Restoration Program Research Articles

The environmental impact assessment of China's ecological migration from a social-ecological perspective.

When accounting for the social-ecological impact of an ecological restoration program, both objective environmental contexts and people's subjective perceptions are required. While this kind of environmental impact assessment lacks a comprehensive perspective. We use the difference-in-differences model to evaluate the effect of the greenness of the landscape after ecological migration in the Qilian Mountains in China; and analysis of variance and fixed effects models are used to evaluate the effects of such ecological restoration programs on local people's perceptions. The results show that the ecological migration program in the Qilian Mountains has been successful at not only significantly improving remotely sensed greenness at the landscape scale, but also at enhancing immigrants' environmental perceptions. These findings demonstrate the environmental impacts of ecological migration from a social-ecological perspective, and can provide methodological implications for landscape planning to support a better understanding of ecological restoration programs in the drylands.

China's vegetation restoration programs accelerated vegetation greening on the Loess Plateau

The vegetation greening on the Loess Plateau, China, over recent decades, has been primarily driven by a series of vegetation restoration programs (VRPs) and other natural environmental changes (including climate change, rising atmospheric CO2 concentration, and nitrogen deposition, etc.). However, accurate determination of the contributions of natural environmental change and the VRPs to this greening has been challenging due to the lack of the exact time of policy implementation in different areas. Herein, we extracted the starting time of greening (SOG) from different sources of remote sensing data and used it as the starting time of the VRPs. Then, we employed a difference-in-differences (DID) method to ascertain the relative contributions of the VRPs on the observed vegetation greening. Results showed that the contribution of the VRPs to vegetation greening on the Loess Plateau was 23.8–35.8 %, with a greater contribution potentially originating from natural environmental factors. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationships among vegetation restoration policies and climate change, and offer a platform to quantify the climate effects on vegetation greening.

Recruitment of a threatened foundation oyster species varies with large and small spatial scales.

Understanding how habitat attributes (e.g., patch area and sizes, connectivity) control recruitment and how this is modified by processes operating at larger spatial scales is fundamental to understanding population sustainability and developing successful long-term restoration strategies for marine foundation species-including for globally threatened reef-forming oysters. In two experiments, we assessed the recruitment and energy reserves of oyster recruits onto remnant reefs of the oyster Saccostrea glomerata in estuaries spanning 550 km of coastline in southeastern Australia. In the first experiment, we determined whether recruitment of oysters to settlement plates in three estuaries was correlated with reef attributes within patches (distances to patch edges and surface elevation), whole-patch attributes (shape and size of patches), and landscape attributes (connectivity). We also determined whether environmental factors (e.g., sedimentation and water temperature) explained the differences among recruitment plates. We also tested whether differences in energy reserves of recruits could explain the differences between two of the estuaries (one high- and one low-sedimentation estuary). In the second experiment, across six estuaries (three with nominally high and three with nominally low sedimentation rates), we tested the hypothesis that, at the estuary scale, recruitment and survival were negatively correlated to sedimentation. Overall, total oyster recruitment varied mostly at the scale of estuaries rather than with reef attributes and was negatively correlated with sedimentation. Percentage recruit survival was, however, similar among estuaries, although energy reserves and condition of recruits were lower at a high- compared to a low-sediment estuary. Within each estuary, total oyster recruitment increased with patch area and decreased with increasing tidal height. Our results showed that differences among estuaries have the largest influence on oyster recruitment and recruit health and this may be explained by environmental processes operating at the same scale. While survival was high across all estuaries, growth and reproduction of oysters on remnant reefs may be affected by sublethal effects on the health of recruits in high-sediment estuaries. Thus, restoration programs should consider lethal and sublethal effects of whole-estuary environmental processes when selecting sites and include environmental mitigation actions to maximize recruitment success.

What did it used to look like? A case study from tall, wet mainland Mountain Ash forests prior to British invasion

AbstractThere has been extensive commentary about historical First Nations' land management in Australia, including in tall, wet forests, and therefore their condition at the time of the British invasion in 1788. Popular texts have interpreted records kept by early British invaders to argue that extensive areas of tall, wet forest were kept open through frequent burning by the First Peoples. However, these interpretations conflict with historical and ecological evidence, which is rarely acknowledged in public discourse. Here, we present evidence about what Victorian Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests were like at the time of the British invasion. We show that at the time of the British invasion, most areas of mainland Mountain Ash forests were likely to have been naturally dense and wet, with: (1) overstorey trees spaced relatively widely; and (2) an understorey consisting of a cool temperate rainforest mesic layer. Ecological and physiological evidence suggests that Mountain Ash forests evolved under conditions where high‐severity wildfire was comparatively rare, leading to patterns of landscape‐level cover dominated by relatively mature forests. This is broadly consistent with reports from the First Peoples, early historical accounts, paintings, and photographs. These forests were not open or park‐like, as may have been the case in some other Australian vegetation types. However, these forests were not wilderness, but places of significance to the First Peoples. Understanding forest structure at the time of the British invasion is critically important in establishing historical reference conditions for guiding appropriate restoration programmes, especially the reinstatement of traditional ecological knowledge, after long periods of post‐British invasion disturbance and degradation. Notably, the dense, wet understorey that characterizes Mountain Ash forests should be recognized as an inherent and entirely natural part of the ecological dynamics of this ecosystem, with approaches to thin, burn, or remove it highly likely to be counterproductive and have a range of detrimental environmental effects.

Геодезичне забезпечення відновлення багатофункціонального комплексу ТРЦ «Нікольський» в місті Харків

The application of geodetic surveys is a vital aspect of assessing the destruction of buildings as a result of Russian armed aggression. The study compares Ukrainian and foreign research methods, highlights their advantages and disadvantages. The legislative framework for geodetic support for restoration of buildings on the territory of Ukraine has been analyzed. As international experience has shown, geodetic surveys are an effective tool for assessing the destruction of buildings as a result of military operations. The study is aimed at evaluating the structural integrity on the example of the shopping and entertainment center “Nikolskyi” in the city of Kharkiv. Geodetic methods used to assess structural damage are reviewed, and an overview of the results of these damage assessments is provided. It is investigated how geodetic surveys can be used to assess structural damage in buildings. The purpose of the article is the study of geodetic works and methods of geodetic support for restoration works of the shopping center building. To achieve the goal, the following tasks were performed: analysis of previous experience in this area; the choice of the method of geodetic provision of restoration works; presenting the results of geodetic measurements; interpretation of the obtained results. Method. To obtain research results, special methods are used: constructive and substantive analysis – for the formation of research directions; analytical methods – to process the results of the shooting; mathematical modeling – to determine the amount of destruction and damage to the building. A Leica Geosystems TCRP 1205 tacheometer and other geodetic equipment were used in the study to assess the structural integrity of the shopping center. The combination of geodetic measurements with the use of tacheometers is an important area of application of tacheometers in similar tasks. In addition, classical surveys, using total station geodetic measurements, were performed in conjunction with an automatic strain monitoring system to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the structural integrity assessment. Therefore, using the specified devices, it is possible to accurately measure and analyze the structural integrity of the shopping center. Scientific novelty and practical significance. The scientific novelty of the conducted research consists in the creation of modern approaches to geodetic support for restoration works of buildings that were destroyed as a result of military operations. Original methods of geodetic surveying and a modern instrument base from NVP “Navigation and Geodetic Center” are applied. The proposed geodetic studies demonstrate the effectiveness of using geodetic measurements to assess structural damage to buildings. Deformation values obtained with the help of geodetic studies helped determine the volumes and technology of restoration, which provides important information for engineering works. It has been shown that the use of electronic tacheometer measurements is a reliable and accurate means of determining damage levels and locations even in complex fracture locations. The Leica TCRP 1205 total station accurately measures angles and distances in a reflection-free mode to achieve the highest accuracy of work. In addition, the measuring technology that was applied at the object of research can be used for geodetic research during the detection of shifts and deformations of building structures. Future research could explore the application of geodetic measurements to other types of buildings or structures damaged by military action. In general, the studies carried out reinforce the potential and importance of geodetic measurements for restoration programs that are planned and will be planned in the near future.

Partnerships in Mitigating Climate Change Impacts: a Case Study of the Mera Program

This research aims to analyze partnerships in mitigating the impacts of climate change through the MERA Program in Muara Angke Wildlife Sanctuary, North Jakarta, which runs from 2018 to 2020. The method used is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques through interviews, observations, and documentary studies. The results showed that the MERA Program successfully integrated multi-stakeholder partnerships in mangrove ecosystem restoration. The resulting positive impacts include economic benefits, treatment, natural disaster mitigation, and carbon reduction in the region. The program also significantly contributes to the achievement of various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as no poverty, no hunger, decent work, economic growth, sustainability, climate action, life under water, life on land, and partnership to achieve goals. The implication of this research is the importance of strengthening partnerships in efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change through a holistic ecosystem restoration program that involves various stakeholders. The implication of this research is the importance of strengthening partnerships in efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change through a holistic ecosystem restoration program that involves various stakeholders.

Coral mariculture using abandoned abalone farming ponds in northeastern Taiwan

Stony corals are ecologically and economically important marine organisms. Coral aquaculture is essential to provide live coral materials for the marine ornamental trade, reef restoration programs, and environmental education. This study sought to establish coral farms in Taiwan. To culture corals, we adopted an abandoned abalone farming pond built along the northeastern coast of Taiwan, and investigated whether it is possible to propagate corals in this artificial environment. Stainless steel underwater tables were anchored to the pond floor, and fragments of Acropora tumida, Pocillopora damicornis, Stylophora pistillata, Favites pentagona, and Porites lobata were cultured on the tables for one year. Environmental factors in the pond were also monitored. The mean surface temperature was 23.07 °C, ranging from >30 °C in summer to 18 °C in winter. The mean salinity and pH were about 35 ppt and 8.14, respectively. Survivorship of these five species after one year ranged from 100% to 67%, with a 1.37–1.51-fold increase in weight and a 3.22–3.38-fold increase in area, demonstrating that although environmental factors fluctuate depending on the season and weather, long-term and stable asexual propagation of corals is feasible in the pond. For further optimization of culture conditions, the effects of initial fragment size for culture on subsequent survival and growth were investigated. Fragments of 3 sizes (1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 cm) were prepared from parental colonies of A. tumida, P. damicornis, and S. pistillata and cultured for 6 months by hanging them under the table. There were no significant differences in survivorship among these sizes. Differences were observed in biomass (weight) increase. In A. tumida, 3-cm fragments showed significantly more weight gain than other lengths, while 1.5-cm fragments showed a significant weight increase in P. damicornis. In S. pistillata, no significant difference in weight increase was observed among size groups, suggesting the necessity to optimize the initial fragment size for culture for each species before mass culture. Histological analysis showed that mature gametes were formed in some cultured corals, suggesting that sexual propagation may also be possible in the future. The established coral farm, which is culturing >4000 coral fragments now, will be able to support not only basic and applied coral research, but also sustainable reef development and marine ornamental trade.

Existing wetland conservation programs miss nutrient reduction targets.

Restoring wetlands will reduce nitrogen contamination from excess fertilization but estimates of the efficacy of the strategy vary widely. The intervention is often described as effective for reducing nitrogen export from watersheds to mediate bottom-level hypoxia threatening marine ecosystems. Other research points to the necessity of applying a suite of interventions, including wetland restoration to mitigate meaningful quantities of nitrogen export. Here, we use process-based physical modeling to evaluate the effects of two hypothetical, but plausible large-scale wetland restoration programs intended to reduce nutrient export to the Gulf of Mexico. We show that full adoption of the two programs currently in place can meet as little as 10% to as much as 60% of nutrient reduction targets to reduce the Gulf of Mexico dead zone. These reductions are lower than prior estimates for three reasons. First, net storage of leachate in the subsurface precludes interception and thereby dampens the percent decline in nitrogen export caused by the policy. Unlike previous studies, we first constrained riverine fluxes to match observed fluxes throughout the basin. Second, the locations of many restorable lands are geographically disconnected from heavily fertilized croplands, limiting interception of runoff. Third, daily resolution of the model simulations captured the seasonal and stormflow dynamics that inhibit wetland nutrient removal because peak wetland effectiveness does not coincide with the timing of nutrient inputs. To improve the health of the Gulf of Mexico efforts to eliminate excess nutrient, loading should be implemented beyond the field-margin wetland strategies investigated here.

Ukraine’s post-war recovery program as a basis for the development of electric vehicles and electric infrastructure

The article is devoted to the determination of the development of domestic electric vehicle transport and electric vehicle infrastructure on the basis of such an economic and legal instrument as the post-war recovery program of Ukraine, taking into account EU approaches in the legal regulation of decarbonization of the transport sector. The European Commission adopted the Communiqué to the European Parliament, the European Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions «Assistance and Reconstruction of Ukraine» on 18.05.2022, where the provision of funds for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine is conditioned by our country’s compliance with current European policies and standards, one of which there is decarbonization. Therefore, Ukraine should carry out post-war reconstruction taking into account the experience and approaches outlined by the international acts of the EU. The National Council for the Recovery of Ukraine from the Consequences of the War, a consultative and advisory body under the President of Ukraine, proposed a draft Plan for the Recovery of Ukraine. Based on the analysis of the provisions of the project component of the Recovery Plan of Ukraine «Restoration and development of infrastructure». It was concluded that the project of the Recovery Plan of Ukraine and its component «Recovery and development of infrastructure» is an economic and legal instrument of a programmatic nature. It establishes a systematic approach to the more active use of electric vehicles and the development of electric charging stations. The plan defines short-term, medium-term and strategic tasks for the development of electric mobility infrastructure. The general program approaches defined in this act correspond to the directions established by the normative legal acts that were adopted to regulate the issues of environmentalization of the domestic transport sector before the war, as well as the general directions of the development of the charging infrastructure of electric vehicles, outlined by the international acts adopted in the EU. The disadvantage is that a complete transition to electric transport for the transportation of passengers on urban and suburban routes is foreseen in the medium term, which is an extremely limited period. In the Plan, it is expedient to use the objective indicators of the development of the system of electric filling stations, which are established in the domestic regulatory and technical acts. Also, the directions of the development of electric transport and the network of electric gas stations should be reflected in the programs of comprehensive restoration of the region, the territory of the territorial community.

Tree species with potential for reforestation in coastal zones of the humid tropics

Aim of study: The native species of warm humid climates Ceiba pentandra, Tabebuia rosea, Gliricidia sepium, Enterolobium cyclocarpum and Brosimum alicastrum are often included in Mexican reforestation programs. We evaluated the growth response in sandy soils of these species that could serve as pioneers in the restoration of coastal areas. Area of study: Alluvial plain in Frontera, Tabasco, Mexico. Material and methods: A total of 1080 plants were planted in 2014 and evaluated for 23 months in 30 plots under a randomized block design with six replications. The sample plots each occupied 36 m2 (each with 16 plants). Survival percentage, stem height (SH), basal diameter (BD) and basal area (BA) were quantified. Survival and growth variables were analyzed using logistic regression and ANOVA for repeated measures, respectively. Main results: At the end of the experiment (2016), high survival was demonstrated in G. sepium (88 %) and in C. pentandra (86 %), while B. alicastrum presented total mortality at six months. The highest values of SH and BD were presented in C. pentandra (2.9 m and 7.8 cm, respectively) and in G. sepium (2.6 m and 4.2 cm, respectively). Gliricidia sepium differed significantly from C. pentandra in terms of BA (5.9 vs. 23 m2 ha-1, respectively). Research highlights: The native species C. pentandra and G. sepium presented high survival and growth in the sandy soils; G. sepium showed strong adaptation to the environment and C. pentandra offered suitable coverage, characteristics that are necessary for the success of reforestation and restoration programs.

The impact of outdoor environments in public rental housing complexes on residents’ psychological restoration

PurposeThis study examines the impact of outdoor environments in public rental housing complexes on residents’ psychological restoration, taking into account the interconnectedness of physical and psychological factors in human health. Drawing on Kaplan and Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory and Ulrich’s Supportive Design Theory, the research investigates the factors influencing residents’ psychological restoration within these outdoor spaces.Design/methodology/approachThe Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS), which is based on the Attention Restoration Theory and the Zuckerman Inventory of Personal Reactions (ZIPERS) are used to assess residents’ restorative experiences. Field research was conducted to collect data on the outdoor environments, and surveys were administered to the residents. The study analyzes the data using SPSS, including both factor and correlation analyses, to explore the relationship between the restorative effect and emotional factors.FindingsThe study verified a significant influence of positive emotions in ZIPERS on PRS’ overall restorative effect, thus supporting the utilization of both PRS and ZIPERS factors together to assess comprehensively the impact of outdoor environments on residents’ psychological restoration.Originality/valueBy employing a multidimensional approach involving residents’ experiences and emotions, this study quantified emotional and psychological data, which were hard to quantify. These results provide a basis for developing more objective restoration environment design guidelines and programs in the future.

Differentiated impacts of environmental contexts on residents' environmental attitudes towards ecological restoration programs of China's drylands

Residents' environmental attitudes (EAs) towards ecological restoration programs are vital for evaluating program effectiveness and promoting environmental management. However, most local studies have neglected the indirect environmental contextual influences on residents' EAs, and have omitted the regional variations in the environmental contextual influences. To investigate the multilevel factors affecting residents' EAs, we conducted a transect survey that included the eastern, middle, and western regions in northern China's drylands, where have experienced ecological restoration. Multilevel linear models (MLMs) were applied to analyse the direct and indirect impacts of environmental contexts and individual characteristics on rural residents' EAs. The results showed the environmental context can indirectly impact EAs by amplifying the influence of individual characteristics such as family structure and income on EAs. The EAs are influenced by different local environmental contexts among the east, middle and west of China's drylands. The humidity attitude was influenced by precipitation only in the highly arid western and middle regions, while precipitation attitude is strongly influenced by land surface temperature and humidity in eastern China's drylands. These findings hold important implications for understanding the cross-scale impact of environmental contexts on EAs in drylands.

Long-term sediment organic carbon remineralization in different seagrass and macroalgae habitats: implication for blue carbon storage

Seagrass and macroalgae beds are key blue carbon ecosystems in the ocean. However, coastal development and climate change are sparking a growing concern about the vulnerability of sediment organic carbon (OC) to remineralization after macrophyte perturbation. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the potential of long-term remineralization of sediment OC stocks (1 year) in coastal vegetated habitats (i.e., seagrasses Zostera noltei and Cymodocea nodosa, macroalgae Caulerpa prolifera and unvegetated sediment) after complete disturbance of macrophyte meadows under conducive conditions to microorganisms growth (i.e., oxygen saturated, non-nutrient limitation, turbulence and dark). Leached dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from particulate organic carbon (POC) remineralization, carbonate dissolution and photo-reactivity of long-term persistent DOC were also evaluated. Our results evidenced that, sediment OC from Z. noltei and unvegetated habitats were entirely remineralized to CO2. However, sediment OC from C. nodosa and C. prolifera communities exhibited a significant fraction of recalcitrant OC, and therefore, a 42 and 46% of the sediment OC still remained after 1 year of culture, respectively. POC remineralization released relevant amounts of both labile and recalcitrant DOC, which showed low photo-reactivity. Finally, we discuss that the main argument to promote management, monitoring, and restoration programs for macrophytes is usually based on their sediment OC deposit, which favor larger species. The study presented here adds arguments to also include small macrophyte species, since their sediment OC may be highly labile and entirely remineralized to CO2 once these habitats are disturbed.

Interactions between seed functional traits and environmental factors and their influence on germination performance of Australian native species

Abstract Climate variability is expected to increase due to climate change, with projected increases in temperature and erratic rainfall patterns. These changes will alter the environmental cues sensed by seeds, and therefore will impact plant recruitment. This study investigated the effects of seed functional traits (germinability, germination time, synchrony and seed mass) on germination responses of several sub-tropical native Australian plant species under different environmental factors (water stress, salinity and pH). The effect of a hot water pre-treatment was also tested on Fabaceae seeds with known physical dormancy. Seed traits, environmental factors and seed pre-treatments had significant effects on final germination percentage and germination time. Seed mass and time to 50% germination (t50) were also positively correlated. In contrast, pH did not affect germination and there was no interaction between pH and any of the measured seed functional traits. Some species showed a high thermal tolerance to germination and germination was indifferent to light conditions for all species. Results showed that certain seed functional traits interact with environmental factors to influence germination percentage and time. These findings highlight the importance of considering seed functional traits when determining a species germination response under a changing climate. In addition, the findings provide important knowledge to better guide seed-based land restoration programmes.

Aquaculture of emerging species in North-Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea: a systematic review on sea cucumber farming and potential development

Sea cucumbers are considered a traditional food delicacy in Asian countries. In last decades high market demand, uncontrolled exploitation and inadequate management have led to stock overexploitation, driving commercial interest in new target species and new areas. In recent years, Mediterranean and North-East Atlantic sea cucumbers have become fishing targets, and, due to overfishing, a significant decline of wild populations have been observed, with detrimental effects on benthic communities and ecosystems. Indeed, in addition to being an important economic resource, sea cucumbers play a key ecological role in benthic dynamics where they are involved as ecosystem engineers in the processing of organic matter in the detrital food web pathway. In this context, aquaculture can play a crucial role in supporting the conservation of natural stocks by reducing harvesting pressure on wild populations and enabling restoration programmes for depleted stocks. Commercial sea cucumber farming is already an established reality in the Indo-Pacific region, where it has become one of the most profitable sectors of aquaculture production. In Europe, on the other hand, sea cucumber aquaculture is still an emerging sector, whose development is hampered by poor and fragmented information on the farming requirements of native species. In this context, this systematic review was carried out with the aim of providing a comprehensive summary of the state of the art of farming practices of the European sea cucumbers considered as a target of commercial fisheries. A total of 34 original articles were included in this review, after title, abstract and full-text screening. The results highlighted a sharp increase in the number of studies over the last six years. Portugal, Turkey and Italy are the countries where most research has been carried out. Among the selected species, Holothuria tubulosa was the most studied, while only one article was found on Parastichopus regalis. The main aims of this review were i) to gather all available literature on the farming practices of North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean sea cucumber species, ii) to outline the most common farming practices, iii) to identify gaps and future directions in this emerging aquaculture sector.

Addressing inequities and meeting needs of Indigenous communities in floodplain management

Anthropogenic impacts have altered and degraded global ecosystems. Integrated resource management offers an important solution to enhance collaboration, holistic thinking, and equity by considering diverse perspectives in decision making. In Washington State, Floodplains by Design (FbD) is a floodplain management and habitat restoration program that emphasizes bringing together diverse stakeholders and supporting conversations between local, state, and Tribal governments while enhancing environmental justice in the region. Marginalized communities continue to be disproportionately impacted by environmental disturbances. Our project interviewed Tribal natural resource managers to assess the degree to which they felt FbD was supporting their community’s needs. Our research asked three questions: (1) What Tribal needs and inequities associated with floodplains are identified by Tribal natural resource managers? (2) Are these needs and inequities being addressed by FbD? and (3) How can FbD better address these needs and inequities moving forward? We found that while the integrated approach of FbD was driving solutions in some realms, there are ways in which the program could better support needs and address inequities in Tribal communities. Specifically, we found that conventional responses to environmental challenges are rooted in modernist paradigms that have created persistent dualities, including that of human-nature and human-nonhuman. Such a paradigm is in conflict with wellbeing and self-determination of Tribal cultures that are deeply connected to Pacific salmon. In closing, we provide insights on these mechanisms and offer solutions moving forward.

Assess the level of damage to the coral reef ecosystem based on substrate coverage on Bira Island, Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia

Abstract. Komala R, Noer MI, Miarsyah M, Widyartini DS, Handayani. 2024. Assess the level of damage to the coral reef ecosystem based on substrate coverage on Bira Island, Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 971-977. Coral reefs are coastal ecosystems that have an important ecological and economic role. Environmental pressures cause damage to ecosystems and decrease coral biodiversity. This study aims to analyze the level of damage to coral reef ecosystems based on substrate cover and obtain the latest information on coral reef ecosystem resources. The study employs a descriptive method with a survey design, utilizing Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) sampling at various depths along the coastline. The data is analyzed using Coral Point Count with Excel extension (CPCe) for substrate cover percentage and the Shannon-Wienner index for coral diversity. The findings reveal nine categories of basic substrate cover, with living hard corals constituting 32.51%, indicating a fairly damaged state. Coral resources are identified across 53 genera and 15 families, exhibiting medium diversity across stations and depths. The study highlights the need to monitor environmental threats that could further damage coral reefs and decrease diversity. The coral reef ecosystem in Bira Island is in a relatively damaged condition, with a decline in coral biodiversity, indicating an imbalance in the ecosystem. Several recommended steps include implementing coral restoration programs, monitoring coral growth, establishing critical coral habitat protection zones, and conducting conservation efforts.

Grass species with potential for rangelands restoration in northern Mexico: an assessment with environmental niche modeling

Environmental niche modeling (ENM) has emerged as a promising tool for identifying grass species with potential for rangeland restoration. This approach can detect suitable areas and environments where these species can be planted. In this study, we employed ENM to estimate the potential distribution range of 50 grass species of the grasslands and shrublands of northern Mexico. The outcome of the ENM served to identify grass species with potential for restoration in Mexico, especially those not commonly used for that purpose in the past. Results suggested the possibility of selecting seven grass species with the potential for revegetating degraded grasslands, nine for shrublands, and six for alkaline soils. This research provides insights into the environmental adaptations of different grass species distributed in the rangelands of northern Mexico. Ecologists, conservation planners, researchers, and range managers could use these outcomes and the maps of the potential distribution ranges as supportive information to conduct effective restoration efforts. In turn, this can assist in increasing the probability of success of future rangelands restoration programs, which are often costly in terms of financial investments and labor.

The history of Fagus sylvatica at its northern limit in Vendsyssel, Denmark

Pollen, plant macrofossils and charcoal analyses were used to study tree diversity, fire history and forest disturbance over the past c. 3500 years at three forest remnant sites in Vendsyssel, northern Denmark. All locations had a more diverse tree composition in the past including abundant Alnus, Betula, Corylus, Pinus, Quercus, Salix, Tilia and Ulmus. The changes in tree diversity through time can be attributed to a combination of factors including climate change, burning linked to shifting cultivation, grazing and felling. The balance between arboreal and non-arboreal pollen was already being influenced by human activities in the late Bronze Age c. 3000 years ago. The high pollen abundance values recorded for Tilia pre-2000 years ago are exceptional as compared to later periods at these sites. At one location, the transition from Tilia to Fagus indicated that Tilia prevailed until c. 1300 years ago. Subsequent periods of forest clearance, with charcoal and cereal cultivation, initially including Hordeum and subsequently also Secale, were recorded. There was pollen evidence for grazing followed by shrub regeneration including Calluna, Erica, Juniperus and herbaceous taxa, and following that, a forest recovery of mainly Fagus, Picea and Pinus. This recovery is also recorded in historical forest records from 1880 CE onwards, emphasising the dominant role of plantation schemes. Results are placed in a wider framework of other sites in Denmark and southern Scandinavia, which have also documented a reduction of tree diversity and forest cover over the same period. The evidence from the long-term record is used to draw conclusions to assist forest restoration programmes.

A paleoecological context for forest distribution and restoration in Grootbos Nature Reserve, Agulhas Plain, South Africa

Grootbos Nature Reserve falls within the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and comprises fynbos and forest vegetation elements, which exist as alternate stable states and are naturally maintained by feedbacks between vegetation, fire, topography and climate. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in forest extent in the Baviaansfontein valley in Grootbos Nature Reserve in order to understand whether current forest coverage was greater or lesser prior to colonial settlement. Incorporating paleoecology has the potential to define historical ranges of landscape variability that can guide forest restoration programs that are aligned to historical forest occurrence. Not all landscapes are suited for tree planting initiatives as they harbor indigenous open vegetation, which is of conservation value. Historical and palaeoecological information is especially valuable as tree planting initiatives and reforestation programs are becoming more popular. Here we present a combined palynological (pollen, spores, charcoal) and geochemical approach (X-ray fluorescence elemental ratios, Loss-on-ignition), to evaluate the historic extent and distribution of forest and fynbos vegetation for the past ~250 years at Baviaansfontein in the Grootbos Nature Reserve. The start of the record was dominated by pollen typical of asteraceous fynbos, with evidence of forest elements also present, though in low abundance. After 200 years (c.1750 CE–1950 CE) of increased input of micro- and macrocharcoal, the subsequent decline in charcoal indicates a decrease in fire occurrence. This decline coincides with increased input of forest pollen taxa, suggesting that fire suppression most likely triggered forest expansion and perhaps initiated the beginning of a biome boundary shift. The continued decline in fire promoted the development of the present-day proteoid fynbos type around ~1980 CE and was responsible for the replacement of the previously more asteraceous-dominated fynbos type. The results show that changes in fire occurrence have driven compositional changes over time within fynbos but also contributed to the expansion of forest at the expense of fynbos. Considering the palaeoecological record and the expected warmer climate with more fires, forest expansion at Baviaansfontein is not recommended. The proteoid-dominated fynbos biome might be similarly negatively affected by warmer climate and a shift to an asteraceous fynbos community could occur in the future.