TY - JOUR

T1 - Five Frontiers for Science and Practice of Ecosystem Restoration in East African Forest Landscapes

AU - Duguma, Dula W.

AU - Löhr, Katharina

AU - Temperton, Vicky M.

AU - Apollinaire, William

AU - Baumann, Matthias

AU - Kaplin, Beth A.

AU - Nyiramvuyekure, Verene

AU - Vögele, Susanne

AU - Kmoch, Laura

AU - Plieninger, Tobias

AU - Loos, Jacqueline

AU - Aime, Tsinda

AU - Beatrice, Nzamukosha

AU - Bohn, Sophia

AU - Ernest, Uwayezu

AU - Frietsch, Marina

AU - Gatali, Callixte

AU - Innocent, Ndahiriwe

AU - Kangondo, Angelique

AU - Franklin, Bulonvu

AU - Maniraho, Leonidas

AU - Martín-López, Berta

AU - Mukaneza, Drocelle

AU - Ndagijimana, Valery

AU - Ndayizeye, Gaelle

AU - Nizeyimana, Martin

AU - Nyandwi, Elias

AU - Nzibaza, Venant

AU - Sieber, Stefan

AU - Sun, Ping

AU - Ullman, Jeffrey L.

AU - Umuziranenge, Gloriose

AU - Wollni, Meike

AU - Fischer, Joern

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Integrative Conservation published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG).

PY - 2025/10/16

Y1 - 2025/10/16

N2 - Ecosystem restoration, guided by numerous principles and practical guidelines, has been hailed as a strategy to combat climate change, reduce global biodiversity loss, restore ecosystem services, and enhance human well-being. Yet, translating restoration principles into practice remains challenging for policymakers and practitioners. To address this issue, we identify five frontiers for advancing ecosystem restoration in East Africa's forest landscapes, using western Rwanda as a case study. Instead of drawing on existing high-level ecosystem restoration guidelines, we synthesized locally grounded insights into tangible restoration priorities. We conducted a full-day multi-expert workshop using a “world café” approach to facilitate participatory large-group discussions, involving scientists, practitioners, and decision-makers working on ecosystem restoration in Rwanda. Five critical frontiers for ecosystem restoration science and practice were identified: (i) defining ecosystem restoration goals and elements of success; (ii) embedding ecosystem restoration in the promotion of multifunctional landscapes; (iii) enhancing food security, nutrition, and livelihoods through ecosystem restoration; (iv) engaging with values and nature's contributions to people in ecosystem restoration; and (v) governing ecosystem restoration for equity. For each of these frontiers, we highlight the state-of-the-art, emerging research priorities, and recommendations for practice and policy to move ecosystem restoration ahead.

AB - Ecosystem restoration, guided by numerous principles and practical guidelines, has been hailed as a strategy to combat climate change, reduce global biodiversity loss, restore ecosystem services, and enhance human well-being. Yet, translating restoration principles into practice remains challenging for policymakers and practitioners. To address this issue, we identify five frontiers for advancing ecosystem restoration in East Africa's forest landscapes, using western Rwanda as a case study. Instead of drawing on existing high-level ecosystem restoration guidelines, we synthesized locally grounded insights into tangible restoration priorities. We conducted a full-day multi-expert workshop using a “world café” approach to facilitate participatory large-group discussions, involving scientists, practitioners, and decision-makers working on ecosystem restoration in Rwanda. Five critical frontiers for ecosystem restoration science and practice were identified: (i) defining ecosystem restoration goals and elements of success; (ii) embedding ecosystem restoration in the promotion of multifunctional landscapes; (iii) enhancing food security, nutrition, and livelihoods through ecosystem restoration; (iv) engaging with values and nature's contributions to people in ecosystem restoration; and (v) governing ecosystem restoration for equity. For each of these frontiers, we highlight the state-of-the-art, emerging research priorities, and recommendations for practice and policy to move ecosystem restoration ahead.

KW - benefits

KW - ecosystem restoration

KW - equity

KW - food security

KW - multifunctional landscapes

KW - western Rwanda

KW - Environmental planning

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105019368134&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/inc3.70048

DO - 10.1002/inc3.70048

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:105019368134

JO - Integrative Conservation

JF - Integrative Conservation

SN - 2770-9329

ER -