscapes Programme, Cambridge Conservation Initiative, The David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - Nathalie Pettorelli
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY, London, UK.
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10
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Key Areas of Ecological Restoration in Inner Mongolia Based on Ecosystem Vulnerability and Ecosystem Service. REMOTE SENSING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14122729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Inner Mongolia is located in China’s arid and semi-arid regions, with sensitive and fragile ecosystems at risk of increased desertification, necessitating ecological restoration. However, economic resources for large-scale ecological restoration are often scarce, so it is vital to identify key areas for ecological restoration. Previous desertification research has focused mainly on the condition and changes in soil or vegetation. However, not all changes in soil or vegetation directly impact humans. New perspectives are increasingly needed to bridge the gap between biophysical and human well-being. We construct a framework to identify priority restoration areas based on ecosystem services and ecosystem vulnerability over a long time series. The results show that: (1) soil conservation services in northeast and southwest Inner Mongolia have degraded. Sand fixation services in central and eastern Inner Mongolia have shown a degradation trend. Habitat quality has been generally stable and sporadic in the past 20 years. (2) The areas with higher ecosystem vulnerability are concentrated in the northeast, mainly due to higher climate exposure and climate sensitivity but relatively lower climate resilience in the northeast. (3) Compared with the results of ecological restoration areas identified based on the trends of traditional vegetation indicators (fractional vegetation cover and net primary productivity), we found a greater proportion of land in northeastern Inner Mongolia in need of restoration. Additionally, there was identified a decreased restoration proportion in southwestern Inner Mongolia to ensure the self-restoration and regulation of desert ecosystems, which is conducive to realizing nature-based solutions.
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Romanelli JP, Meli P, Santos JPB, Jacob IN, Souza LR, Rodrigues AV, Trevisan DP, Huang C, Almeida DRA, Silva LGM, Lopes Assad MLRC, Cadotte MW, Rodrigues RR. Biodiversity responses to restoration across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153403. [PMID: 35101503 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is focussing attention and resources on restoration globally. Nowhere is this more crucial than in tropical forests that harbor immense biodiversity, but have also undergone widespread deforestation over the past few decades. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate how biodiversity features respond to forest restoration across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF), one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots in the world. We assembled biodiversity in different metrics of structure and diversity features of three taxonomic groups (vascular plants, soil microorganisms, and invertebrates), generating a dataset with 2370 observations from 76 primary studies. We quantified the incomplete recovery of biodiversity (i.e., the rate of recovery to a pre-disturbance state) occurring during the restoration process, which we called the 'recovery gap'. Our results revealed that forests undergoing restoration in the BAF show a recovery gap of 34% for structure features and 22% for diversity features in comparison to reference reforests, considering all taxonomic groups investigated. For vascular plants, soil microorganisms, and invertebrates the recovery gap ranged between 46 and 47%, 16-26%, and 4-7%, respectively. Overall, the recovery gap was influenced by the interaction of restoration actions (i.e., the past land use, restoration age and restoration approach - active and passive restoration), however, structure features responded more sensitively to the time elapsed since restoration started, while the recovery gap for diversity features depended more on the past land-use. Our study can help guide the prioritization of the aforenamed taxonomic groups in restoration, the regulation of potential biodiversity offsetting policies in the BAF, and understanding how coupled biodiversity features respond to the interaction of environmental conditions and restoration actions in a high fragmented tropical landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Paulo Romanelli
- Laboratory of Ecology and Forest Restoration (LERF), Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil.
| | - Paula Meli
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
| | - João Paulo Bispo Santos
- Postgraduate in Plant Biology, Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Zeferino Vaz University City, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Igor Nogueira Jacob
- Laboratory of Ecology and Forest Restoration (LERF), Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Lukas Rodrigues Souza
- Laboratory of Ecology and Forest Restoration (LERF), Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil
| | - André Vieira Rodrigues
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo - USP, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, no 101, 05508-090 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Diego Peruchi Trevisan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Washington Luiz Road, São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil; Department of Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Chunbo Huang
- Research Center of Spatial Planning and Human-Environmental System Simulation, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Danilo R A Almeida
- Laboratory of Ecology and Forest Restoration (LERF), Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz G M Silva
- Stocker Lab, Institute for Environmental Engineering (IfU), Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG), ETH-Zurich, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Leonor R C Lopes Assad
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Federal University of São Carlos, Anhanguera Highway, km 174, 13600-970 Araras, Brazil
| | - Marc W Cadotte
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Ecology and Forest Restoration (LERF), Department of Forest Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, SP 13418-900, Brazil.
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12
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Hua F, Bruijnzeel LA, Meli P, Martin PA, Zhang J, Nakagawa S, Miao X, Wang W, McEvoy C, Peña-Arancibia JL, Brancalion PHS, Smith P, Edwards DP, Balmford A. The biodiversity and ecosystem service contributions and trade-offs of forest restoration approaches. Science 2022; 376:839-844. [PMID: 35298279 DOI: 10.1126/science.abl4649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Forest restoration is being scaled-up globally to deliver critical ecosystem services and biodiversity benefits, yet we lack rigorous comparison of co-benefit delivery across different restoration approaches. In a global synthesis, we use 25,950 matched data pairs from 264 studies in 53 countries to assess how delivery of climate, soil, water, and wood production services as well as biodiversity compares across a range of tree plantations and native forests. Carbon storage, water provisioning, and especially soil erosion control and biodiversity benefits are all delivered better by native forests, with compositionally simpler, younger plantations in drier regions performing particularly poorly. However, plantations exhibit an advantage in wood production. These results underscore important trade-offs among environmental and production goals that policymakers must navigate in meeting forest restoration commitments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyuan Hua
- Institute of Ecology, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China.,Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, U.K
| | - L Adrian Bruijnzeel
- Department of Geography, King's College London, Bush House, London WC2B 4BG, U.K.,Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, Yunnan, P. R. China
| | - Paula Meli
- Department of Forest Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13.418-900, Brazil.,Departmento de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco, Chile
| | - Phillip A Martin
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, U.K
| | - Jun Zhang
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, Yunnan, P. R. China.,Environmental Modelling, Sensing & Analysis, TNO, 1755 LE Petten, Netherlands
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Xinran Miao
- Institute of Ecology, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Weiyi Wang
- Institute of Ecology, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Christopher McEvoy
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, U.K
| | | | - Pedro H S Brancalion
- Department of Forest Sciences, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13.418-900, Brazil
| | - Pete Smith
- Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, U.K
| | - David P Edwards
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, U.K
| | - Andrew Balmford
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, U.K
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