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Over the past five decades, land degradation, desertification and food insecurity have been a major concern globally. Severally initiatives by development actors to combat the menace has yielded low results. Yet studies have reported the importance of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration as panacea for combating land degradation and desertification in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to contribute to the growing evidence of farmers perceived FMNR, their willingness to adopt the practice and the management practices. This study explores how smallholder farmers perceived FMNR and their willingness to adopt the concept for environmental management and sustainability. Using a mixed methods approach, interviews, structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were conducted across the study communities. The results show that, farmers perceived farmer managed natural regeneration as critical to reclaiming the environment that has been lost to desertification and land degradation. Farmers also perceived FMNR as a way of restoring lost ecosystem services, particularly provisioning and supporting ecosystem functions. The results further show that farmers have adopted the practices, and need continuous tree management support from the Forestry Commission of Ghana and non-profit organizations to restore their gradually diminishing forest cover. The study recommends the need to provide farmers with seedlings or train farmers on nursing and transplanting of seedlings. In this way, farmers across areas demarcated for FMNR across Africa and other destinations are able to have access to enough seedlings for planting to regenerate the tree cover for current and intergenerational benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall variability coupled with poor land and water management is contributing to food insecurity in many sub-Saharan African countries such as Ethiopia. To address such challenges, various efforts have been implemented in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term impacts of different soil and water conservation and water harvesting interventions on groundwater and drought resilience of the Gule watershed, northern Ethiopia. The study involved: (i) documentation of the approaches followed and the technologies implemented in Gule since the 1990s, (ii) monitoring the hydrological effects of the interventions for ten years, and (iii) evaluation of the effects of the interventions on groundwater (level and quality), spring discharge and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in runoff. Results showed that interventions were implemented at different stages and scales. As a result of the interventions, the watershed was transformed into a landscape resilient to rainfall variability: (a) dry shallow groundwater wells have become productive and the level of water in wells has raised, (b) the groundwater quality has improved, (c) SSC in high floods has reduced by up to 65%, (d) discharge of existing springs has increased by up to 73% and new springs have started to emerge. Due to improved water availability, irrigated land has increased from less than 3.5 ha before 2002 to 166 ha in 2019. Communities have remained water-secure during an extreme drought in 2015/2016. Implementation of watershed management practices has transformed the landscape to be resilient to rainfall variability in a semi-arid environment: a lesson for adaptation to climate variability and change in similar environments.

It is vital to explore the potential of homegardens as (HGs) one of the major Trees Outside Forest sources in the Upper Mahaweli Catchment (UMC) in Sri Lanka, to restore ecosystem services lost due to large-scale deforestation. Woody tree diversity of HGs was assessed using diversity indices in selected agro-ecological regions of UMC. Then biophysical, socio-economic and institutional factors affecting the tree diversity of HGs were assessed. Data was collected from woody tree species from a 500 random sample of HGs located in two major districts in UMC using a resource assessment survey coupled with a household survey. A multiple linear regression analysis was implemented with primary and secondary data, using the STATA software. A total of 64,163 trees were enumerated and 110 woody tree species from 38 families were recorded. Shannon index, Simpson index Margalef and Evenness index ranged from 1.51–3.21, 0.32–0.91, 2.06–8.76 to 0.34–0.71 respectively. The majority of Agro-ecological regions such as Upcountry Intermediate Zone–IU2, Mid country Intermediate Zone–IM3a, Upcountry Wet Zone–WU2b, Mid country Wet Zone–WM2a, WM2b and IM3c recorded high tree diversity. Comparatively high evenness recorded in agro-ecological regions of Upcountry Intermediate Zone–IU2, Mid-country Wet Zone–WM2a and Upcountry Intermediate Zone–IU3d., is due to the rapid spreading of exotic species. According to the regression model (R2–50%, p < 0.01), several factors affected positively and negatively on tree diversity. Tree diversity in the majority of HGs located in UMC was similar to some South-Asian tropical forests, indicating the high potential of HGs in the ecological restoration of degraded UMC landscapes. Therefore, incentive-based policy instruments should be introduced to enhance the tree diversity of HGs to restore ecosystem services and the ecological sustainability of the UMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Ecological restoration is informed by established guidelines, including the use of reference ecosystems to direct restoration objectives and quantify progress. Despite their importance, the use of reference conditions in restoration projects has been inconsistent, particularly where habitat degradation has occurred at landscape scales. Here we use baseline vegetation data and the relationship between vegetation communities and environmental conditions to identify and select positive reference sites within a proposed landscape‐scale restoration project. In addition, we demonstrate the use of positive references in monitoring through an adjacent post‐restoration case study area. Location: Wild Nephin National Park, Mayo, Ireland. Methods: Vegetation communities at sites (n = 230) within a large (4700 ha) proposed restoration area were surveyed using quadrats. Positive reference sites were identified following community classification within the Irish Vegetation Classification (IVC). The environmental determinants of positive references were assessed through redundancy analysis. Based on these determinants, sites with similar environmental conditions were identified though k‐medoids clustering, enabling positive references to be spatially designated. Ordination and Ellenberg's indicator values were used to demonstrate the use of positive references in restoration monitoring. Results: A total of 49 positive reference sites were identified for the study area. Altitude, soil type, subsoil type, soil depth and topographical position were identified as significant determinants of communities within positive reference sites. K‐medoids clustering with 11 clusters accurately grouped environmentally similar regions of the study area and enabled positive reference sites to be determined and designated spatially based on the cluster groupings. Conclusions: Overall, the study demonstrates with a practical example how landscape‐scale restoration can be informed and monitored through the identification of appropriate positive reference sites within the restoration area, based on the relationship between existing non‐degraded plant communities and their environmental determinants, derived from baseline habitat data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term contributions of agroforestry to landscape restoration should be carefully managed. Agroforestry began as early as 1977, meanwhile, landscape restoration, gained traction after the 2011 Bonn Challenge. Since missing the 2020 Bonn Challenge targets, there's urgency to hit 2030 ambitions and secure the gains later. We use here, the participatory domestication of Irvingia wombolu, as an agroforestry pathway to mosaic landscape restoration. This paper describes the transfer of planting materials of this species between two agroecological regions of Cameroon. Over a twenty-year period; 2003 to 2023. we analyze the steps; reflections; performance of the transferred materials; and mixed fortunes they brought to beneficiary communities. A number of lessons emerge for agroforestry and landscape restoration practices; (i) there is need for future technical and social safeguarding, to support vulnerable segments of beneficiary communities; (ii) the cost of safeguarding should be anticipated; (iii) as the 'decade of restoration', looms models are necessary to anticipate the future; (iv) user-friendly models of ecosystem services of agroforestry systems are needed to leverage private sector funding; and (v) a 'maintenance mentality' and mechanism for restored landscapes, need to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimates of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) are valuable for effective monitoring and management of water resources. In areas that lack ground-based monitoring networks, remote sensing allows for accurate and consistent estimates of ETa across a broad scale—though each algorithm has limitations (i.e., ground-based validation, temporal consistency, spatial resolution). We developed an ensemble mean ETa (EMET) product to incorporate advancements and reduce uncertainty among algorithms (e.g., energy-balance, optical-only), which we use to estimate vegetative water use in response to restoration practices being implemented on the ground using management interventions (i.e., fencing pastures, erosion control structures) on a private ranch in Baja California Sur, Mexico. This paper describes the development of a monthly EMET product, the assessment of changes using EMET over time and across multiple land use/land cover types, and the evaluation of differences in vegetation and water distribution between watersheds treated by restoration and their controls. We found that in the absence of a ground-based monitoring network, the EMET product is more robust than using a single ETa data product and can augment the efficacy of ETa-based studies. We then found increased ETa within the restored watershed when compared to the control sites, which we attribute to increased plant water availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of local native plant species for ecological restoration and rehabilitation is considered an important strategy for nature-based solutions. To achieve this goal, the key work is to understand the distribution of local native plants and their limiting factors. Pittosporum tobira is a keystone species of the vegetation community in subtropical coastal areas, and it plays an essential role in the function and stability of the coastal vegetation buffer zone. The aim of this study was to identify the factors that restrict the growth of P. tobira in the subtropical supratidal zone. We investigated the growth and development of P. tobira plants at three field sites, Dongtou Island (DT), Yuhuan Island (YH), and Cangnan County (CN), in Zhejiang Province, China. To investigate the key factors restricting the growth of this species, we sampled soils from both the supratidal zone and the P. tobira habitat zone. Soils in the supratidal zone showed typical characteristics of sodium chloride-type saline-alkali soil, and the soluble salts content showed wide fluctuations. Some soils in the supratidal zone showed severe salinization. The soil pH and soluble salts contents were higher, but soil organic matter content was lower, in the supratidal zone than in the P. tobira habitat zone. Among the three wild P. tobira habitat sites, DT had the lowest soil nutrient contents. In soil from the DT site, the soluble salts content was 150 % higher and soil organic matter content was 50 % lower than those in soils from the YH and CN sites. Compared with P. tobira growing at the CN and YH sites, those growing at the DT site showed higher antioxidant enzyme activity, higher organic osmotic regulatory substances content, and lower malondialdehyde content in the leaves and roots. These results suggest that the growth and distribution of P. tobira are affected by the organic matter content, pH, and soluble salts content in soil. Among the three P. tobira populations studied here, the population at DT was the most tolerant to the highly saline conditions in this subtropical coastal area, and has potential applications in landscape restoration of the supratidal zone.

Public extension services disseminate awareness and promote community participation in landscape restoration efforts around the world. Due to the importance of forest restoration programs in Pakistan, access to public extension services can have a significant impact on community mobilization in reforestation efforts. This study quantifies the social and landscape restoration impacts of extension services in communities with and without access to extension services. It also identifies the factors influencing community-level access to extension services in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region of Pakistan. The results of our study showed that those communities that had access to extension services were more active and effective in restoring forest landscapes than those that didn't have access to extension services. Extension services increased awareness of forest conservation, adoption and implementation of forest management strategies, changes in attitudes and behaviors, and social empowerment through capacity building. The findings suggested that several factors, including no roads to a village on hilltop, proximity/distance of a village to the extension office, lack of community cooperation with extension officers, weak government support for extension agents and elite capture in the communities restricted communities' access to extension services. Based on the findings of the study, we recommend the development of infrastructure, especially roads to uphill villages, and the recruitment of more extension agents to include marginalized communities in extension programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil consumption, marked by the expansion of artificial land cover for residential, productive, and infrastructural purposes, is a concerning trend in Italy, as revealed by the Copernicus land monitoring program. The issue is exacerbated by agricultural intensification and urbanization, particularly affecting regions like Lombardia and Piemonte. However, Sicilia, Abruzzo, and Lazio experience notable increases in processes of abandonment and re-naturalization. Data from Ispra highlights the need for in-depth study, especially in regions like Sicilia, where contrasting phenomena occur. This study utilizes Ispra data to monitor and formulate strategies for mitigating soil consumption and safeguarding ecosystem services. The research aligns with objectives related to combating climate change and facilitating the ecological transition of territories. The complexity of land consumption, influenced by interdependent factors, is evident in the achieved results. Effective strategies for containment and re-naturalization involve the implementation of town planning regulations and multi-level behavioral pathways. This study aims to identify contextual actions that can reduce land consumption, promote de-impermeabilization, and encourage re-naturalization, focusing on enhancing ecosystem services in land use activities. Thus, it focuses on understanding the contributions of ecosystem services, landscape restoration and green infrastructure on climate mitigation, and a reduction in land consumption in urban regeneration processes. As well, through open-source systems, it is important to monitor in real time the trend of the quantity of factors and variables and the state of the environment, and the reasons to intervene with systemic strategies and actions constitutes another lens of focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an effect of forest degradation, soil erosion is among Ethiopia's most pressing environmental challenges and a major threat to food security where it could potentially compromise the ecosystem functions and services. As the effects of soil erosion intensify, the landscape's capacity to support ecosystem functions and services is compromised. Exploring the ecological implications of soil erosion is crucial. This study investigated the soil loss and land degradation in the Lake Abaya catchment to explore forest landscape restoration (FLR) implementation as a possible countermeasure to the effects. The study used a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to determine the potential annual soil loss and develop an erosion risk map. Results show that 13% of the catchment, which accounts for approximately 110,000 ha, is under high erosion risk of exceeding the average annual tolerable soil loss of 10 t/ha/year. Allocation of land on steep slopes to crop production is the major reason for the calculated high erosion risk in the catchment. A scenario-based analysis was implemented following the slope-based land-use allocation proposal indicated in the Rural Land Use Proclamation 456/2005 of Ethiopia. The scenario analysis resulted in a reversal erosion effect whereby an estimated 3000 t/ha/year of soil loss in the catchment. Thus, FLR activities hold great potential for minimizing soil loss and contributing to supporting functioning and providing ecosystem services. Tree-based agroforestry systems are among the key FLR measures championed in highly degraded landscapes in Ethiopia. This study helps policymakers and FLR implementors identify erosion risk areas for future FLR activities. Thereby, it contributes to achieving the country's restoration commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The War has had serious effects on Ukraine’s forests, in the form of direct damage and fires caused by various munitions. Important damage, though, includes extensive minefields, dud ordnance, and booby traps which are causing forests to be closed to all activities. A study using remotely sensed data reveals that in 2022, more than 70,000 ha of the forests suffered severe destruction and damage due to shelling, fires, and illegal logging by occupying forces. Substantial efforts and innovative strategies are needed to address reforestation and restoration in the face of future climate change. In much of the steppe region and adjacent areas, forests and shelterbelts have been under stress already. The loss of shelterbelts in these regions can compromise future harvests due to rising droughts, sandstorms, soil erosion, and other environmental challenges Important damage, though, is not visible in drone images: extensive minefields, dud ordnance, and booby traps are causing forests to be closed to all activities. Simply completing damage assessments and developing plans for addressing these issues will be an enormous task, involving all agencies, private groups, and local governments concerned with forests, and with international support. Difficult decisions on priorities will be required. Planning is underway on an international basis for programs of demining, bolstering fire management systems, and initiating restoration programs. An overstressed forest fire control system will need to be redesigned to handle future challenges. Shelterbelts will in many instances recover naturally on their own as it will be too hazardous for active restoration measures until demining is done, a task that will take decades. Full restoration of normal, safe activity in the rural areas and forests will only be achieved generations in the future. This paper presents a rapid assessment of the immediate issues and important longterm concerns.

In landscape design and ecological restoration, humans shape the landscape. In doing so, practitioners express values that are not always stated explicitly. Here, we discuss how the values expressed by landscape designers and ecological scientists have constantly evolved through history and remain contested and re‐negotiated today—a phenomenon we term the "evolving circle of landscape design." Values inherent in present‐day landscape design and restoration (e.g. biodiversity, climate resilience) may be one transient point among many (e.g. power relations of societies in the past, digital landscapes of societies in the future) on this evolving circle. We believe that a critical, reflective understanding of the values expressed during landscape design and restoration will enable practitioners to choose more freely which values are expressed in landscapes, and that doing so will empower our disciplines to help society meet its present and future challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As we enter the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, the need to engage in restoration activities has never been greater. Included within this need is a requirement for clear communication between researchers, practitioners, policymakers, stakeholders, and community members. To facilitate the discussion and assessment of restorative activities, we propose two decision trees to differentiate between key restoration terms (Reclamation, Rehabilitation, Ecological Restoration, Rewilding, Landscape Restoration, Intra-Ecosystem Restoration, Reference Condition Restoration, and Ecological Reclamation) and to clarify how they relate to each other, based upon project scope and desired/intended project outcomes. Continued use of unclear terminology impedes practitioners or researchers from using the literature efficiently, to find precedents that could assist their current efforts. As such, increasing clarity of communications will ensure restoration is discussed within a framework of well-defined and agreed upon terms. It is our hope that this suggested framework will contribute to the ongoing and much needed terminology debate and help enhance cohesion on the use of key terms within the restoration focused literature. Given the increased focus upon restoration projects of any kind, especially during the UN's decade of ecosystem restoration, it is more important than ever that restoration practitioners speak the same language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of land restoration has garnered increasing attention on the global stage through large‐scale initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge. However, policies and strategies are often gender‐blind and designed in compliance with entrenched social hierarchies, exacerbating pre‐existing social inequalities that affect restoration initiatives. The challenge of developing gender‐responsive policies and initiatives is accentuated by a persistent lack of sex‐disaggregated data concerning men's and women's differing perceptions and experiences. This study aims to help fill this gap by capturing the differences in men and women's perceptions of ecosystem services before and after restoration interventions in Ethiopia. Towards that end, in October 2021, we collected data from fifty‐nine (59) paired husband‐wife households and six gender‐segregated focus group discussions in two regions of Ethiopia: Amhara and Southern Nations, and Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP). Kendall's concordance analysis established a strong degree of disagreement between men's and women's ratings of restoration outcomes for most indicators. Men attributed degradation to landscape conditions and natural forces, while women considered the lack of appropriate restoration strategies as a precursor for accelerated degradation. The study also reveals that men tended to benefit more than women from enhanced ecosystem services post‐restoration, with increased labour and land management burdens often falling on the shoulders of women. Based on these findings, we argue that including men's and women's perspectives from the earliest planning phases of restoration initiatives is essential to ensure greater equity in benefit‐sharing, mitigate trade‐offs for women, and build more nuanced, just and successful approaches to restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape restoration activities must be conducted through a transdisciplinary process, integrating social, economic, environmental, and governance aspects. Combining visions from the natural and social sciences is a challenge in highly complex territories, where unique ecosystem characteristics, economic processes, stakeholders of diverse nature, and different normativity converge. The harmonization of multiple techniques, such as multicriteria spatial analysis, expert knowledge elicitation, and social mapping, allows for an approach to defining landscape restoration areas in complex regions. This paper employs multiple techniques to define ecosystem restoration areas in a complex Colombian Andes landscape, integrating ecological and social components for sustainable development. We observed that areas of high and very high feasibility for ecological restoration, encompassing 179.5 hectares (4.84% of the study area), are predominantly located near primary forests. Although some areas have a low feasibility for conservation processes, they should not be disregarded as they still require protection. Landowners prioritize watershed and soil restoration as the most important landscape restoration activity due to their interest in improving water-related ecosystem services. This proposal enables the identification of areas with a higher restoration potential at the property level, facilitating prioritization and investment allocation for future implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Naturally recovering secondary forests are frequently re-cleared before they can recover to pre-disturbance conditions. Identifying landscape factors associated with persistence success will help planning cost-efficient and effective forest restoration. Objectives: The ability of secondary forest to persist is an often undervalued requisite for long-term ecosystem restoration. Here we identify the landscape context for naturally regenerated forests to persist through time within central Panama. Methods: We developed a random forest classification (RFC) calibration method to identify areas with high (≥ 90%) and low (< 90%) likelihood of forest persistence success based on their spatial relation with nine landscape explanatory variables. Results: The RFC model discriminated between secondary forests areas that persisted and did not persisted with an error rate of 2%. By tuning, we obtained a precision of 0.94 (94%) in the validation test. The two most important explanatory variables involved in the persistence dynamic were elevation and distance to the nearest rural area. Naturally regenerated forests lasted longer in patches that were closer to both Gatun and Alajuela Lakes as to protected areas, but further from rural communities, roads, urban areas and in patches with higher elevation and steeper slopes. Conclusion: By tracking remote sensed, landscape context metrics of easy collection, we developed a prediction map of central Panama areas with high (≥ 90%) and low (> 90%) probability of natural forest regeneration and persistence success within the next 30 years. This map represents a basis for management decisions and future investigations for effective, long-term forest-landscape restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recreating the lost kinetic landscape of the Vistula Delta is a considerable challenge. The study aims to propose a method for reproducing windmills and their effect on the landscape. The paper suggests a method based on the transposition of the forms of movement from windmills historically present in the region to modern forms. The method is based on a series of analyses starting with the study of the region and its history followed by extracting and developing the characteristics and proportions of a windmill and its impact on the landscape and human senses. Newly introduced forms are not intended to recreate historical windmills but to become a reminiscence of the history and to create a significant landscape history. The impact of new forms of historical windmills creates a series of opportunities – starting from an architectural conservation approach and ending up with landscape preservation. It is a chance to bring back the lost landscape elements and to provide interactive installation forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is the intentional intervention in the forest landscape to recover biological diversity and ecosystem functions, improving human well‐being in altered landscapes. The general objective of the present study was to understand the state of the art of research that potentially contributes to FLR practices in the Amazon. We carried out a comprehensive literature review using the Web of Science platform, considering papers published between 2000 and 2020 to understand the state of knowledge on restoration strategies that support FLR in the nine Amazonian countries and the nine states of the Brazilian Amazon. We selected 362 articles that met our inclusion criteria after analyzing 1,205 articles. We found that Brazil, followed by Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, has the largest number of published articles on FLR. Agroforestry (37.88%) and natural regeneration (30.35%) were the most common FLR strategies across all countries and Brazilian states. Most studies investigated ecological functioning (33%), vegetation structure (31%), and tree diversity (15.5%). Forest restoration strategies (forest plantation, natural regeneration, or silviculture) are reported in most studies (57.23%), in comparison to restoration strategies of agricultural lands (agroforestry systems or improved fallow; 42.77%). We found an increase in publications describing restoration strategies over time in the Amazon, especially from 2012 onwards, with a peak in 2018. Future studies in the Amazon region should address socioeconomic issues and expand the geographic scope within the Amazon, as well as the FLR strategies and the ecosystem attributes investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil consumption, marked by the expansion of artificial land cover for residential, productive, and infrastructural purposes, is a concerning trend in Italy, as revealed by the Copernicus land monitoring program. The issue is exacerbated by agricultural intensification and urbanization, particularly affecting regions like Lombardia and Piemonte. However, Sicilia, Abruzzo, and Lazio experience notable increases in processes of abandonment and re-naturalization. Data from Ispra highlights the need for in-depth study, especially in regions like Sicilia, where contrasting phenomena occur. This study utilizes Ispra data to monitor and formulate strategies for mitigating soil consumption and safeguarding ecosystem services. The research aligns with objectives related to combating climate change and facilitating the ecological transition of territories. The complexity of land consumption, influenced by interdependent factors, is evident in the achieved results. Effective strategies for containment and re-naturalization involve the implementation of town planning regulations and multi-level behavioral pathways. This study aims to identify contextual actions that can reduce land consumption, promote de-impermeabilization, and encourage re-naturalization, focusing on enhancing ecosystem services in land use activities. Thus, it focuses on understanding the contributions of ecosystem services, landscape restoration and green infrastructure on climate mitigation, and a reduction in land consumption in urban regeneration processes. As well, through open-source systems, it is important to monitor in real time the trend of the quantity of factors and variables and the state of the environment, and the reasons to intervene with systemic strategies and actions constitutes another lens of focus.

This study aimed at (i) developing, evaluating and comparing the performance of support vector machines (SVM), boosted regression trees (BRT), random forest (RF) and logistic regression (LR) models in mapping gully erosion susceptibility, and (ii) determining the important gully erosion conditioning factors (GECFs) in a Kenyan semi-arid landscape. A total of 431 geo-referenced gully erosion points were gathered through a field survey and visual interpretation of high-resolution satellite imagery on Google Earth, while 24 raster-based GECFs were retrieved from the existing geodatabases for spatial modeling and prediction. The resultant models exhibited excellent performance, although the machine learners outperformed the benchmark LR technique. Specifically, the RF and BRT models returned the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC = 0.89 each) and overall accuracy (OA = 80.2%; 79.7%, respectively), followed by the SVM and LR models (AUC = 0.86; 0.85 & OA = 79.1%; 79.6%, respectively). In addition, the importance of the GECFs varied among the models. The best-performing RF model ranked the distance to a stream, drainage density and valley depth as the three most important GECFs in the region. The output gully erosion susceptibility maps can support the efficient allocation of resources for sustainable land management in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop a workflow methodology for collecting substantial amounts of Earth Observation data to investigate the effectiveness of landscape restoration actions and support the implementation of the Above Ground Carbon Capture indicator of the Ecosystem Restoration Camps (ERC) Soil Framework. To achieve this objective, the study will utilize the Google Earth Engine API within R (rGEE) to monitor the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The results of this study will provide a common scalable reference for ERC camps globally, with a specific focus on Camp Altiplano, the first European ERC located in Murcia, Southern Spain. The coding workflow has effectively acquired almost 12 TB of data for analyzing MODIS/006/MOD13Q1 NDVI over a 20-year span. Additionally, the average retrieval of image collections has yielded 120 GB of data for the COPERNICUS/S2_SR 2017 vegetation growing season and 350 GB of data for the COPERNICUS/S2_SR 2022 vegetation winter season. Based on these results, it is reasonable to asseverate that cloud computing platforms like GEE will enable the monitoring and documentation of regenerative techniques to achieve unprecedented levels. The findings will be shared on a predictive platform called Restor, which will contribute to the development of a global ecosystem restoration model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we describe the seed imbibition of 14 different species, from crop, forest, and native species potentially able to recover landscapes and form sustainable green cities. Seed imbibition is a fundamental physical and physiological process for reactivating metabolism and hydrolytic enzymes that will provide seed germination. We verified that the water imbibition is more closely governed by differences between osmotic potential (Ψw) and surrounding media than seed weight or seed hardness. In turn, seeds of Spondias tuberosa and Euterpe oleracea that have a Ψw of −75 MPa and a tegument as hard as 200 N imbibed an insignificant volume of water. Consequently, their metabolism is not significantly affected comparing the non-imbibed seeds and 120-h-imbibed seeds. Malpighia glabra or Annona squamosa also show very negative Ψw where the seed coat hardness is less evident; however, in these species, the seed imbibition increased the respiration rate by eight- to ten-fold in 120 h-imbibed-seeds than non-imbibed-seeds. The high-water absorption in M. glabra (49%) seems to be due to its highly convoluted tissue in the dry state, while in J. curcas and A. squamosa the presence of a highly porous seed coat must have favored seed imbibition and prompt metabolic reactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mediterranean climate regions, climate change is increasing aridity and contributing to the mortality rate of Quercus suber, reducing the success of reforestation efforts. Using and creating microclimates is a recommended climate adaptation strategy that needs research. Our hypothesis is that planting Q. suber in north-facing slopes and water lines results in a higher survival rate than those that are planted in ridges and south-facing slopes. Secondly, our hypothesis is that existing shrubs (in this case, Cistus ladanifer) can be used to create microclimatic sheltering and increase the survival of Q. suber plantations. In experiment 1, we tested the survival of Q. suber plantations in four different topographic conditions. For that, 80 Q. suber plants were planted over four different topographic conditions, where soil probes were installed to monitor soil moisture and temperature. Two years after, the results show an increased survival rate in the north-facing slope and water line when compared to the ridge area (p = 0.032). In experiment 2, we tested if planting in the shade of rows of C. ladanifer increases the survival rate of Q. suber plantations. For that, 1200 Q. suber plants were planted; 600 in a Montado open area with no shade and 600 under the shade of rows of C. ladanifer shrubs. A total of 17 months after plantation, there was a significantly higher survival rate of the shaded plants (p = 0.027). We conclude that microclimates created by topography and shrubs can have a significant impact on the survival of Q. suber plantations and discuss the situations in which these can apply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following paper sets out some of the dominant themes that have characterized a decades- long debate in Italy on inner areas. In fact, in the country there is an almost total coincidence between the two connotations, which somewhat complicates the picture of socio-economic and environmental problems that policy must address. Unfortunately, it must be noted that, albeit in different ways, various measures to support inner areas have not produced significant results because some social, economic and territorial pathologies have proven to be physiological and therefore unassailable by any kind of targeted measure. Currently, the issue is being taken up again with much energy, including through the formulation of intervention hypotheses involving recently intensified dynamics, such as immigration, and reviving concepts such as territorial cohesion, landscape restoration, and small municipality. The paper considers these various points by exploring some of their characters and highlighting the many weaknesses that still risk thwarting initiatives underway today if simplistic equations are insisted upon and criteria of more pronounced complexity are not pursued.DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.28.2022.5

Long-term monoculture of coconuts has resulted in several land-use-related concerns, such as decreasing land productivity, degraded soil, and ineffective resource utilization on a local and global level. Modifying traditional coconut farming with agroforestry concepts is a well-suited predominant nature-based solution for Sri Lanka as well as for other coconut-growing countries to achieve environmental, social, and economic benefits. By intentionally and intensively integrating annual and perennial plants with farm animals in a dynamic and interactive manner, this land-use system creates a sustainable harmonious mini-ecosystem with landscape restoration. Agroforestry mixed with coconut cultivation decreases the risk of crop failure, generates additional income sources, and balances the ecosystem functions by increasing species richness, enhancing soil physical, biological, and chemical properties, opening new carbon sequestration pathways, purifying air and water sources, and being an excellent feedstock source for bioenergy generation. This environmentally friendly farming will promote the Kyoto Protocol and lessen global warming by limiting the atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases. A proper and accurate plan is required to implement a successful and profitable long-lived coconut-based agroforestry system. The objective of this paper is to recognize the various agroforestry concepts applicable to coconut-based farming, highlight the wide range of benefits and ecosystem services that can be gained through in-situ and ex-situ agroforestry practices, and explore the challenges that may arise during the integration of agroforestry techniques into a coconut-based farming system.

The selection of species for restoration projects requires decision‐making to be based on scientific evidence as well as input and approval from local communities. To better guide future restoration initiatives, this study assessed the socio‐ecological effects of two Prosopis congeners including the native Prosopis cineraria and the non‐native P. juliflora (mesquite) in two different sites in Southern Iran. Soil parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, and total nitrogen as well as vegetation indices including native vegetation cover, diversity, and density were measured under both of the congener tree species. Furthermore, pastoralists' perceptions toward the colonizing ability of both Prosopis congeners, their impacts on ecosystem services, and people's livelihoods and human well‐being were assessed through interviews and semi‐structured questionnaires. The ecological results showed that areas with native P. cineraria had higher native vegetation cover, density, and diversity as compared to sites with the non‐native P. juliflora. Soils under P. cineraria and P. juliflora generally showed similar properties, with some small differences between sites (especially for pH and nitrogen). The social results showed that pastoralists in both study regions perceived P. cineraria to be better for local ecosystem services and livelihoods and viewed it to have lower colonizing or invasion potential. It can be concluded that native P. cineraria is a better candidate for restoration because it provides more ecological and social benefits and poses fewer long‐term threats. Caution should be taken when promoting non‐native species such as P. juliflora for restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest restoration is an activity that can be readily undertaken to address both the climate and biodiversity crises. In Aotearoa New Zealand, aspirations for large-scale native forest restoration are growing across governmental and private sectors and a considerable focus to date has been on forest establishment by actively planting native trees. In contrast to actively planting trees, considerable proportions of Aotearoa New Zealand have a demonstrated potential for passive tree establishment through natural regeneration processes, subsequent to land use change away from pastoralism or exotic forestry. At a policy and land manager level, knowledge is lacking over the main considerations that should determine whether native restoration will most efficiently be achieved by active tree planting or by natural regeneration. Whether restoration follows active or passive establishment methods (or an intermediate point along the active-to-passive continuum), adequate forest management is essential to achieve high levels of native forest health, functionality, and permanence. We describe a step approach for assessing at a site scale whether forest restoration can most efficiently be achieved via active or passive methods, or combinations of the two. Our assessment covers the main biotic and abiotic factors which explain the probability of native tree establishment. These factors are mean annual rainfall, mean annual air temperature, proximity and composition of adjacent seed sources, landform type, slope aspect, slope, topographic exposure, and the presence of existing woody cover. We then describe the main management interventions that will be required to support successful natural regeneration outcomes and highlight the importance of strategic natural regeneration for achieving large scale restoration for the betterment of both our climate and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal's (SDGs) aims is to enhance access to clean energy. In addition, other SDGs are directly related to the restoration of degraded soils to improve on-farm productivity and land management. Integrating Short Rotation Woody Crops (SRWC) for bioenergy into conventional agriculture provides opportunities for sustainable domestic energy production, rural economic development/diversification, and restoration of soil health and biodiversity. Extensive research efforts have been carried out on the development of SRWC for bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts. Recently, broader objectives that include multiple ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, and land mine reclamation are being explored. Yet, limited research is available on the benefits of establishing SRWC on degraded agricultural lands in the southeastern U.S. thereby contributing to environmental goals. This paper presents a literature review to (1) synthesize the patterns and trends in SWRC bioenergy production; (2) highlight the benefits of integrating short rotation woody crops into row crop agriculture; and (3) identify emerging technologies for efficiently managing the integrated system, while identifying research gaps. Our findings show that integrating SRWC into agricultural systems can potentially improve the climate of agricultural landscapes and enhance regional and national carbon stocks in terrestrial systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For some years now, researchers in many geographical and other disciplinary fields have believed that historical rural landscapes contain an educational value for the landscapes of the future, in terms of analysis as well as protection in general and geo-economic aspects in particular, as an identity expression of the territory and as a preponderant element for the recovery of the same. In fact, in landscape studies the idea is widespread that historical and characteristic rural landscapes are not only the elements of a cultural heritage capable of preserving the memory of the past but also the bearers of a rational perspective for the future of European agriculture. The COVID-19 pandemic caused social and economic changes; critical issues highlight the need for a more integrated approach, taking into account the rediscovery of rural landscapes to practice open-air activities. Through a review of the international literature and the analysis of case studies, the paper aims to highlight the renewal processes of some cultural practices abandoned over the years but which today are an integral part of the local economy. In particular, the paper analyses the cases of two characteristic citrus groves in Apulia and Sicily, in the south of Italy. They demonstrate how the renewal of ancient practices such as the cultivation of citrus fruits together with the value of landscapes can represent an opportunity for an economic development of territories.

Abstract Participatory approaches are linked to landscape restoration (LR) success, but not all participatory approaches are created equal. Engagement approaches that invest in transformative stakeholder and governance processes can create the right conditions for long‐term LR commitment. A large‐scale LR initiative in Spain, namely AlVelAl, illustrates how collective action can be activated through inspiration, trust and hope, which, in turn, can be cultivated through the application of social schemes designed to support inclusive stakeholder engagement processes and programmes. Collective agency and inspiration matter for activating and sustaining LR actions and outcomes. Multi‐stakeholder partnerships that speak to human agency, inclusivity and trust between actors can help create a deeper shared meaning, a place‐based sense of belonging that encourages cohesive landscape stewardship.

Redressing the paucity of tree hollows is essential for conservation of hollow‐dependent fauna in many landscapes around the world. We describe a method of accelerating availability of natural hollows in regenerating landscapes by mechanically creating entrances in tree stems that have existing voids or internal decay but have not yet developed entrances. We trialed this method in woodland and forest of south‐eastern Australia in 39 stems in the closely related tree genera Eucalyptus and Angophora. Exploratory drilling of 10‐mm diameter holes was used to detect the presence of internal decay or voids. We then drilled 40‐, 65‐, or 90‐mm diameter entrance holes, depending on the size of the potential cavity, 2.4–4.8 m above ground level. Camera traps showed that drilled entrances were investigated or used within hours of creation. A diverse suite of invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and birds were recorded entering or leaving entrances, including threatened species. All 39 holes were used by animals with up to six vertebrate taxa using some entrances. Two bird species excavated material from within cavities, and three species of marsupial were recorded taking nesting material into the cavities. This trial provides evidence that adding entrances to currently inaccessible internal cavities in trees has potential to accelerate development of habitat for hollow‐dependent fauna, particularly in regenerating vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use change is the main driver of habitat loss and fragmentation for primates, resulting in declines in species diversity and population size. The Gishwati-Mukura landscape in Rwanda, home to endemic and threatened primate species, is characterized by heavily degraded and fragmented forest fragments, including one remnant tropical montane forest, one restored forest, and several forests planted in the mid-1980s with exotic species. A landscape restoration project was launched in 2014 to restore and protect this landscape and improve human wellbeing. From June to August 2019, we assessed the use of remnant, restored, and exotic forest patches by primates in this landscape. Using 15 line transects and 7 reconnaissance surveys, we compared distribution and abundance of Endangered golden monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti), Vulnerable L'Hoest's monkeys (Allochrocebus lhoesti), and Endangered eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthi) between remnant tropical montane forest and restored forest and ascertained the presence of primates in planted forest patches in the Gishwati-Mukura landscape. We interviewed farmers (N = 97) to assess the frequency of human-primate conflicts associated with the remnant and restored forests. We found that all three primate species occupied the remnant tropical montane forest, chimpanzees and golden monkeys occurred in the restored forest, and only golden monkeys inhabited the exotic planted forest fragments. For all three species, encounter rates were higher in the remnant tropical montane forest than in the restored and planted forest fragments. The restored forest provided additional habitat for primates, and efforts to restore degraded forest appear to have reduced conflicts between communities and primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forest loss has been a prominent concern in Madagascar, portrayed by a highly fragmented landscape of forests surrounded by small-scale agricultural patches along the northwestern and eastern regions. This paper seeks to identify priority areas for forest landscape restoration at a landscape scale using a geospatial land suitability analysis approach. The study area is the watershed of Mahavavy, home to one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the island but also an important agriculture region. The suitability analysis method comprises five major steps: (1) the identification of a set of restoration criteria, (2) the acquisition of available environmental datasets for each criterion, (3) generating suitability maps for each criterion, (4) the conception of a suitability analysis model, and (5) the design of potential sites for restoration. The specific suitability criteria combine both landscape composition and soil characteristics, including (i) distance from protected sites and forest patches, (ii) land cover classes, (iii) distance from settlements, (iv) distance from roads, (v) risk of soil erosion. We found 143,680 ha (27.9%) that were highly suitable areas for forest landscape restoration, 159127 (30.9%) moderately suitable and138031 ha (26.6%) not suitable areas. High potential suitable areas are observed in close proximity of forest patches and protected areas, and low restoration feasibility in all areas that are easily accessible and thus subjected to exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of restoration management on peatlands formerly used for intensive agriculture are rarely evaluated or discussed over larger spatial and temporal scales. Here, restoration of the Drentsche Aa brook valley was evaluated at the landscape level. Detailed vegetation maps were used with 1982 serving as the baseline, 1994 representing vegetation before rewetting, and 2015 after rewetting. Based on the mapping typology and phytosociological records, 15 main vegetation types were distinguished. Species richness and Shannon index values were calculated as plant diversity indicators, and the number of rare species was used as a rarity indicator. Basic landscape metrics were evaluated as measures of spatial heterogeneity. Results after restoration measures showed extensive vegetation type conversions clearly pointed to lower nutrient levels, and an increase in marsh vegetation at the cost of wet meadows. Significantly higher landscape heterogeneity was achieved, while biodiversity indicators showed small differences over time due to a mixture of positive and negative changes at different locations. This study shows that long‐term restoration management on agricultural peatlands can be successful at landscape level. Our experience highlights the importance of continuity in management given the prolonged influence by intensive agriculture, both from former land uses and from the surrounding valley flanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Landscape management and restoration in rural environments is frequently driven by community groups, who often use ‘flagship’ species to generate broader engagement. In southeastern Australia, installation of nest boxes for hollow-dependent fauna is undertaken by many groups. Monitoring the outcomes of such projects offers opportunities for citizen science. Aims. The aim of the present study was to report on a community-led project to install and monitor nest boxes to enhance the conservation of a threatened species, the brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa), and to investigate the extent of nest box use, factors influencing use, changes in use through time, and the effectiveness of nest boxes as a monitoring tool. Methods. A community group installed 450 nest boxes across 150 sites to monitor and provide habitat for the brush-tailed phascogale. Of these, 102 sites were stratified in relation to: (1) geographic sub-region; (2) forest patch size; and (3) topographic position. Nest boxes were inspected five times over 8 years. We modelled factors influencing nest box use at the tree, site, and landscape level. We compared nest box data with data from camera traps at 50 sites to assess their value as a monitoring tool. Key results. In any given survey, up to 6% of nest boxes had individuals present and up to 22% had evidence of use by the brush-tailed phascogale. There was greater use of nest boxes when installed on ‘stringybark’ type trees than ‘box’ and ‘gum-barked’ species. Nest box use was greater for sites on forest slopes than in gullies, and use varied between years. Surveys using remote cameras were more effective at detecting phascogales than monitoring nest boxes. Conclusions. Nest box monitoring can provide insights into the distribution and habitat requirements of hollow-dependent species, and engage the community in citizen science. Elements that enhance community-led monitoring include scientific input to project design, collecting data in a consistent manner, allocating sufficient time for data curation, engaging people invested in project outcomes, maintaining good relationships with stakeholders, and sharing data for analysis. Implications. Collaboration between scientists and community groups can be of benefit to both parties. However, to maximise scientific and conservation outcomes there must be effective engagement and adequate resourcing for project coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change due to anthropogenic induced land degradation is a real challenge to the Ethiopian ecosystem. Hence, Landscape Restoration also called Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) was practiced to rehabilitate the degraded lands. However, its contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation was not well studied. Hence, this work has examined the role of IWM on improving climate change adaptation and mitigation, taking SOC stock as an indicator. IWM impact time series (1999, 2009 and 2018) data on land use and land cover (LULC) and total soil organic carbon changes were collected at Sero Watershed of northern Ethiopia. Soil samples (84 disturbed and 84 undisturbed) were collected from three soil depths (0–30, 30–60 and 60–90 cm) for soil carbon, bulk density, gravel content analysis and for overall SOC stock estimation. Research findings indicated that vegetation cover increased by 37.2% from 1999 to 2018 at the expenses of bare land and cropland. Thus, in turn has resulted to an overall increase in total SOC stock by 8.5%. It can be concluded that IWM has a significant role to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change through increased soil carbon stock in addition to its contribution to landscape restoration.

Surface mining is responsible for the large-scale destruction of affected landscapes. Simultaneously, the dumping of overburden soil on spoil banks during mining generates new landscapes, usually with heterogeneous topography. If spoil banks are not subsequently reclaimed technically (i.e., if the terrain is not leveled), considerable habitat diversity can thereby be established, consisting of numerous types of both terrestrial and water habitats. We compared the area and number of freshwater habitats between spoil banks (both technically unreclaimed and reclaimed) and the surrounding landscapes undisturbed by mining. The area of water habitats and especially their numbers per km2 were by far the greatest on unreclaimed spoil banks. Meanwhile, the quantity of water bodies on reclaimed spoil banks was about half that on non-mining landscapes. Great variety among the numerous water habitats, as indicated by their areas, depths, and proportions of aquatic vegetation on unreclaimed spoil banks, can contribute to regional landscape heterogeneity and water environment stability while providing conditions suitable for diverse taxa. The exceptional number of these water bodies can compensate for their loss in the surrounding landscape. We conclude that leaving some parts of spoil banks to spontaneous succession plays an irreplaceable role in the restoration of post-mining landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, China's forest ecosystem focus is shifting from a single management objective to multiple management objectives, aiming to improve forest quality and maximize the benefits of ecosystem services. Many difficulties and problems are encountered in the long-term development of most northern state-owned forest farms—for example, the fragmentation and degradation of forest landscapes caused by poor forest management and extensive land use—resulting in an ecosystem that is unable to provide optimal services. This research was conducted on the Fengning Grassland Forest Farm, which is based on the GEF project of state-owned forest farms. We applied lessons from international advanced concepts, such as landscape restoration, and combinecombined all types of existing data and supplementary survey data on forest farms. In addition, we used multivariate statistical analysis and geostatistical analysis methods to optimize spatial layout and forest landscape structure. Strategies of landscape restoration and optimization, forest quality improvement, and grassland ecological restoration were proposed. A forest growth model was established to predict the annual growth of forests, calculate sustainable levels of annual cutting, calculate biomass and carbon sequestration in the management period, and evaluate the value of the ecological service functions of forest ecosystems in forest farms. Finally, a set of forest management methods was developed to effectively improve the sustainable management level of state-owned forest farms and enhance the service function of forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoration is a prominent field of research and of restoration projects that seek to recover degraded and dysfunctional ecosystems and the services they provide. Humanity’s environmental crisis has increased awareness of the urgent need to conserve ecosystems and their biodiversity. Many countries and international organizations have set ambitious plans and restoration targets. This paper emphasizes on current themes such as landscape restoration, invasive species, novel ecosystems, and the necessary involvement of local communities in ecological restoration. It is focused mainly on tropical forest ecosystems. Another aim of this paper is a review of the results obtained in diverse restoration practices that concentrate on inducing secondary succession processes in tropical forests. It draws heavily on case studies from Mexico. Members of society should play an active role in restoration planning and implementation. Social participation is central to the success and sustainability of restoration projects. Traditional ecological knowledge is essential in many projects, and there should be careful consideration of the ethics involved. In the coming years, we will probably see a surge in the unassisted revegetation and reforestation of many abandoned rural areas making the understanding and managing of these restoration processes necessary and crucial. Finally, a set of guidelines that view restoration as a long-term social and ecological process is given.

This paper introduces the Special Issue "Systematic Approach to Agroforestry Policies and Practices in Asia". This Special Issue contains eleven papers on agroforestry at national, regional, and global levels. These papers discuss research trends; dominant services and functions of agroforestry; multiple case studies from Asian countries including Nepal, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Timor-Leste; and the benefits of agroforestry including income generation and carbon sequestration. They also interpret the goals, challenges, and social and cultural norms in agroforestry policies in national and local contexts. The research results can support policy design for the systematization and stabilization of agroforestry. This Special Issue provides us with scientific evidence and practical lessons on agroforestry policies and practices in Asia. It contributes to expanding the knowledge base for agroforestry and towards establishing and implementing agroforestry policies and practices in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims at supporting the maintenance of representative functional habitat networks as green infrastructure for biodiversity conservation through transdisciplinary macroecological analyses of wet grassland landscapes and their stewardship systems. We chose ten north European wet grassland case study landscapes from Iceland and the Netherlands in the west to Lithuania and Belarus in the east. We combine expert experiences for 20–30 years, comparative studies made 2011–2017, and longitudinal analyses spanning >70 years. Wader, or shorebird, (Charadrii) assemblages were chosen as a focal species group. We used evidence‐based knowledge and practical experience generated in three steps. (1) Experts from 8 wet grassland landscapes in northern Europe's west and east mapped factors linked to patterns and processes, and management and governance, in social‐ecological systems that affect states and trends of wet grasslands as green infrastructures for wader birds. (2) To understand wader conservation problems and their dynamic in wet grassland landscapes, and to identify key issues for successful conservation, we applied group modeling using causal loop diagram mapping. (3) Validation was made using the historic development in two additional wet grassland landscapes. Wader conservation was dependent on ten dynamically interacting ecological and social system factors as leverage points for management. Re‐wetting and grazing were common drivers for the ecological and social system, and long‐term economic support for securing farmers' interest in wader bird conservation. Financial public incentives at higher levels of governance of wetland management are needed to stimulate private income loops. Systems analysis based on contrasting landscape case studies in space and over time can support (1) understanding of complex interactions in social‐ecological systems, (2) collaborative learning in individual wet grassland landscapes, and (3) formulation of priorities for conservation, management, and restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 20 years, ecological restoration of degraded habitats has become common in conservation practice. Mountain hares (Lepus timidus scoticus) were surveyed during 2017–2021 using 830 km of line transects in the Peak District National Park, England. Historically degraded bog areas were previously reported having low hare numbers. Following bog restoration, we found hare densities of 32.6 individuals km−2, notably higher than neighboring degraded (unrestored) bog with 24.4 hares km−2. Hare density on restored peatland was 2.7 times higher than on bogs managed for grouse shooting at 12.2 hares km−2 and 3.3 times higher than on heather moorland managed for grouse shooting at 10.0 hares km−2. Yearly estimates varied most on habitats managed for grouse, perhaps indicative of the impact of habitat management, for example, heather burning and/or possible hare culling to control potential tick‐borne louping ill virus in gamebirds. Acid grassland used for sheep farming had a similar density to grouse moorland at 11.8 hares km−2. Unmanaged dwarf shrub heath had the lowest density at 4.8 hares km−2. Hare populations are characterized by significant yearly fluctuations, those in the study area increasing by 60% between 2017 and 2018 before declining by ca. 15% by 2020 and remaining stable to 2021. During an earlier survey in 2002, total abundance throughout the Peak District National Park was estimated at 3361 (95% CI: 2431–4612) hares. The present study estimated 3562 (2291–5624) hares suggesting a stable population over the last two decades despite fluctuations likely influenced by weather and anthropogenic factors. Mountain hares in the Peak District favored bog habitats and were associated with restored peatland habitat. Wildlife management should be cognizant of hare density variation between habitats, which may have implications for local extinction risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A consequence of erratic and rapid urbanization has been to destroy nature instead of taking advantage of it. This has meant that the structure of water systems in urban areas has become degraded and detached from the city, which in turn has led to stream flow regime changes, flood increases with infiltration decrease, groundwater level decreases, deterioration in stream biology and reduction in recreational value. The aim of the study is to reemphasize, taking an ecological viewpoint, the sustainable value of the rivers, following the pressure they have undergone due to urbanization. In this reevaluation, the river was considered as having two components: a water zone and an edge zone, within which the evaluation channel structure and the natural riverbed in the water zone were examined. The edge zone was divided into five different regions, according to urban density, and the effects of the uses of the land in terms of ecological indicators were calculated. Quantitative evaluation and key process analysis, based on land uses, have revealed that rapid urbanization and intensive agricultural activities have had a detrimental effect on the ecological qualities of Ankara Stream. It has been determined that the ecological potential for recovery is 21% for the short-term restoration plan, and 65% for the longterm restoration plan, and, as a result, environmental planning and management strategies have been introduced for the recovery of Ankara River for the benefit of both the environment and the city.

This study aimed at (i) developing, evaluating and comparing the performance of support vector machines (SVM), boosted regression trees (BRT), random forest (RF) and logistic regression (LR) models in mapping gully erosion susceptibility, and (ii) determining the important gully erosion conditioning factors (GECFs) in a Kenyan semi-arid landscape. A total of 431 geo-referenced gully erosion points were gathered through a field survey and visual interpretation of high-resolution satellite imagery on Google Earth, while 24 raster-based GECFs were retrieved from the existing geodatabases for spatial modeling and prediction. The resultant models exhibited excellent performance, although the machine learners outperformed the benchmark LR technique. Specifically, the RF and BRT models returned the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC = 0.89 each) and overall accuracy (OA = 80.2%; 79.7%, respectively), followed by the SVM and LR models (AUC = 0.86; 0.85 & OA = 79.1%; 79.6%, respectively). In addition, the importance of the GECFs varied among the models. The best-performing RF model ranked the distance to a stream, drainage density and valley depth as the three most important GECFs in the region. The output gully erosion susceptibility maps can support the efficient allocation of resources for sustainable land management in the area.

A main question in restoration of degraded forests and forest landscapes recovering from logging and fire is what to expect from natural regeneration through surviving propagules in the soil or seed sources and associated dispersal agents from the surrounding landscape mosaic, as alternative to tree planting. Tree diversity in secondary forests may be high, but based on newcomer species of low wood density and long-distance, abiotic dispersal modes. We compiled and analyzed three pairs of case studies (totaling 815 plots and 11.8 ha) of secondary forests recovering from logging, fire and conversion to agroforest in Sumatra and Kalimantan (Indonesia) on mineral soils. Data on tree species diversity, wood density frequency distribution (indicative of successional status) and dispersal modes were compared with those of less disturbed comparator forests in the same landscapes. Relatively undisturbed lowland dipterocarp forest in Kalimantan had close to 200 species of trees (>10 cm diameter) at a 1-ha sample scale (and 450 at a 10-ha scale). After repeated fires a sample area of 2 ha was needed to reach the same species richness. Regulation-based logging had little impact on tree species richness. In rubber agroforest with low-intensity management beyond rubber planting, 50 tree species were found at a 1-ha scale and close to 100 species in 3 ha. The Kalimantan forest after repeated fires had a markedly higher fraction of lowwood-density trees (40%), but otherwise, all forests sampled were similar in overall wood density profiles. Selectively logged forest managed by a local community (village forest) and rubber agroforest in Sumatra contained larger fractions of heavy-wood-density trees. The majority of trees (50%–70%) had birds, bats and primates as dispersal agents in all sites. Selectively logged forests had higher fractions of autochorous species (15%) compared to other sites. Anemochorous (wind-dispersed) species, especially Macaranga lowii, were most common (20%) in lowland dipterocarp forest. Comparison between secondary forests and agroforests showed the influence of farmer selection regarding what is allowed to grow beyond the pole stage. Wood density and seed dispersal profiles can be used as degradation indicators of species assemblages across various disturbance levels and types, as they reflect the habitat quality of the surrounding landscape mosaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]