ABSTRACT Questions More than 99% of Australia's native temperate grasslands have been lost since European colonisation, creating a need for restoration to retain their biodiversity. Remote sensing is a powerful tool for monitoring restoration, yet accessible approaches are needed to extract meaningful, restoration‐relevant information for diverse practitioners. Here we ask if Sentinel‐2 –derived time series can monitor the success of grassland restoration by identifying significant phenological differences between non‐native and native grassland vegetation in time and space. Location The study spanned six geographically distinct regions in southern Australia, strategically positioned along a landscape and management gradient extending from unrestored to restored to remnant intact sites, covering a spatial continuum from the coastal mediterranean climate of Adelaide to the semi‐arid landlocked Riverland region, which supports remnant temperate grasslands. Methods We analysed temperate grasslands using Sentinel‐2 EVI2 (Enhanced Vegetation Index) time series within the web‐based Google Earth Engine platform and using R software. The study included three management categories (remnant, restored and control) with vegetation cover assessed qualitatively by experienced practitioners to confirm these classifications. Phenology modelling was used to fit seasonal growth curves and extract two key metrics: the length of the growing season (LOS) and peak of season EVI2 values (POS). Modelled LOS and POS values were compared across management categories using ANOVA (analysis of variance). Results While we did not identify significant differences in the LOS, we did find significantly different POS values between grasslands dominated by non‐native plants and by native plants. Control sites had POS values 44% higher than restored sites, likely due to the greater leaf area of non‐native vegetation. In contrast, restored grasslands had POS values only 8% lower than remnant reference sites, indicating restored grasslands closely resembled remnant grasslands. This suggests that POS is a reliable metric for distinguishing between native and non‐native grasslands. Conclusions The results demonstrate that phenological metrics derived from Sentinel‐2 pixels effectively capture differences in vegetation composition, providing a practical tool for assessing restoration success. Readily available remote sensing tools like this can support diverse restoration practitioners in prioritising conservation efforts and improving restoration strategies, particularly in urban contexts where grasslands are small and fragmented and continue to face significant anthropogenic pressures.

ABSTRACT Aims Fine‐scale floristic heterogeneity is a hallmark of mature tropical forests. Restoring such patterns in degraded habitats should produce more resilient and biodiverse systems, yet these end‐goals are rarely compared across multiple restoration scenarios. We analyzed fine‐scale spatial tree recruitment patterns in a long‐term tropical forest restoration experiment. Location Coto Brus County in southern Costa Rica, 1100–1430 m above sea level. Methods We censused seedlings and saplings in 26 experimental restoration plots (0.25 ha) after 16–18 years and six reference forests. Restoration treatments included the following: (1) plantation—four tree species planted in rows; (2) applied nucleation—six tree nuclei of varying sizes planted with the same four species; and (3) natural regeneration—no trees planted. In 2022, we censused all tree stems ≥ 20 cm and mapped each to 3 × 3 m grid cells. Results Mean local species density of seedlings (per 6 × 6 m quadrat) was significantly greater in plantation (10.9; 95% CI = 10.0–11.9) and applied nucleation (8.4; 95% CI = 7.7–9.3) than in natural regeneration subplots (5.0; 95% CI = 4.5–5.5), as the latter commonly had quadrats with no recruits. Within‐plot Bray–Curtis dissimilarity was highest in natural regeneration, intermediate in applied nucleation, and lowest in plantations. Differences arose primarily from variation in seedling abundance, rather than from species turnover, but did not differ in sapling communities. Recruits of large‐seeded, later‐successional species were significantly less clustered and established more frequently in plot interiors of planted treatments than of natural regeneration. Conclusions After nearly two decades, the extent of initially planted trees did not substantially influence the fine‐scale heterogeneity of recruit community composition beyond spatial variation in seedling density. However, both applied nucleation and plantation restoration approaches resulted in a more even spatial distribution of large‐seeded recruits, highlighting the importance of tree planting for facilitating the recovery of dispersal‐limited species.

ABSTRACT Aims Mires are important habitats that provide fundamental ecosystem services. Although they have traditionally been considered stable ecosystems, exhibiting little to no change in floristic composition over several decades to millennia, the effect of contemporary climate change is largely unknown. This study aimed to assess (i) how the vegetation of Sphagnum ‐dominated mires changed over the last two decades in the Western Alps, where mires are fragmented and at the southern edge of their European distribution, and (ii) whether climate change was a primary driver of these changes. Location Western Alps, Italy. Methods We resurveyed 139 plots across 14 sites, comparing historical vegetation data from 1998 and 2011 with new surveys conducted in 2023, including vascular plants and bryophytes. We analysed the shifts in species composition and the changes in community diversity and ecological indicators. We also evaluated climate trends over the past three decades and their relationship with vegetation dynamics. Results Climate data analyses confirmed increasing air temperatures, decreasing precipitation and increasing evaporation across the study sites. Both short‐term and long‐term resurveys showed an increase in species diversity, in particular woody and non‐specialist vascular plants, and a decrease in or local extinction of mire specialists, including Sphagnum species. These results suggest a lowering of the water table and a consequent drying. Longer term resurveys revealed signs of acidification and eutrophication, likely due to increased mineralisation. Attribution to climate change was supported by the higher increase in species richness in mires with a stronger decrease in precipitation. Conclusion Our results revealed significant vegetation changes under the pressure of climate change, with mires at the southern edge of their European distribution exhibiting more rapid and pronounced vegetation dynamics than previous studies conducted at higher latitudes. Urgent conservation measures, including rewetting, are essential to preserve these mires and their ecosystem services.

ABSTRACT Aims We evaluate the complex interplay between biodiversity conservation, agricultural production, and socioeconomic development in the Southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest, under both current and projected future conditions. Specifically, we aim to understand (1) the spatial distribution of woody plant biodiversity (species richness, phylogenetic richness, and functional richness) and agricultural revenue (from temporary and permanent crops), (2) the potential synergies and trade‐offs between biodiversity, agricultural revenue, and socioeconomic metrics, and (3) how associations between biodiversity and agricultural revenue may shift under projected climate scenarios by 2040. Our findings provide decision‐makers with insights to balance biodiversity conservation with agricultural sustainability, offering a framework applicable to similar regions globally. Location Santa Catarina, Brazil. Methods We used machine learning ensemble models to predict woody plant biodiversity and agricultural revenue based on climate, topography, soil, and spatial structure. Biodiversity data were compiled from 480 forest inventory plots (4000 m 2 each), while socioeconomic indicators and agricultural production data were obtained from governmental databases. Soil and environmental data were sourced from open‐access global databases. Results Temperature, precipitation, and topography were primary predictors of biodiversity, highlighting climate and terrain influences on species richness. In contrast, spatial structure emerged as the main predictor of crop revenue, emphasizing the role of local infrastructure and biophysical factors in agriculture. Projections for 2040 indicate stable biodiversity levels in most municipalities, with localized shifts in biodiversity and crop yields driven by climate‐induced changes. Our findings reveal synergies between biodiversity and agricultural revenue but also underscore trade‐offs, particularly between permanent crop revenue and forested area. Conclusions Our results support prioritizing conservation efforts in regions projected to maintain or increase biodiversity while promoting climate‐smart agriculture for sustainable production. This framework, adaptable to other biodiverse, agriculturally reliant regions, provides a tool for policymakers to balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable agricultural practices under shifting climate conditions.

ABSTRACT Aims Tropical forests face significant threats from climate change, land‐use change, and anthropogenic pressures. Effective conservation requires repeated, rapid, and accurate biodiversity assessments over large areas to identify priority sites and evaluate the efficiency of protection efforts. High‐resolution hyperspectral imaging has been proposed for estimating biodiversity by linking spectral variance to species diversity. However, inconsistencies in the relationship between spectral variance and taxonomic diversity raise concerns about the reliability of this approach. This study addresses two critical questions: (1) How does intraspecific spectral variance impact the relationship between total spectral variance and taxonomic diversity? (2) How do uneven spectral distances between species influence the accuracy of biodiversity estimates derived from spectral data? We aim at emphasizing that while hyperspectral data offer valuable insights, its limitations must also be acknowledged. Location The research was conducted in a hyper‐diverse tropical forest located at the Paracou experimental site in French Guiana, using spectral data from airborne hyperspectral imagery. Methods A simulation‐based approach was used to generate artificial communities with controlled taxonomic diversity by drawing pixels from a spectral database derived from a forest inventory of trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) > 10 cm. Intraspecific spectral variance was manipulated to evaluate its effect on total spectral variance and taxonomic diversity. The Rao index, integrating species abundance and spectral dissimilarity, was employed to assess the impact of uneven interspecies spectral distances. Results Intraspecific spectral variance was a major contributor to total spectral variance, often exceeding interspecific variance contributions, even in taxonomically diverse assemblages. Nonuniform spectral distances between species weakened the correlation between spectral variance and taxonomic diversity. This suggests that spectral variance is not a reliable metric for biodiversity estimation in complex ecosystems. Conclusions This study highlights challenges in using hyperspectral data for biodiversity estimation in tropical forests. Advanced methods may reduce environmental noise but the high intraspecific diversity and variable interspecies spectral distances pose substantial barriers. Future research should consider alternative diversity metrics, such as functional diversity, which may offer more consistent correlations with spectral data.

ABSTRACT The decline in botanical expertise, particularly in plant identification, poses a significant threat to vegetation science and biodiversity monitoring. Although reliance on primary botanical data seems to be decreasing in favor of database records, field‐ and laboratory‐based identification remains essential for producing high‐quality scientific outcomes. Nevertheless, this expertise is often undervalued in terms of scientific authorship and academic recognition. This forum article highlights the historical and contemporary importance of plant identification, examines the factors contributing to its decline, and advocates for the explicit inclusion of identification work in author contribution statements in journals affiliated with the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS) and beyond. Where feasible, it also recommends linking deposited herbarium specimens of a specific paper to a DOI through dedicated platforms. Additionally, a framework is presented to illustrate how botanical research can be strengthened and formally recognized by individual authors. Formally recognizing plant identifiers is a crucial step toward restoring the value of a discipline that underpins ecological research and conservation.

ABSTRACT Aims To support the continuous investment in trophic rewilding as a nature restoration strategy, we need to improve our knowledge of its effect and refine our methods for evaluating success. This study addresses the existing gap in long‐term monitoring of trophic rewilding by using year‐round grazing as a proxy and explores the effect of year‐round grazing semi‐feral horses ( Equus ferus caballus ) and cattle ( Bos taurus ) on European protected habitats. Locations 45 management areas across Denmark, lowland Europe. Methods Utilising data from the existing Danish national vegetation‐monitoring scheme, we evaluate the ecological effect across 45 year‐round grazed management areas spanning up to two decades. Our evaluation extends beyond considering species richness as we apply a range of ecological indicator values. We used Linear Mixed‐Effect Models (LMM) to explore the effect of the predictor years of grazing management on several response variables. Results Year‐round grazing in natural areas in Denmark generally promotes plant species richness, rare and light‐demanding plants, but effects vary among habitat types. The findings reveal notable changes in plant communities over time with year‐round grazing, signifying the improvement of dry grassland habitats towards species‐rich, open herbaceous habitats. However, the effect of year‐round grazing in wetlands is complex; while α‐diversity decreases, regionally rare species (unicity) increase. Conclusion With these insights on the effects of year‐round grazing, conservation managers can strategically prioritise management intervention and monitoring. This can support practitioners by informing trophic rewilding initiatives as a nature restoration approach within the most valuable European protected habitats.

ABSTRACTAimIntracontinental range expansion of organisms is expected to be more and more frequent due to anthropogenic climate and land‐use changes, but its impact on ecosystems and consequences to nature conservation or economy are not well understood. Our study focuses on a range‐expanding neonative annual plant, Xeranthemum cylindraceum (Asteraceae, tribe Cardueae), which has become common in pastures. We aimed to assess the potential impact of this species on recipient grassland communities in the new range and to compare its performance between the native and neonative range.LocationGrasslands in Romania (neonative range) and Bulgaria (native range).MethodsWe surveyed plots from very low to very high abundances of the target species in grassland stands. To compare the vegetation between cover categories of X. cylindraceum and between the two study regions, we calculated species richness, Shannon diversity and community weighted mean of Ellenberg and disturbance indicator values. We also compared the vegetation composition based on species life span, habitat preference and guild.ResultsOur results show that species richness and diversity do not decrease with the increasing abundance of X. cylindraceum in recipient grasslands. However, the cover of specialist and long‐lived species was lower, while that of ruderal and short‐lived species was higher in vegetation patches with medium to high X. cylindraceum abundance. In the neonative range, this pattern overlapped with an increased disturbance severity and soil nitrogen content indicated by community composition, which bears clear signs of grazing disturbance forcefully transforming plant composition and causing ruderalisation.ConclusionsWe conclude that the range‐expanding X. cylindraceum does not raise conservation problems, since it is not impacting recipient grassland communities in its neonative range. However, it appears to benefit from grazing disturbance. As a toxic, unpalatable species, it decreases the economic value of intensively used grasslands, pointing out the need for decreasing stocking rates in intensively used pastures.