Integrating Approaches Based on Flora and Fauna for Successful Ecological Restoration

Dear Colleagues,

In the face of human-induced pressures impacting ecosystems globally, the "United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration" initiative is designed to catalyze a robust and inclusive movement. This movement aims to bolster restoration efforts and steer the world towards a more sustainable future. Despite the longstanding advocacy from restoration ecologists for a more holistic approach to ecosystem restoration and the monitoring of its effectiveness, current practices often prioritize abiotic factors and flora. There is a common yet unverified assumption that fauna will naturally recover in tandem with improvements in vegetation. To achieve a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of restoration success, it is essential to expand the scope of evaluation beyond the traditional focus on flora. This includes incorporating an analysis of trophic interactions, which encompass the positions, linkages, and diversity within the food web. By combining these ecological dynamics with the existing community metrics, we can achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the impact and success of restoration efforts. This integrated approach not only enhances the ecological integrity of the restoration process but also ensures a more resilient and biodiverse ecosystem, aligning with the objectives of the “United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration”.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collect studies on restoration from both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and to develop methodologies for (1) assessing the response of trophic structures to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, (2) integrating flora-based and fauna-based restoration design, and (3) monitoring restoration success through trophic structures. Studies highlighting outstanding cases from the "Decade on Ecosystem Restoration" are especially encouraged.

Authors are encouraged to submit articles on, but not limited to, the following subjects:

• Biodiversity monitoring for restoration;
• Ecosystem multifunctionality in restoration;
• Environmental drivers of aquatic ecosystem dynamics;
• Insect restoration;
• Large-scale ecological restoration planning;
• Nature-based solutions for trophic restoration;
• New methods in monitoring and assessment of trophic structure;
• Plant–animal interactions during restoration;
• Megafauna restoration;
• Soil fauna restoration;
• Stakeholder engagement in restoration;
• Trophic cascade during restoration;
• Trophic rewilding as a restoration approach.

Dr. Shengbin Chen
Dr. Jing Liu
Prof. Dr. Changliang Shao
Prof. Dr. Yi Ding
Topic Editors