Moving restoration ecology forward with combinatorial approaches.

Our current planetary crisis, including multiple jointly acting factors of global change, moves the need for effective ecosystem restoration center stage and compels us to explore unusual options. We here propose exploring combinatorial approaches to restoration practices: management practices are drawn at random and combined from a locally relevant pool of possible management interventions, thus creating an experimental gradient in the number of interventions. This will move the current degree of interventions to higher dimensionality, opening new opportunities for unlocking unknown synergistic effects. Thus, the high dimensionality of global change (multiple jointly acting factors) would be more effectively countered by similar high-dimensionality in solutions. In this concept, regional restoration hubs play an important role as guardians of locally relevant information and sites of experimental exploration. Data collected from such studies could feed into a global database, which could be used to learn about general principles of combined restoration practices, helping to refine future experiments. Such combinatorial approaches to exploring restoration intervention options may be our best hope yet to achieve decisive progress in ecological restoration at the timescale needed to mitigate and reverse the most severe losses caused by global environmental change.

Spatial distribution pattern of colonized native semi-shrubs in two artificial vegetation restoration patterns in Mu Us sandy land, North China.

Vegetation construction is a key process for restoring and rehabilitating degraded ecosystems. However, the spatial pattern and process of native plants colonized by different vegetation restoration methods in semi-arid sandy land are poorly understood. In this study, two artificial vegetation restoration patterns (P1: row belt restoration pattern of Salix matsudana with low coverage; P2: a living sand barrier pattern of Caryopteris mongolica with low coverage) were selected to analyze the spatial distribution pattern and interspecific association of the colonizing native shrubs. The effects of the two restoration models on the spatial patterns of the main native semi-shrubs of the colonies (i.e., Artemisia ordosica and Corethrodendron lignosum var. leave) were studied using single variable and bivariate transformation point pattern analysis based on Ripley's L function. Our results showed that two restoration patterns significantly facilitated the establishment of A. ordosica and C. lignosum var. leave, with their coverage reaching 17.04% and 22.62%, respectively. In P1, the spatial distribution pattern of colonial shrubs tended to be a random distribution, and there was no spatial correlation between the species. In P2, the colonial shrub aggregation distribution was more dominant, and with the increase in scale, the aggregation distribution changed to a random distribution, whereas the interspecific association was negatively correlated. The differences in the spatial distribution patterns of colonized native semi-shrubs in these two restoration patterns could be related to the life form of planted plants, configuration methods, biological characteristics of colonized plants, and intra- and interspecific relationships of plants. Our results demonstrated that the nurse effect of artificially planted vegetation in the early stage of sand ecological restoration effectively facilitated the near-natural succession of communities. These findings have important implications for ecological restoration of degraded sandy land in the semi-arid region of northern China.

Using CO2 and oxidants for in situ regeneration of permeable reactive barriers for leachate-contaminated groundwater.

Groundwater contamination near landfills is commonly caused by leachate leakage, and permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are widely used for groundwater remediation. However, the deactivation and blockage of the reactive medium in PRBs limit their long-term effectiveness. In the current study, a new methodology was proposed for the in situ regeneration of PRB to remediate leachate-contaminated groundwater. CO2 coupled with oxidants was applied for the dispersion and regeneration of the fillers; by injecting CO2 to disperse the fillers, the permeability of the PRB was increased and the oxidants could flow evenly into the PRB. The results indicate that the optimum filler proportion was zero-valent iron (ZVI)/zeolites/activated carbon (AC) = 3:8:10 and the optimum oxidant proportion was COD/Na2S2O8/H2O2/Fe2+ = 1:5:6:5; the oxidation system of Fe2+/H2O2/S2O82- has a high oxidation efficiency and persistence. The average regeneration rate of zeolites was 72.71%, and the average regeneration rate of AC was 68.40%; the permeability of PRB also increased. This technology is effective for the remediation of landfills in China that have large contaminated areas, an uneven pollutant concentration distribution, and a long pollution duration. The purification mode of long-term adsorption and short-time in situ oxidation can be applied to the remediation of long-term high-concentration organically polluted groundwater, where pollution sources are difficult to cut off.

The effect of thermal treatment on the transformation and transportation of arsenic and cadmium in soil.

Thermal treatment can effectively decontaminate soils but alter their properties. Previous research mainly focused on volatile organic compounds and metals, i.e. Hg, neglecting non-volatile metal(loid)s. This study aimed to investigate Cd and As transformation during aerobic and anaerobic calcination. The results showed that both aerobic and anaerobic calcination increased soil pH by reducing soil organic matter (SOM) content, which also influenced the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and the leaching behavior of Cd and As in the soil. The total concentrations of Cd and As in the calcined soils varied depending on the calcination temperature and atmosphere. When the aerobic calcination temperature exceeded 700 °C, Cd volatilized as CdCl2, while anaerobic calcination at relatively low temperatures (600 °C) involved reductive reactions, resulting in the formation of metallic Cd with a lower boiling point. Similarly, As volatilized at 800 °C aerobically and 600 °C anaerobically. The formation of As-based minerals, particularly Ca3(AsO4)2, hindered its gasification, whereas anaerobic calcination promoted volatilization efficiency through the generation of C-As(III) based gaseous components with lower boiling points. Contrasting trends were observed in the TCLP-extractable Cd and As contents of the calcined soils. Over 70% of TCLP-extractable Cd contents were suppressed after thermal treatment, attributed to the elevated pH and reduced CEC of the soil, as well as volatilization. However, TCLP-extractable As contents increased with elevated temperatures, likely due to the desorption of AsO43- and re-adsorption of gaseous As2O3 during cooling. These findings have implications for assessing the environmental impact of thermal treatment and provide insights for remediation strategies concerning Cd and As-contaminated soils.

Progress in enhancing the remediation performance of microbial fuel cells for contaminated groundwater.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have become more prevalent in groundwater remediation due to their capacity for power generation, removal of pollution, ease of assembly, and low secondary contamination. It is currently being evaluated for practical application in an effort to eliminate groundwater pollution. However, a considerable majority of research was conducted in laboratories. But the operational circumstances including anaerobic characteristics, pH, and temperature vary at different sites. In addition, the complexity of contaminants and the positioning of MFCs significantly affect remediation performance. Taking the aforementioned factors into consideration, this review summarizes a bibliography on the application of MFCs for the remediation of groundwater contamination during the last ten decades and assesses the impact of environmental conditions on the treatment performance. The design of the reactor, including configuration, dimensions, electrodes, membranes, separators, and target contaminants are discussed. This review aims to provide practical guidance for the future application of MFCs in groundwater remediation.

Ecological restoration at pilot-scale employing site-specific rationales for small-patch degraded mangroves in Indian Sundarbans.

To date, degraded mangrove ecosystem restoration accomplished worldwide primarily aligns towards rehabilitation with monotypic plantations, while ecological restoration principles are rarely followed in these interventions. However, researchers admit that most of these initiatives' success rate is not appreciable often. An integrative framework of ecological restoration for degraded mangroves where site-specific observations could be scientifically rationalized, with co-located reference pristine mangroves as the target ecosystem to achieve is currently distinctively lacking. Through this experimental scale study, we studied the suitability of site-specific strategies to ecologically restore degraded mangrove patches vis-à-vis the conventional mono-species plantations in a highly vulnerable mangrove ecosystem in Indian Sundarbans. This comprehensive restoration framework was trialed in small discrete degraded mangrove patches spanning ~ 65 ha. Site-specific key restoration components applied are statistically validated through RDA analyses and Bayesian t-tests. 25 quantifiable metrics evaluate the restoration success of a ~ 3 ha degraded mangrove patch with Ridgeline distribution, Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) tests, and Mahalanobis Distance (D2) measure to prove the site's near-equivalence to pristine reference in multiple ecosystem attributes. This restoration intervention irrevocably establishes the greater potential of this framework in the recovery of ecosystem functions and self-sustenance compared to that of predominant monoculture practices for vulnerable mangroves.

Modified diatomite for soil remediation and its implications for heavy metal absorption in Calendula officinalis.

BACKGROUND: Among different adsorbents, natural and inorganic compounds such as diatomite are important and advantageous in terms of high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and function in stabilizing heavy metals in the environment. Calendula officinalis, a plant known as a high accumulator of heavy metals, was cultivated in soil treated with varying concentrations of modified diatomite to demonstrate the efficiency of modified diatomite in stabilizating of heavy metals in soils, RESULTS: The modification of diatomite aimed to enhance Calendula officinalis adsorptive properties, particularly towards heavy metals such as lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Chromium (Cr), Nickle (Ni), and Copper (Cu), common contaminants in industrial soils. The experimental design included both control and treated soil samples, with assessments at regular intervals. Modified diatomite significantly decreased the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in contaminated soils except Zn, evidenced by decreased DTPA extractable heavy metals in soil and also heavy metal concentrations in plant tissues. Using 10% modified diatomite decreased 91% Pb and Cu, 78% Cr, and 79% Ni concentration of plants compared to the control treatment. The highest concentration of Zn in plant tissue was observed in 2.5% modified diatomite treatment. Remarkably, the application of modified diatomite also appeared to improve the nutrient profile of the soil, leading to enhanced uptake of key nutrients like phosphorus (P) 1.18%, and potassium (K) 79.6% in shoots and 82.3% in roots in Calendula officinalis. Consequently, treated plants exhibited improved growth characteristics, including shoots and roots height of 16.98% and 12.8% respectively, and shoots fresh and dry weight of 48.5% and 50.2% respectively., compared to those in untreated, contaminated soil. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest promising implications for using such amendments in ecological restoration and sustainable agriculture, particularly in areas impacted by industrial pollution.

Mechanism of clay mineral modified biochar simultaneously immobilizes heavy metals and reduces soil carbon emissions.

Heavy metal pollution in farmland soil has become increasingly severe, and multi-element composite pollution has brought enormous harm to human production and life. Environmental changes in cold regions (such as freeze-thaw cycles and dry-wet alternations) may increase the potential physiological toxicity of heavy metals and exacerbate pollution risks. In order to reveal the effectiveness of sepiolite modified biochar in the remediation of the soil contaminated with lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr), the rice husk biochar pyrolyzed at 500 and 800 °C were selected for remediation treatment (denoted as BC500 and BC800). Meanwhile, different proportions of sepiolite were used for modification (biochar: sepiolite = 1: 0.5 and 1: 1), denoted as MBC500/MBC800 and HBC500/HBC800, respectively. The results showed that modified biochar with sepiolite can effectively improve the immobilization of heavy metals. Under natural conservation condition, the amount of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable Pb in BC500, MBC500, and HBC500 decreased by 5.95, 12.39, and 13.55%, respectively, compared to CK. Freeze-thaw cycles and dry-wet alternations activated soil heavy metals, while modified biochar increased adsorption sites and oxygen-containing functional groups under aging conditions, inhibiting the fractions transformation of heavy metals. Furthermore, freeze-thaw cycles promoted the decomposition and mineralization of soil organic carbon (SOC), while sepiolite hindered the release of active carbon through ion exchange and adsorption complexation. Among them, and the soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content in HBC800 decreased by 49.39% compared to BC800. Additionally, the high-temperature pyrolyzed biochar (BC800) enhanced the porosity richness and alkalinity of material, which effectively inhibited the migration and transformation of heavy metals compared to BC500, and reduced the decomposition of soil DOC.

Impact of the comprehensive remediation project on hydrological conditions in the lower reaches of the Ganjiang River.

This study undertakes a systematic analysis of the hydrological changes before and after the implementation of the Comprehensive Remediation Project in the lower reaches of the Ganjiang River. It focuses on changes in downstream inflow, ratios of flow distribution, and water levels, as well as water velocity near the gates. The results indicate a significant improvement in the spatial distribution of water resources in the lower reaches of the Ganjiang River. The project enhances the inflow from the northern and southern branches, positively influencing downstream water usage and the ecological environment. Building upon these findings, the study proposes operational recommendations tailored to different hydrological years, such as timely adjustments to the southern branch's water inflow and optimizing flow distribution ratios. This research provides a scientific basis for the implementation and dispatch of comprehensive remediation projects and offers insights into water resource management in similar regions.

Mitigating microplastic stress on peanuts: The role of biochar-based synthetic community in the preservation of soil physicochemical properties and microbial diversity.

Tire-derived rubber crumbs (RC), as a new type of microplastics (MPs), harms both the environment and human health. Excessive use of plastic, the decomposition of which generates microplastic particles, in current agricultural practices poses a significant threat to the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems, worldwide food security and human health. In this study, the application of biochar, a carbon-rich material, to soil was explored, especially in the evaluation of synthetic biochar-based community (SynCom) to alleviate RC-MP-induced stress on plant growth and soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial communities in peanuts. The results revealed that RC-MPs significantly reduced peanut shoot dry weight, root vigor, nodule quantity, plant enzyme activity, soil urease and dehydrogenase activity, as well as soil available potassium, and bacterial abundance. Moreover, the study led to the identification highly effective plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from the peanut rhizosphere, which were then integrated into a SynCom and immobilized within biochar. Application of biochar-based SynCom in RC-MPs contaminated soil significantly increased peanut biomass, root vigor, nodule number, and antioxidant enzyme activity, alongside enhancing soil enzyme activity and rhizosphere bacterial abundance. Interestingly, under high-dose RC-MPs treatment, the relative abundance of rhizosphere bacteria decreased significantly, but their diversity increased significantly and exhibited distinct clustering phenomenon. In summary, the investigated biochar-based SynCom proved to be a potential soil amendment to mitigate the deleterious effects of RC-MPs on peanuts and preserve soil microbial functionality. This presents a promising solution to the challenges posed by contaminated soil, offering new avenues for remediation.

Microbial recovery of rare earth elements from various waste sources: a mini review with emphasis on microalgae.

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are indispensable in contemporary technologies, influencing various aspects of our daily lives and environmental solutions. The escalating demand for REEs has led to increased exploitation, resulting in the generation of diverse REE-bearing solid and liquid wastes. Recognizing the potential of these wastes as secondary sources of REEs, researchers are exploring microbial solutions for their recovery. This mini review provides insights into the utilization of microorganisms, with a particular focus on microalgae, for recovering REEs from sources such as ores, electronic waste, and industrial effluents. The review outlines the principles and distinctions of bioleaching, biosorption, and bioaccumulation, offering a comparative analysis of their potential and limitations. Specific examples of microorganisms demonstrating efficacy in REE recovery are highlighted, accompanied by successful methods, including advanced techniques for enhancing microbial strains to achieve higher REE recovery. Moreover, the review explores the environmental implications of bio-recovery, discussing the potential of these methods to mitigate REE pollution. By emphasizing microalgae as promising biotechnological candidates for REE recovery, this mini review not only presents current advances but also illuminates prospects in sustainable REE resource management and environmental remediation.

Grazing exclusion is more effective for vegetation restoration and nutrient transfer in the heavily degraded desert steppe.

BACKGROUND: Grazing exclusion is an efficient practice to restore degraded grassland ecosystems by eliminating external disturbances and improving ecosystems' self-healing capacities, which affects the ecological processes of soil-plant systems. Grassland degradation levels play a critical role in regulating these ecological processes. However, the effects of vegetation and soil states at different degradation stages on grassland ecosystem restoration are not fully understood. To better understand this, desert steppe at three levels of degradation (light, moderate, and heavy degradation) was fenced for 6 years in Inner Mongolia, China. Community characteristics were investigated, and nutrient concentrations of the soil (0-10 cm depth) and dominant plants were measured. RESULTS: We found that grazing exclusion increased shoots' carbon (C) concentrations, C/N, and C/P, but significantly decreased shoots' nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations for Stipa breviflora and Cleistogenes songorica. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in nutrient concentrations of these two species among the three degraded desert steppes after grazing exclusion. After grazing exclusion, annual accumulation rates of aboveground C, N, and P pools in the heavily degraded area were the highest, but the aboveground nutrient pools were the lowest among the three degraded grasslands. Similarly, the annual recovery rates of community height, cover, and aboveground biomass in the heavily degraded desert steppe were the highest among the three degraded steppes after grazing exclusion. These results indicate that grazing exclusion is more effective for vegetation restoration in the heavily degraded desert steppe. The soil total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus concentrations in the moderately and heavily degraded desert steppes were significantly decreased after six years of grazing exclusion, whereas these were no changes in the lightly degraded desert steppe. Structural equation model analysis showed that the grassland degradation level mainly altered the community aboveground biomass and aboveground nutrient pool, driving the decrease in soil nutrient concentrations and accelerating nutrient transfer from soil to plant community, especially in the heavily degraded grassland. CONCLUSIONS: Our study emphasizes the importance of grassland degradation level in ecosystem restoration and provides theoretical guidance for scientific formulation of containment policies.

Microbial community structure and metabolic profile of anthropized freshwater tributary channels from La Plata River, Argentina, to develop sustainable remediation strategies.

Microbial communities from freshwater sediments are involved in biogeochemical cycles and they can be modified by physical and chemical changes in the environment. Linking the microbial community structure (MCS) with physicochemistry of freshwater courses allows a better understanding of its ecology and can be useful to assess the ecological impact generated by human activity. The MCS of tributary channels from La Plata River affected by oil refinery (C, D, and E) and one also by urban discharges (C) was studied. For this purpose, 16S rRNA metabarcoding analysis, in silico metagenome functional prediction, and the hydrocarbon degradation potential (in silico predictions of hydrocarbon-degrading genes and their quantification by qPCR) of the MCS were studied. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that the MCS was different between sites, and it was not structured by the hydrocarbon content. Site C showed physicochemical characteristics, bacterial taxa, and an in silico functional prediction related to fermentative/heterotrophic metabolism. Site D, despite having higher concentration of hydrocarbon, presented autotrophic, syntrophic, and methanogenic pathways commonly involved in natural processes in anoxic sediments. Site E showed and intermediate autotrophic/heterotrophic behavior. The hydrocarbon degradation potential showed no positive correlation between the hydrocarbon-degrading genes quantified and predicted. The results suggest that the hydrocarbon concentration in the sites was not enough selection pressure to structure the bacterial community composition. Understanding which is the variable that structures the bacterial community composition is essential for monitoring and designing of sustainable management strategies for contaminated freshwater ecosystems.

Iron nanoparticles in combination with other conventional Fe sources remediate mercury toxicity-affected plants and soils by nutrient accumulation in bamboo species.

The issue of mercury (Hg) toxicity has recently been identified as a significant environmental concern, with the potential to impede plant growth in forested and agricultural areas. Conversely, recent reports have indicated that Fe, may play a role in alleviating HM toxicity in plants. Therefore, this study's objective is to examine the potential of iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) and various sources of Fe, particularly iron sulfate (Fe SO4 or Fe S) and iron-ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (Fe - EDTA or Fe C), either individually or in combination, to mitigate the toxic effects of Hg on Pleioblastus pygmaeus. Involved mechanisms in the reduction of Hg toxicity in one-year bamboo species by Fe NPs, and by various Fe sources were introduced by a controlled greenhouse experiment. While 80 mg/L Hg significantly reduced plant growth and biomass (shoot dry weight (36%), root dry weight (31%), and shoot length (31%) and plant tolerance (34%) in comparison with control treatments, 60 mg/L Fe NPs and conventional sources of Fe increased proline accumulation (32%), antioxidant metabolism (21%), polyamines (114%), photosynthetic pigments (59%), as well as root dry weight (25%), and shoot dry weight (22%), and shoot length (22%). Fe NPs, Fe S, and Fe C in plant systems substantially enhanced tolerance to Hg toxicity (23%). This improvement was attributed to increased leaf-relative water content (39%), enhanced nutrient availability (50%), improved antioxidant capacity (34%), and reduced Hg translocation (6%) and accumulation (31%) in plant organs. Applying Fe NPs alone or in conjunction with a mixture of Fe C and Fe S can most efficiently improve bamboo plants' tolerance to Hg toxicity. The highest efficiency in increasing biochemical and physiological indexes under Hg, was related to the treatments of Fe NPs as well as Fe NPs + FeS + FeC. Thus, Fe NPs and other Fe sources might be effective options to remove toxicity from plants and soil. The future perspective may help establish mechanisms to regulate environmental toxicity and human health progressions.

Changes in the extractability and fractionation of cadmium and copper in a contaminated soil amended with various sugarcane bagasse-based materials.

Heavy-metal contamination in soil has long been a persistent challenge and the utilization of agricultural waste for in-situ stabilization remediation presents a promising approach to tackle this problem. Agricultural wastes exhibit promising potential in the remediation of contaminated land and modification could improve the adsorption performance markedly. Citric acid and Fe3O4 treated sugarcane bagasse adsorbed more heavy metals than raw materials in the aqueous system, employing these materials for heavy metal remediation in soil holds significant implications for broadening the raw material source of passivators and enhancing waste utilization efficiency. In this paper, a 120-day soil incubation study was conducted to compare the effects of pristine sugarcane bagasse (SB), citric-acid modified (SSB1, SSB2 and SSB3 with increasing proportion of citric acid) and citric-acid/Fe3O4 modified (MSB1, MSB4 and MSB7 with increasing proportion of Fe3O4) sugarcane bagasse at 1 % addition rate on cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) passivation. The SB, SSB1 and MSB1 did not always decrease the content of CaCl2-extractable Cd while all the seven amendments decreased the CaCl2-extractable Cu during the experiment period. Among all materials, SSB3 and MSB7 exhibited the highest efficiency in reducing the concentrations of CaCl2-extractable Cd and Cu. At Day 120, SB, SSB3 and MSB7 reduced the content of CaCl2-extractable Cd by 8 %, 18 % and 24 %, and of CaCl2-extractable Cu by 25 %, 50 % and 61 %, respectively. The efficiency of Cd and Cu immobilization was associated positively with the pH, functional groups and H-bonds of the amendments. The results suggest that the efficiency of sugarcane bagasse in heavy-metal passivation can be largely enhanced through chemical modifications using high proportions of citric acid and Fe3O4.

Nanomaterials for sustainable remediation: efficient removal of Rhodamine B and lead using greenly synthesized novel mesoporous ZnO@CTAB nanocomposite.

This study explores the dual applications of a greenly synthesized ZnO@CTAB nanocomposite for the efficient remediation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and lead (Pb). The synthesis method involves a sustainable approach, emphasizing environmentally friendly practices. FT-IR, XRD, FESEM, zeta potential, and particle size analyzer (PSA), BET, and UV-VIS were used to physically characterize the zinc oxide and CTAB nanocomposite (ZnO@CTAB). The size and crystalline index of ZnO@CTAB are 77.941 nm and 63.56% respectively. The Zeta potential of ZnO@CTAB is about - 22.4 mV. The pore diameter of the ZnO@CTAB was 3.216 nm, and its total surface area was 97.42 m2/g. The mechanism of adsorption was investigated through pHZPC measurements. The nanocomposite's adsorption performance was systematically investigated through batch adsorption experiments. At pH 2, adsorbent dose of 0.025 g, and temperature 50 °C, ZnO@CTAB removed the most RhB, while at pH 6, adsorbent dose of 0.11 g, and temperature 60 °C, ZnO@CTAB removed the most Pb. With an adsorption efficiency of 214.59 mg/g and 128.86 mg/g for RhB and Pb, the Langmuir isotherm model outperforms the Freundlich isotherm model in terms of adsorption. The pseudo-2nd-order model with an R2 of 0.99 for both RhB and Pb offers a more convincing explanation of adsorption than the pseudo-1st-order model. The results demonstrated rapid adsorption kinetics and high adsorption capacities for RhB and Pb. Furthermore, there was minimal deterioration and a high reusability of ZnO@CTAB till 4 cycles were observed.

Biodiversity is central for restoration.

The global restoration agenda can help solve the biodiversity extinction crisis by regenerating biodiversity-rich ecosystems, maximising conservation benefits using natural regeneration. Yet, conservation is rarely the core objective of restoration, and biodiversity is often neglected in restoration projects targeted towards carbon sequestration or enhancing ecosystem services for improved local livelihoods. Here, we synthesise evidence to show that promoting biodiversity in restoration planning and delivery is integral to delivering other long-term restoration aims, such as carbon sequestration, timber production, enhanced local farm yields, reduced soil erosion, recovered hydrological services and improved human health. For each of these restoration goals, biodiversity must be a keystone objective to the entire process. Biodiversity integration requires improved evidence and action, delivered via a socio-ecological process operating at landscape scales and backed by supportive regulations and finance. Conceiving restoration and biodiversity conservation as synergistic, mutually reinforcing partners is critical for humanity's bids to tackle the global crises of climate change, land degradation and biodiversity extinction.

The past and future of ecosystem restoration in China.

For decades, China has implemented restoration programs on a large scale, thanks to its capacity to set policy and mobilize funding resources. An understanding of China's restoration achievements and remaining challenges will help to guide future efforts to restore 30% of its diverse ecosystems under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Here we summarize the major transitions in China's approach to ecosystem restoration since the 1970s, with a focus on the underlying motivations for restoration, approaches to ecosystem management, and financing mechanisms. Whereas China's restoration efforts were predominantly guided by the delivery of certain ecosystem functions and services in earlier decades, more recently it has come to emphasize the restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. Accordingly, the focal ecosystems, approaches, and financing mechanisms of restoration have also been considerably diversified. This evolution is largely guided by the accumulation of scientific evidence and past experiences. We highlight the key challenges facing China's restoration efforts and propose future directions to improve restoration effectiveness, with regard to goal setting, monitoring, stakeholder involvement, adaptive management, resilience under climate change, and financing.

Rehabilitating coral reefs in the Anthropocene.

Coral reefs provide food and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of coastal people in over 100 countries. Recent global estimates for the total value of goods and services that they can generate indicate around US$ 105,000-350,000 per hectare per year, but local estimates of current total economic value can be one to two orders of magnitude lower. Unfortunately, coral reefs are under threat both from local human stressors (for example, sediment and nutrient run-off from agriculture, sewage discharges, dredging, destructive fishing, land 'reclamation', overfishing) and, increasingly, from stressors related to global climate change (not only El Niño Southern Oscillation-related marine heatwaves, which cause mass bleaching and mortality of corals, but also more frequent and powerful tropical cyclones and ocean acidification). Four successive mass-bleaching events on Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef between 2016 and 2022 (plus another one currently underway) have focused world attention on the need for urgent action to protect coral reefs. It is clear that coral reef ecosystems will continue to decline unless anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are reduced and innovative management strategies are developed to assist adaptation.

Appleseed - restoration and resonance.

The successful restoration of the river that used to be the dirtiest in Europe shows that any water course can be brought back to life. Around the world, different approaches and different goals are being pursued in a multitude of river restoration projects, with barrier removals showing a growing trend.