The social–ecological ladder of restoration ambition
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In: Ambio, Vol. 53, No. 9, 09.2024, p. 1251-1261.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The social–ecological ladder of restoration ambition
AU - Frietsch, Marina
AU - Pacheco-Romero, Manuel
AU - Temperton, Vicky M.
AU - Kaplin, Beth A.
AU - Fischer, Joern
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/4/23
Y1 - 2024/4/23
N2 - Expanding in both scope and scale, ecosystem restoration needs to embrace complex social–ecological dynamics. To help scientists and practitioners navigate ever new demands on restoration, we propose the “social–ecological ladder of restoration ambition” as a conceptual model to approach dynamically shifting social and ecological restoration goals. The model focuses on three dynamic aspects of restoration, namely degrading processes, restoration goals and remedial actions. As these three change through time, new reinforcing and balancing feedback mechanisms characterize the restoration process. We illustrate our model through case studies in which restoration has become increasingly ambitious through time, namely forest landscape restoration in Rwanda and grassland restoration in Germany. The ladder of restoration ambition offers a new way of applying social–ecological systems thinking to ecosystem restoration. Additionally, it raises awareness of social–ecological trade-offs, power imbalances and conflicting goals in restoration projects, thereby laying an important foundation for finding more practicable and fairer solutions.
AB - Expanding in both scope and scale, ecosystem restoration needs to embrace complex social–ecological dynamics. To help scientists and practitioners navigate ever new demands on restoration, we propose the “social–ecological ladder of restoration ambition” as a conceptual model to approach dynamically shifting social and ecological restoration goals. The model focuses on three dynamic aspects of restoration, namely degrading processes, restoration goals and remedial actions. As these three change through time, new reinforcing and balancing feedback mechanisms characterize the restoration process. We illustrate our model through case studies in which restoration has become increasingly ambitious through time, namely forest landscape restoration in Rwanda and grassland restoration in Germany. The ladder of restoration ambition offers a new way of applying social–ecological systems thinking to ecosystem restoration. Additionally, it raises awareness of social–ecological trade-offs, power imbalances and conflicting goals in restoration projects, thereby laying an important foundation for finding more practicable and fairer solutions.
KW - Ecosystem restoration
KW - Forest landscape restoration
KW - Grassland restoration
KW - Social–ecological systems
KW - Ecosystems Research
KW - Environmental planning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85191049722&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/833b4292-8fa8-3324-bb91-a6418560a8f0/
U2 - 10.1007/s13280-024-02021-8
DO - 10.1007/s13280-024-02021-8
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 38652237
AN - SCOPUS:85191049722
VL - 53
SP - 1251
EP - 1261
JO - Ambio
JF - Ambio
SN - 0044-7447
IS - 9
ER -