Beyond ecology: ecosystem restoration as a process for social-ecological transformation

Anazélia M Tedesco; Sofía López-Cubillos; Robin Chazdon; Jonathan R Rhodes; Carla L Archibald; Katharina-Victoria Pérez-Hämmerle; Pedro H S Brancalion; Kerrie A Wilson; Mariana Oliveira; Diego F Correa; Liz Ota; Tiffany H Morrison; Hugh P Possingham; Morena Mills; Fabiane C Santos; Angela J Dean

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2023.02.007

Beyond ecology: ecosystem restoration as a process for social-ecological transformation

Trends Ecol Evol. 2023 Jul;38(7):643-653. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.02.007. Epub 2023 Mar 9.

Authors

Anazélia M Tedesco¹, Sofía López-Cubillos², Robin Chazdon³, Jonathan R Rhodes⁴, Carla L Archibald⁵, Katharina-Victoria Pérez-Hämmerle⁶, Pedro H S Brancalion⁷, Kerrie A Wilson⁸, Mariana Oliveira⁹, Diego F Correa⁴, Liz Ota³, Tiffany H Morrison¹⁰, Hugh P Possingham⁶, Morena Mills¹¹, Fabiane C Santos¹², Angela J Dean¹³

Affiliations

¹ School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; International Institute for Sustainability Australia, Canberra, ACT, 2602, Australia.
³ Tropical Forests and People Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD 4556, Australia.
⁴ School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Melbourne, Burwood Campus, VIC 3125, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
⁷ Department of Forest Sciences, 'Luiz de Queiroz' College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil.
⁸ Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
⁹ WRI Brasil, São Paulo, SP 05422-030, Brazil.
¹⁰ ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
¹¹ Faculty of Natural Sciences, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
¹² Cepan, Recife, Pernambuco 50050-250, Brazil.
¹³ School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.

PMID: 36898928
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.02.007

Abstract

Ecosystem restoration conventionally focuses on ecological targets. However, while ecological targets are crucial to mobilizing political, social, and financial capital, they do not encapsulate the need to: integrate social, economic, and ecological dimensions and systems approaches; reconcile global targets and local objectives; and measure the rate of progress toward multiple and synergistic goals. Restoration is better conceived as an inclusive social-ecological process that integrates diverse values, practices, knowledge, and restoration objectives across temporal and spatial scales and stakeholder groups. Taking a more process-based approach will ultimately enable greater social-ecological transformation, greater restoration effectiveness, and more long-lasting benefits to people and nature across time and place.

Keywords: adaptation; biodiversity; ecological restoration; nature-based solutions; restoration targets; sustainable development.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Conservation of Natural Resources* / methods
Ecology
Ecosystem*
Humans