Abstract Agricultural rewilding is a novel concept positioned on a gradient between agroecology and rewilding, combining the restoration of ecological processes with agricultural production. While the strengths of, and opportunities associated with, this concept have been well laid out, weaknesses and potential issues have been less well explored. Here, we address this gap by complementing the outcomes of a scoping literature review, which included 20 sources, with 23 expert interviews to outline key considerations for broader adoption of agricultural rewilding with livestock. We also provide a map of relevant case studies in Europe and a SWOT overview. Our work suggests that agricultural rewilding with livestock may present a valuable and integrated approach for bridging the traditional divide between rewilding and farming. However, it faces challenges and barriers to implementation related to a lack of standards, associated monitoring frameworks and conducive policy environment. Solution. For agricultural rewilding to play a role in nature recovery in Europe, there is a need to develop clear guidelines, quantify outcomes and showcase success and create a supportive legislative context.

Abstract Stocking of hatchery‐reared salmonids is still a common management strategy to supplement natural resources and improve recreational fishing catch. However, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of stocking as there is evidence that stocked fish may replace prior resident fish or fail to settle at the intended stocking sites, resulting in downstream emigration and may subsequently die. This study evaluated whether stocked masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou masou), a species widely stocked in Japanese streams, displace prior resident fish or emigrate from stocked site. Experimental stocking trials were conducted in an artificial channel with multiple pools where factors potentially affecting the interactions between residents and intruders can be controlled. We found that stocked intruder fish were more likely to move out of the artificial channel compared to prior resident fish. Our findings indicate that stocking of masu salmon may be ineffective in streams with prior resident fish and few available habitats as most stocked fish are unable to settle at the site stocked. Practical implication: To optimize stocking efficiency for species, which show prior residence advantage such as masu salmon, stocking should only occur in situations where suitable, unoccupied habitats are available and where site fidelity of stocked fish can be expected.

Abstract In response to recent geopolitical tensions, military budgets are rising across the European Union (EU). While NATO members commit to spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defence, European member states are now considering increasing this to 5% by 2035. This growing militarization will likely impact biodiversity conservation by straining financial resources and causing environmental consequences, highlighting the need for policy adjustments and mitigation strategies. Practical implication: The rise in military budgets across EU member states risks diverting funds from biodiversity conservation and environmental protection. Increased defence spending could weaken environmental policies and contribute to pollution, habitat loss, ecosystem degradation, introduction of non‐native species, and climate change. Balancing national security with conservation efforts is crucial to safeguarding Europe's natural heritage. Greener military technologies, sustainable policies, and collaborative efforts may mitigate environmental impacts while ensuring security and ecological resilience.

Abstract The introduction of artificial light is changing the nighttime environment over large areas of the Earth, disrupting natural light regimes in terms of the occurrence, timing and forms of light. Because of the centrality of those natural light regimes to many biological processes, artificial light at night (ALAN) has quite pervasive environmental impacts, including on individual organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems. The widespread and ongoing introduction of Phosphor‐converted white (PC‐white) LEDs has particularly accelerated the disruption of natural light regimes and exacerbated many of the environmental impacts. In large part this is because of the resultant increased emissions in the blue part of the spectrum, to which key biological processes are especially sensitive. The use of Phosphor‐converted amber (PC‐amber) LEDs, with emissions in the blue much reduced and therefore in effect reddened compared with PC‐white LEDs, has been widely championed as a means of reducing (albeit not eliminating) these environmental impacts. Here we argue that, as things stand, the evidence for the efficacy of PC‐amber LEDs in such reductions is quite limited and that these lamps should not be seen as a panacea for the environmental impacts of ALAN. In particular, PC‐amber LEDs can still have substantial blue emissions and thus have greater biological impacts than might otherwise be assumed, especially if they are used at higher intensities. Other lighting options, which have thus far received little attention, may be more advantageous, especially if their availability improves and thus results in associated price reductions. However, more basic ways of limiting ALAN should remain high priorities, such as removing unnecessary lights, dimming lighting, improving shielding and part‐night lighting. Practical implication . Although they can provide benefits, caution should be exercised in the widespread use of PC‐amber LEDs as an environmentally sensitive solution to the installation of outdoor lighting.

Abstract Tidal energy is a dependable and clean power source that stands as a compelling alternative to fossil fuels. Despite this promise, tidal energy projects face barriers to practical implementation, and objections to proposed schemes often stem from perceptions of adverse ecological effects. Early concerns surrounding the ecological effects of tidal range energy infrastructure arose largely from the construction stages of barrages rather than from later, longer term operational stages. Though research on this was under‐planned, there is now a literature base. We synthesise the available current evidence of effects that both long‐established range and novel stream technologies have on marine environments through systematic and exploratory literature approaches. Fifty‐four articles have been included in this review and produce a nuanced picture accompanying a steep learning curve in both tidal power system construction and operation. Few of the widespread concerns are substantiated by evidence or in long‐term monitoring of existing projects. There is evidence of alterations in hydrodynamics and sediment flux at tidal range power plants, as well as some animal behavioural changes around tidal stream turbines, though many apprehensions either remain unsubstantiated or result in neutral effects on marine ecosystems. Several positive ecological effects are identified such as greater productivity and species diversity within tidal range basins, as well as enhanced seabird foraging hotspots surrounding tidal stream turbines. Maintaining a tidal regime as close as possible to its prior state appears key to minimising adverse ecological effects and has been a major learning point for tidal range Practical implication. This work provides foundations for environmental impact assessments of future tidal projects and may enable more informed choices and facilitate a priori mitigation planning.

Abstract Afforestation of native woodland is a globally important political target with potential to meet biodiversity and climate change targets. Heavily deforested landscapes such as parts of the Scottish Highlands provide an opportunity to expand remaining native woodland fragments. Landscape‐scale upland woodland expansion is underway through reducing deer numbers to allow natural tree regeneration, but studies on the biodiversity responses to such projects remain scarce. In this study we investigate how moths respond to a landscape‐scale woodland expansion project at Mar Lodge Estate in the Scottish Highlands. We study three habitat types along a successional gradient from open treeless moorland to early successional woodland and mature Caledonian pinewood remnants. Specifically, we (1) document differences in moth species richness, abundance, diversity and community composition amongst the three habitat types and (2) identify important plant species and habitat structures for moths. Moth species richness and abundance was highest in mature pinewood and alpha diversity equal highest between mature pinewood and early successional woodland, especially in plots where broadleaved trees were present. Abundance and diversity of moths also increased in the early successional woodland compared to the open moorland. Community composition differed amongst the three habitat types suggesting a complex, dynamic mosaic of mature woodland, early successional woodland and open moorland is required to support the greatest diversity of moth communities at the landscape scale. Practical implication. We show that protection and expansion of mature pinewoods is important for moths and that landscape‐scale habitat restoration using natural tree regeneration is a powerful tool to diversify and increase the abundance of moth communities in the uplands.

Abstract Stemming biodiversity loss requires greater investment in conservation and more efficient use of available resources. Prioritizing conservation actions that yield the most biodiversity benefit for the least cost can help maximize return on investment. Actions that have co‐benefits for other objectives, such as climate change mitigation, can also help mobilize additional funds for conservation. We used Priority Threat Management to identify actions to secure the greatest number of species groups of conservation concern for the least cost in the Lake Simcoe‐Rideau ecoregion, Ontario—one of Canada's biodiversity crisis ecoregions. We also estimated the carbon sequestration benefits of actions related to land protection and restoration. We found that without additional investment in conservation, 13 of 16 species groups were expected to have <50% probability of persistence in this ecoregion by 2050. Implementing all proposed strategies would yield the greatest biodiversity benefits and secure 12 of the 16 species groups with ≥60% probability of persistence, at a cost of CA$113 million per year over 27 years. In comparison, investing CA$97 million per year in landowner stewardship, habitat protection and restoration and regeneration strategies could secure 10 species groups and improve the probability of persistence of one additional group from 39% to 55%. The habitat protection and restoration strategies also deliver direct carbon benefits of around 11.2 Mt in total avoided CO 2 emissions and 137.6 Mt CO 2 in total potential sequestration, respectively, over the long‐term, thus supporting alignment with climate change mitigation targets and delivering co‐benefits that may further justify investment. Practical implication. By estimating the costs and demonstrating the expected benefits and potential carbon co‐benefits of conservation actions, Priority Threat Management can help maximize return on investment and identify actions that address multiple environmental crises.

Abstract A transition to more sustainable agricultural practices is essential to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of conventional farming and to ensure long‐term food security. However, widespread adoption requires robust evidence demonstrating their efficacy and economic viability. We co‐designed a two‐year field trial with farmers and agronomy advisors in Australia to evaluate the ecological and economic benefits of sustainable agricultural practices for managing the redlegged earth mite, a major pest of Australian crops and pastures. We compared ‘Novel’ treatments—representing long‐term farmer‐implemented sustainable practices based on biological control—with ‘Conventional’ treatments and ‘Plus’ treatments designed as counterfactuals to disentangle the effects of specific pest control and plant nutrient components. Redlegged earth mite densities remained below economic thresholds across all treatments and years, demonstrating effective pest control in both conventional and sustainable systems. Notably, the Novel treatment supported higher densities of beneficial arthropods, suggesting increased biological control potential. Yield and gross profit margins were generally similar across treatments, indicating that sustainable agriculture practices can maintain profitability while fostering biodiversity. Practical implication. Our study provides evidence that biological control and biofertiliser supplementation can be effectively used to manage agricultural pests. It also demonstrates the value of close collaboration with farmers and agronomy advisors in conducting ecological field research with real‐world applications.

Abstract The restoration of herbaceous groundcover species is a challenge in old‐growth grasslands and savannas. Many species persist via below‐ground structures and bud banks, and seed production is often variable. In pine savannas of the south‐eastern United States, wiregrass ( Aristida beyrichiana ) is a fire‐promoting species that is targeted for re‐establishing vegetation–fire feedbacks. This species is typically sown from seed in sites from which native vegetation has already been eliminated. Because wiregrass seed production and viability are notably variable, we assumed that high seeding rates might be necessary to achieve a high density of recruiting wiregrass. We examined whether seeding rates and soil types affected the number, growth and survival of new seedlings of wiregrass seeds from wet and dry sites. We initiated a 2.0‐ha field restoration project in north‐central Florida in the spring of 2022. We sowed seeds from wet and dry sites (wet and dry seeds, respectively) at each of three seeding rates (very high, 28.0 kg/ha; high, 16.8 kg/ha; typical, 11.2 kg/ha) in wet soil and dry soil. Data on wiregrass size and survival were collected in the fall of 2022 and 2023. In the first year, the number of seedlings per plot from dry and wet seeds was significantly higher at the highest seeding rate than at the other seeding rates. The numbers of seedlings did not differ significantly by soil type. Neither seed source nor soil type significantly affected wiregrass seedling size in the first year or survival to the second year, but seedlings from both dry and wet seeds had significantly lower growth on wet soils. Practical implication . We conclude that high seeding rates are not necessary within the range of percent filled seed that we observed. Overall, the densities of seedlings we documented (2–8 plants/m 2 ) are within the range of those found in other restoration studies. Additionally, although soil moisture may promote establishment, its influence on subsequent demography may depend on putative ecotypes.

Abstract Understanding the flowering phenology of invasive alien plants is essential for predicting their potential impacts on invaded ecosystems and developing effective management strategies. However, achieving this for globally widespread invasive species poses significant challenges. Digital data offer an efficient and scalable solution to studying the flowering phenology of plants across diverse regions and environments. Here, we apply this approach to taxa in the genus Carpobrotus, one of the most problematic groups of invasive plants in coastal areas worldwide. We collected geotagged photographs from widely used online platforms (i.e. Instagram, Google Maps, and iNaturalist) at key tourist sites in six countries spanning native (South Africa) and non‐native (Argentina, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and the United States) regions. These records were analysed to document the flowering phenology of Carpobrotus plants in different regions linked to their genetic lineages (clusters), focussing on the start, end and peak flowering periods. Our results show that broad floristic region and sampling locality, rather than genetic lineage, are the primary determinants of flowering phenology in the Carpobrotus taxa studied. Non‐native populations often displayed extended flowering periods compared to native populations, potentially enhancing their pollen availability and seed production, contributing thus to increased propagule pressure or seed bank. Apparent differences among genetic clusters in single‐model analyses were not retained once a site‐level random effect was included, indicating that observed cluster contrasts reflect local environmental and sampling variation more than intrinsic genetic differences. Practical implication. This study highlights the use of digital data to address critical knowledge gaps in the flowering phenology of invasive plants across native and non‐native ranges. By identifying extended flowering periods and their potential contribution to increased propagule pressure through prolonged seed production and subsequent accumulation in the soil seed bank, our findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted management strategies, such as optimizing intervention timing to coincide with flowering peaks.