Restoration Of Activity Research Articles

Patterns and Driving Mechanisms of Soil Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus, and Their Stoichiometry in Limestone Mines of Anhui Province, China

Active vegetation restoration plays an important role in the improvement in soil organic matter (SOM), including the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) sequestration of degraded mining ecosystems. However, there is still a lack of understanding of the key drivers of SOM pool size and dynamics in active vegetation restoration. For this study, soil was collected from five different sites (Xiaoxian, Dingyuan, Chaohu, Tongling and Dongzhi), four habitats (platforms, slopes, steps and native areas) and two soil layers (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) in limestone mines of Anhui province to quantify the spatial distribution of SOM contents and their stoichiometric characteristics and influential factors. It was found that the top soil in Chaohu had the highest significant C, N and P contents in the ranges of 14.95–17.97, 1.74–2.21 and 0.80–1.24 g/kg, respectively. Comparing the stoichiometric ratios of the different sites revealed significant differences in C:N and N:P ratios, but C:P ratios were relatively consistent. In particular, the C:N and C:P ratios in deep soil were higher than those in top soil, whereas the N:P ratio in deep soil was lower than that in top soil, suggesting that soil N is a major limiting factor in the top soil. The SOM content did not differ significantly between the three reclaimed habitats, but was significantly higher than that in the native habitat, suggesting that mine restoration has significantly enhanced SOM accumulation. Further analysis showed that nutrient availability and enzyme activity are important factors affecting soil C, N and P content in top soil, while the relationship gradually weakens in deep soil. This was attributed to active anthropogenic management and conservation measures during the early stages of reclamation. This study shows that the ecological recovery of the mining area can be enhanced by implementing differentiated vegetation planting strategies and anthropogenic management on different habitats in the mining area.

How Can Storytelling Help Restore Mires? Applying Place-lore Fieldwork Methodology in Ecological Restoration

ABSTRACT As ecological restoration changes the landscape and influences various social and ecological actors, restoration also needs to seek methodologies that integrate different kinds of knowledge and create multi-voiced discussions. We show how studying local environment-related narratives, i.e. place-lore, can be adopted in restoration activities. We argue that as place-lore expresses relationships between people and environment and such stories involve semiotic meanings from the environment, they have a great potential to motivate authentic and diverse discussions in restoration. As an example, we focus on wetland restoration and discuss the experience from the LIFE Mires Estonia (2015–2021) project where place-lore fieldwork was integrated with other restoration activities. Results from the project indicated how integrating the study of place-lore into restoration activities facilitates collecting various kinds of valuable data, addressing different stakeholders’ concerns, detecting possible conflicts, and, most importantly, empowers environmental relations and knowledge that benefit restoration outcomes. KEY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS Enabling different, even conflicting viewpoints around ecological restoration is crucial, to prevent closed, hermetic, or dogmatizing communication. Restoration discussions need to be open to methodologies that focus on small-scale local narratives because the ecological expertise that these kinds of narratives express can directly benefit restoration outcomes. Place-lore fieldwork serves as a participatory method that allows for more inclusive and diverse dialogues between restoration experts and people influenced by restoration.

Exploring the potential of native sea urchins as ex situ coral propagation allies

Caribbean coral reefs face unprecedented decline due to anthropogenic and environmental stressors, necessitating active restoration efforts. Among the strategies to conserve and restore reef ecosystems, land‐based sexual propagation of corals is crucial for preserving genetic diversity and population resilience. This study explores the efficacy of utilizing native sea urchin herbivory to control benthic macroalgal proliferation and enhance coral growth in land‐based propagation systems. Three captive‐reared urchin species—Lytechinus variegatus, Tripneustes ventricosus, and Diadema antillarum—were evaluated for their influence on algal cover and growth of sexually propagated brain coral Pseudodiploria strigosa. Juveniles of each urchin species were co‐cultured with 6‐month‐old coral colonies over a 105‐day experiment. Results indicated that all urchin treatments effectively reduced algal cover compared to controls; however, only T. ventricosus significantly increased coral growth rate, while the other urchin species did not have a notable effect. Despite differences in growth, coral survival was consistently high across all treatments. Benthic community analysis revealed shifts in algal composition, with D. antillarum grazing associated with increased crustose coralline algae. However, overgrazing by D. antillarum may have resulted in mild peripheral tissue damage to some corals. Urchin survival remained high, suggesting potential for downstream utilization in restoration (e.g. urchin population enhancement). This study highlights the potential of native urchins as biocontrol agents in coral propagation, emphasizing the importance of species‐specific interactions in shaping benthic communities and promoting coral resilience.

Analyte-Induced Specific Regulation of Light-Responsive COF-Cu Nanozyme Activity for Ultrafast Thiram Colorimetric Sensing.

A light-responsive covalent-organic framework (COF) nanozyme, which integrates the advantages of the COF structure and light-stimulated nanozyme catalysis, is a class of sensing star materials with wide application prospects. However, the sensing methods based on light-responsive COF nanozymes are relatively single at present. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new sensing strategies to broaden its application in chemical sensing and achieve highly efficient detection. Here, a Cu2+-modified COF composite material (TpDA-Cu) was rationally designed. The addition of Cu significantly inhibits the excellent light-responsive nanozyme activity of TpDA itself. However, because of the restoration of the enzyme activity by thiram (Tr) and the oxidase mimic activity of the newly formed Cu/Tr complex, TpDA-Cu/Tr exhibits stronger light-responsive nanozyme activity. Enzyme kinetic data show that compared with TpDA, TpDA-Cu/Tr has a larger Vmax value, which can achieve efficient catalytic oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). In addition, the strong coordination effect of Tr and TpDA-Cu also plays a key role in achieving ultrafast, sensitive, and selective colorimetric detection of Tr. This work develops a dual activity regulation strategy of light-responsive COF nanozymes based on analyte induction and provides a new perspective for the application of light-responsive COF nanozymes in the field of sensing.

Post-Pyrogenic Restoration of the Biological Activity of Soils of Artificial Forest Plantations in the Arid Zone of the Shirinskaya Steppe in the Republic of Khakassia

Post-Pyrogenic Restoration of the Biological Activity of Soils of Artificial Forest Plantations in the Arid Zone of the Shirinskaya Steppe in the Republic of Khakassia

The Impact of Juniper Removal on Shrubs and Understory Vegetation and its Implications for Sagebrush Dependent Vertebrate Herbivores

The expansion of trees into previously grass- and shrub- dominated ecosystems is a global phenomenon threatening ecosystem integrity and function in encroached systems, including the North American sagebrush biome. This ecosystem is currently in peril, threatened in part by juniper (Juniperus sp.) encroachment. Sagebrush (Artemisia sp.) ecosystems contain a diversity of forage, including grasses, forbs, and shrubs, that serve as a key food source for vertebrate herbivores. Removal of encroached juniper has been used by land managers as a widespread restoration technique in sagebrush ecosystems, however, the long-term impact of this restoration action on shrubs and understory vegetation has not been thoroughly examined in the context of sagebrush dependent vertebrate herbivores. In 2020 and 2021, we studied shrub and understory vegetation response to juniper treatment in the sagebrush of northern Nevada and northeastern California. Juniper treatments completed between 2008 and 2020 were surveyed and sampled to assess the impact of this restoration action on grasses, forbs, and shrubs over time. Forage biomass was higher in old treatments than untreated reference sites, which was a trend that persisted across all vegetation functional groups. Differences in plant cover were slight or had inconsistent nonlinear trends between reference sites and treatments. Forage from treated sites had higher crude protein levels than forage from untreated sites, although the nutritional difference was slight. Our results suggest that juniper treatments that increase forage quantity and improve forage quality may benefit sagebrush dependent wildlife or domestic livestock in conifer-encroached ecosystems.

Potential of biochar to restoration of microbial biomass and enzymatic activity in a highly degraded semiarid soil

Biochar is an effective material for enhancing soil ecosystem services. However, the specific impacts of biochar on microbial indicators, particularly in degraded soils, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar produced from cashew residues and sewage sludge, in a highly degraded soil, on microbial indicators. We analyzed soil chemical composition and microbial biomass C and N, enzyme activity, and stoichiometry. Cashew biochar increased soil respiration, indicating a higher availability of C to microorganisms compared to sewage sludge biochar and a better adaptation of soil microbial communities to C-rich organic material obtained from a native plant. Although the biochar differentially impacted microbial biomass C, both significantly increased N in the microbial biomass. Arylsulphatase activity did not respond to biochar application, while β-glucosidase, urease, and phosphatases showed significant changes with biochar treatments. Importantly, stoichiometry and vector analysis revealed that both types of biochar increased P limitation for soil microbes. Conversely, both biochar alleviated C and N limitations for the soil microbes. Thus, biochar applications in highly degraded soils should be supplemented with external P sources to maintain soil functions, mainly for cashew residues. Our results provide evidence that biochar can restore soil biological properties and enhance the availability of C and N to microorganisms. These findings have significant implications for restoration practices in degraded lands of semiarid regions.

Native woody species depend on the soil microbiome to establish on burned soils, while non‐native do not

Abstract Wildfires are important natural disturbances with profound ecological impacts. However, our understanding of how to restore plant–soil microbiome interactions following wildfires remains limited, revealing a key knowledge gap in post‐wildfire ecosystem restoration. To assess the restoration of plant‐microbiome interactions in fire‐affected ecosystems, we conducted greenhouse experiments simulating wildfire effects on soil collected from Maulino Coastal Forest of central Chile, a biodiversity hotspot. We measured the plant height and photosynthesis over 90 days, and two‐year survival probability, of three common native (Aristotelia chilensis, Nothofagus glauca and N. alessandrii) and three non‐native species (Eucalyptus globulus, Pinus radiata and Genista monspessulana) planted in three soils (unburned, burned and burned soil inoculated with the native microbiome). Available nutrient concentrations (N, P and K) and activities of microbial enzymes (dehydrogenase, β‐glucosidase and urease) were also measured over 360 days. Available nutrient concentrations were consistently higher in burned and burned‐inoculated soils than in unburned soils. Enzyme activities in unburned and burned‐inoculated soils remained higher than in burned soil, indicating that the native microbiome restored microbial enzyme activities. The increase in height over 90 days was lower in burned soils compared with unburned soils for native species. However, inoculation with the native microbiome mitigated this negative effect, resulting in height increases similar to those in unburned soils. For non‐native species, burning and inoculation had negligible effects on the height increases. Similar patterns were observed for the increase in photosynthetic rate, with native species showing a reduced rate in burned soils, which was offset by microbiome inoculation, while non‐native species were unaffected by both treatments. Survival probability of native species declined in burned soil, but was the same in burned‐inoculated soil as in unburned soil. That of non‐native species was unaffected by burning or by inoculation with the native microbiome. Synthesis and applications. Native microbiomes are evidently promising tools to safeguard ecosystem functionality and mitigate species extinction risks arising from climate change and human‐induced wildfires. We advocate integrating microbiomes into future active restoration strategies for fire‐affected ecosystems.

WATER INHABITING BIRDS OF MAIGANGA POST COAL MINING PONDS AND ARTIFICIAL WETLAND

Wetlands play a significant role in bird conservation and generally support biological diversity. Historically, bird community assessment has been employed in monitoring and identifying areas for conservation actions. In this study, we examined two post mining ponds and one artificial wetland in Maiganga Coal Mine, Gombe State for wetland avifauna. We focused on water birds (i.e. bird species that depend wholly or partially on water and wetland ecosystems for their survival). Survey was conducted during the onset of dry season in October 2021 to September 2022. Point count technique was used for the survey. A total of 626 individuals of 23 species from 19 genera, 10 families and 6 bird Order were recorded. The White-faced whistling duck was the most abundant bird species and was restricted to the active-mine pond (AMP). AMP was the most diverse of the three water bodies surveyed. However, some species were exclusive to either of the three sites. Similarly, AMP was the most abundant site with 426 individuals from 16 bird species, followed closely by the sedimentation pond with 147 individuals drawn from 15 bird species. The results suggest that water depth, age of establishment and surrounding vegetation structure could be a major determinant of bird species composition and abundance in the study area. The study highlights the importance of restorative actions aimed at recovering modified landscapes, through tree planting and creation of wetlands. This is evident in the presence of waterbirds in Maiganga, a location that was previously devoid of perennial water bodies and...

Community-Led Participatory Forest Monitoring for the Restoration of Kibale National Park (KNP) in Western Uganda

This paper presents findings from a study on Participatory Forest Monitoring (PFM) and Natural Forest Restoration (NFR) in Uganda, a case of communities bordering Kibale National Park (KNP), Uganda was conducted among 394 respondents from June to August 2024. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design to determine participatory Forest Monitoring Activities and Practices. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to collect responses and data was analysed using MS Excel. Findings reveal that more males (55.58%) participated in PFM compared to 44.42 females, most females were involved in raising seedlings for restoration of KNP. The majority (83.76%) of them were farmers. Over 46.09% of the households were employed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority Forests Absorbing Carbon Emission (UWA-FACE) project and living within 1 kilometre of the park boundary. Tree planting through reforestation of degraded and reclaimed areas was the main PFM activity at 51%. Participation in PFM was through signing a Memorandum of Understanding. Only 24% of the households signed an MOU with UWA-FACE to participate in PFM programmes. Of the 394 respondents surveyed, 79.2% strongly agreed that they engaged in selecting tree species to raise for restoration activities to improve the management of Kibale National Park (M=1.88, SD = 1.97). Almost half (54.4%) of the communities bordering Kibale National Park (KNP) work with UWA rangers during forest monitoring patrols in restored areas (M=2.25, SD = 1.95). PFM can restore natural forests. There is a need to increase support for community projects by UWA-FACE.

Assessing climatic conditions and biotic interactions shaping the success of Cystoseira foeniculacea early-life stages.

Early-life stages of canopy-forming macroalgae are critical for the maintenance of natural populations and the success of restoration actions. Unfortunately, the abiotic conditions and biotic interactions shaping the success of these stages have received less attention than the interactions shaping the success of adults. Here, we combined field and mesocosm experiments to explore the effects of temperature, herbivory, and canopy presence on the development of early-life stages of the brown seaweed Cystoseira foeniculacea. We assessed these effects by examining changes in recruit density and size. After recruiting zygotes under laboratory conditions, we conducted one laboratory and three field experiments. In the first field experiment, the density of recruits decreased over time in all rockpools and was negatively affected by rising temperatures and turf cover. Additionally, a marine heatwave (MHW; 11 days >25°C) was recorded in the donor pools, producing strong decay in the density of transplanted recruits and a significant reduction of the mature canopy. The second field experiment tested the survival of recruits based on their positioning within the canopy. We observed a higher density of recruits when placed at the edge or outside the canopy compared to recruits placed under the canopy. In the third field experiment, an herbivory-exclusion experiment, we show how density of recruits decreased in less than 48 h in noncaged treatments. In the laboratory, we conducted a thermotolerance experiment under controlled conditions, exposing the recruits to 19, 22, 25, 28, and 31°C for 7 weeks to assess thermal impacts on their survival and growth. Temperatures above the 25°C threshold reduced the density and size of the recruits. This study sheds light on the performance of the early-life stages of a Cystoseira spp. in Macaronesia, showing a low survival ratio against the current pressures even in the context of the potential refuge provided by the intertidal rockpools.

Assessing Atlantic Kelp Forest Restoration Efforts in Southern Europe

Kelp forests are essential marine ecosystems increasingly compromised by human activities. Effective reforestation strategies are urgently needed, and the “green gravel” method is a viable tool already used in some European regions. This study aimed to assess the success of this method using the native Kelp species Laminaria ochroleuca on the Portuguese coastline. Cultures of green gravel were reared until the specimens reached a size of approximately 3 cm. The gravel was then deployed at selected sites in Peniche, Berlengas, and Cascais. Over an eight-month period, scientific scuba divers monitored the integration of Kelp, along with associated fish, invertebrate, and algae communities. Nutrient availability, temperature, water movement, substrate type, and Rugosity Index (RI) were also measured. The highest success rate was 12% in Consolação, with Elefante and Galos (Berlengas) reaching 7% and 4%, respectively. By the end of the monitoring period, Cascais had no remaining Kelp on green gravel. Present data suggest that higher success is dependent on less rugged and higher RI topography. Higher grazing pressure, rougher terrain, and unexpected sedimentation appear to be the main obstacles to deployment success. Solid knowledge (biologic and topographic) on the restoration site, starting restoration actions near already established Kelp forests, and significantly scaling up restoration efforts could substantially improve the success of the green gravel method in future reforestation campaigns.

Oceanographic‐informed coral out‐planting density for coral reef restoration activities

Out‐planting corals onto coral reefs as a mechanism to increase coral cover on degraded reef systems is an increasing global activity. Current practices typically focus on asexual out‐planting of coral fragments (coral gardening). Newer sexual reproductive approaches are being developed to out‐plant younger corals produced in aquaculture facilities or sea‐based rearing pools to enable assisted evolution or assisted gene flow conservation genetics approaches. Designing out‐planting deployment operations requires decisions to be made on planting density and location in order to maximize future recruitment on both the out‐planted reefs, and on nearby reefs that are connected through oceanographic transport processes. The thinking presented here seeks to unpack how out‐planting density may be influenced, especially by local oceanographic conditions, in order to guide practitioners undertaking restoration projects.

Mixed active and passive forest restoration facilitates plant diversity recovery in southern Ethiopia

Global deforestation and forest degradation threaten the sustainability of natural and human systems. Forest landscape restoration, through active approaches such as plantations, woodlots, boundary planting, and agroforestry, and passive approaches like exclosures, presents an opportunity to mitigate adverse effects, enhance ecosystem service recovery, and associated benefits for livelihoods. Here, using different spatial scales, we compare the contribution of both approaches to the recovery of plant diversity in southern Ethiopia. Using forest inventory data (891 plots) from multi‐aged stands, we estimated and compared alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) diversity in regeneration and tree layers between the approaches. We observed increasing α‐diversity in the order grazing lands‐active‐passive‐forest sites. β‐Diversity revealed similarity between passively restored sites and natural forests. γ‐Diversity was higher in active restoration for the regeneration layer, but passive restoration had higher γ‐diversity in the tree layer. For both approaches, γ‐diversity was consistently highest in intermediate‐aged stands (10–20 years). Results highlight the potential of active restoration strategies to facilitate vegetation recovery in human‐dominated landscapes, especially when management allows natural regeneration, while stand age variation may be associated with disturbance intensities for both approaches. Our results support a paradigm shift toward implementation of a mixture of these approaches in the landscapes to meet increasing human demands while restoring important ecosystem services like biodiversity. We recommend enhancing species diversity on restored sites to improve performance and ecosystem service recovery. On actively restored sites, we recommend protecting regenerated species; on passively restored sites, enrichment planting, increased protection, and sustainable utilization.

Plant communities of high-Andean bofedal wetlands across a trans-Andean transect in southern Peru

Aims: Ecosystems of the Tropical Andes include plant communities above 4,000 m in elevation, associated with wetlands known as bofedales. To enhance our understanding of them, we surveyed bofedal plant communities in the Peruvian Andes. Questions: Which are the most common bofedal plant communities, and what are their main characteristics? Study area: An east-to-west 68 km megatransect in Ayacucho and Huancavelica departments in Peru, the area of influence of a gas pipeline. Methods: We surveyed 127 (1 m × 1 m) permanent plots annually between 2017 and 2019 to assess plant communities, calculated diversity metrics, and applied non-parametric hypothesis testing analysis of similarities and multivariate analyses to the data. Results: We identified 13 plant communities with 3.5 to 11.7 mean species richness. Only seven were statistically different; the other six were rare and require additional surveys to define their status as independent communities. The Distichia muscoides-dominated community was found in most sites (90%), plots (55%), and along the entire elevational range we studied. D. muscoides, Plantago tubulosa, and Rockhausenia pygmaea were the most frequent species in the studied bofedales (in 30 of 31 sites). These species are usually cushion or carpet forming, so average plant cover was high in most plant communities where they occurred (89–98%). The seven plant communities (dominated by D. muscoides, R. pygmaea, Plantago tubulosa, P. rigida, Lachemilla diplophylla, Aciachne pulvinata and Juncus stipulatus) were consistent in their structural and compositional characteristics and maintained differences between them during our three-year study. Conclusions: We show that bofedal plant communities in the southern Peruvian Andes are more heterogeneous than the four broad types previously reported. This heterogeneity occurs at local site levels but also at landscape and regional scales. We highlight the importance of considering this heterogeneity when discussing and implementing management, restoration, and conservation actions in bofedales. Taxonomic reference: WFO (2024)

Climate mitigation potential of natural climate solutions and clean energy on The Nature Conservancy properties in California, USA.

Natural climate solutions (NCS) and transitioning to clean energy can reduce greenhouse gases and contribute to mitigating climate change. Private landowners with large holdings, such as conservation organizations like The Nature Conservancy, have set ambitious goals to reduce net emissions and increase sequestration on their lands by implementing NCS. We assessed the potential carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) reduction from feasible NCS, specifically implementing new restoration and agricultural management activities, and transitions to clean energy on The Nature Conservancy, California chapter's fee-owned and conservation easement properties. We compared the total CO2e reduction from potential new NCS activities to the impact from ongoing NCS activities, the chapter's 2030 goal, and the state's reduction goal for natural and working lands to understand how the organization can contribute to climate mitigation. We found that implementing NCS on 37 fee-owned properties (63,175 MTCO2e year -1) and clean energy on 10 fee-owned properties (488 MTCO2e year -1) combined would not reach the chapter's 2030 goal (72,000 MTCO2e year -1), and there can be tradeoffs between maximizing CO2e reduction and protecting conservation values. However, ongoing changes to forest management on a single conservation easement property, where another non-profit harvests timber and sells carbon credits, currently contributes 147,749 MTCO2e year -1, more than two times the 2030 goal and representing 7.4% of the state's annual goal. Our results suggest that The Nature Conservancy, California chapter would need to implement NCS on some of the conservation easements or consider future land protection deals with carbon rich ecosystems or high impact NCS to reach their CO2e reduction goal.

Montane grassland recovery: lessons from 25 years of the Working for Water program on the northern Drakensberg Escarpment, South Africa

Despite their strategic importance as biodiversity hotspots and water sources, montane ecosystems are among the most neglected conservation areas. In particular, the monitoring and management of invasive alien plants in this critical biome is limited. This study presents an analysis of long‐term invasive alien plant removal within montane grassland ecosystems, drawing on insights from 25 years of the Working for Water (WfW) program on the northern Drakensberg Escarpment. We assessed the response of vegetation communities to invasive alien plant removal in this region. Using data from the WfW program on clearance activities, expenditure, and re‐visit times, we compared plant species richness, diversity, and composition in sites managed under the WfW program to adjacent patches of pristine vegetation. Results showed minimal variation in species richness between cleared sites and unmanaged sites. However, these vegetation communities remain distinctly dissimilar across sites. These findings suggest the need for active restoration of montane vegetation communities if they are to return to their natural condition and further highlight the need to conserve the remaining habitats for critically endangered species, even in their depauperate state.

Forgotten Ecological Corridors: A GIS Analysis of the Ditches and Hedges in the Roman Centuriation Northeast of Padua

Studying historical rural landscapes beyond their archaeological and cultural significance, as has typically been addressed in previous research, is important in the context of current environmental challenges. Some historical rural landscapes, such as Roman land divisions, have persisted for more than 2000 years and may still contribute to sustainability goals. To assess this topic, the hydraulic and vegetation network of the centuriation northeast of Padua were studied, emphasising their multiple benefits. Their length, distribution, and evolution over time (2008–2022) were vectorised and measured using available digital terrain models and orthophotographs in a geographic information system (GIS). The results revealed a significant decline in the length of water ditches and hedgerows across almost all examined areas, despite their preservation being highlighted in regional and local spatial planning documents. These findings indicate the need for a better understanding of the local dynamics driving such trends and highlight the importance of adopting a more tailored approach to their planning. This study discusses the GIS metrics utilised and, in this way, contributes to landscape monitoring and restoration actions. Finally, a multifunctional approach to the sustainable planning of this area is proposed here—one that integrates the cultural archaeological heritage in question with environmental preservation and contemporary climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.

How to measure outcomes in forest restoration? A European review of success and failure indicators

Restoration involves the recovery and repair of environments because environmental damage is not always irreversible, and communities are not infinitely resilient to such harm. When restoration projects are applied to nature, either directly or indirectly these may take the form of ecological, forestry or hydrological restoration, for example. In the current scenario of global climate change and increasing intensity of disturbances the importance of restoration in all types of ecosystems in order to adapt to the new conditions (so called prestoration) is evident. Whatever the objective of the restoration initiative, there is a lack of consensus as regards common indicators to evaluate the success or failure of the different initiatives implemented. In this study, we have carried out an extensive meta-analysis review of scientific papers aiming to evaluate the outcomes of restoration projects. We have done a review and selected 95 studies implemented in Europe. We explored the main pre-restoration land cover in which restoration initiatives have been implemented, the main causes of degradation, the objective of the restoration action and the indicators selected to analyze the success or failure of the action. We identified a total of 84 indicators in the analyzed papers and compared with the ones proposed for forest in the recent Nature Restoration Law. The analysis revealed five indicators commonly used for the evaluation of restoration initiatives (abundance, coverage, density, Ellenberg indicator, and richness), even where the initial objective has not yet been achieved. Our findings underscore both the benefits and challenges associated with a specific set of harmonized indicators for evaluating the success or failure of restoration initiatives.

Active restoration after three decades: Seed addition increases native dominance compared to landscape‐scale secondary succession

Abstract Active restoration often aims to accelerate ecosystem recovery. However, active restoration may not be worthwhile if its effects are overwhelmed by changes that occur passively. Moreover, it can be challenging to separate the effects of passive processes, such as dispersal and natural succession, from active restoration efforts. We assess the 24‐year impact of actively restoring a Minnesota old‐field grassland via seed addition of native tallgrass prairie species. We compared the abundance of four functional plant groups in actively restored plots against abundances in three reference classes: (1) unrestored plots undergoing passive recovery within the same old field, (2) passively recovering plots in two nearby old fields of similar age and (3) a chronosequence of 21 old fields within the same landscape. Active restoration led to a higher abundance of native grasses and forbs in the 36 m2 treatment plots. Seed addition was more effective if the original vegetation was first removed using herbicide, burning and tilling. However, long‐term conclusions about the efficacy of active restoration varied widely depending on the choice of reference class. In our small‐scale restoration experiment, native abundance was similarly high in both the actively restored and reference plots after 24 years, suggesting either (1) passive recovery or (2) local dispersal of native species from nearby treatment plots (i.e. cross‐contamination). In contrast, a comparison with two nearby reference fields suggested active restoration resulted in much higher native abundance relative to passive recovery. A smaller, positive effect was detected when we compared actively restored plots to the chronosequence of old fields. In the chronosequence, many passively recovering old fields had transitioned to native grass dominance naturally, although active restoration appeared to increase native forb abundance. Synthesis and applications: Our findings highlight the importance of using scale‐appropriate references for assessing the efficacy and need for active restoration. Comparing actively restored plots with the surrounding landscape, we found that active restoration and passive recovery led to similar plant communities after 24 years. Because local dispersal from actively restored sites can nearby references, caution should be exercised when evaluating long‐term restoration projects using only small‐scale experiments.