<h3>Abstract</h3> Coastal development has negatively impacted estuarine ecosystems over the past two centuries. In southern California, USA, salt marshes are valued for their high animal and plant diversity and for providing foraging and nesting habitat for species of conservation concern. Given the ecological importance of this regionally rare habitat, coastal managers have prioritized salt marsh restoration, despite its many challenges. We review lessons learned on the effect of design and adjoining landscape on early vegetation development in a 60.7 ha tidal wetland restoration project in a southern California estuary where nearly one-third of 37.6 ha of planned salt marsh was excavated to high marsh elevations. Initial planting to facilitate vegetation development in large areas of the high marsh (&gt; 1.7 m MLLW) was unsuccessful, likely due to hypersaline soils. In some areas, subsurface freshwater intrusion likely enhanced planted vegetation, which outperformed vegetation planted at comparable high elevations in other areas. In the mid-marsh (&lt; 1.7 m MLLW), vegetation development from natural recruitment exceeded that of the planted high marsh. After five years, vegetation cover in the high marsh remained low. To address this issue, the marsh plain was re-graded lower in some areas and a planting program was established to hasten vegetation development. Lessons learned pertain to the critical importance of initial wetland design, which in this project led to sparse vegetation cover and the necessity of re-grading and large-scale planting to facilitate vegetation establishment.

<h3>Abstract</h3> Ecological restoration is crucial for reversing biodiversity loss and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Effective restoration requires both global-scale frameworks and localized, community-driven efforts. I examine two key strategies, namely the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) and Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA), with the objective of identifying their distinct orientations, shared features, and potential synergies in ecological restoration. The analysis is both qualitative using content analysis and quantitative using indicator variables to assess latent variables. The latent variables assessed are objectives and scope, geographic focus, methodology and approach, partnerships and engagement and, impact and sustainability for 33 GCBC projects and 21 REDAA projects. While GCBC focuses on global biodiversity and climate resilience through research and policy influence, REDAA prioritizes research-to-action, community-led restoration in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Synergies between the two models include their shared emphasis on stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and the integration of scientific research into actionable restoration projects. Despite these synergies, gaps exist, such as the lack of shared monitoring frameworks and formal collaboration, which limit their collective impact. Mechanisms through which the two models can be more effectively aligned include shared evaluation systems, collaborative platforms, scalable adaptation pathways, and intentional, structured coordination that leverages the complementary strengths of GCBC’s policy-oriented research and REDAA’s grounded, community-led implementation. This coordinated approach offers a practical blueprint for future restoration investments that seek to balance global ambition with local relevance and deliver impact across ecological, institutional, and social scales.

<h3>Abstract</h3> Nature-based methods for shoreline erosion control, often referred to as living shorelines, can help maximize local ecosystem services in urban areas where they may otherwise be lost. Living shorelines that incorporate salt marshes and oyster reefs have been shown to improve water quality by removing excess nutrients and protecting coasts from storm surges, but adaptive and continual management is essential. Positive and negative species interactions may influence the success of these shoreline projects. Here we synthesize the results of a multi-year study of the Sherman Creek Living Shoreline in New York City, NY. We conducted studies of shoreline habitat types pre- (2019) and post-restoration (2020), following a mussel-addition experiment (2021), and following the implementation of enhanced goose-exclusion techniques (2023). In each year, we collected sediment cores from shoreline habitat types (mudflat, rip-rap, existing marsh, new marsh) and performed continuous-flow incubations to quantify dissolved gas and nutrient fluxes, with the goal of comparing rates of nitrogen removal among habitat types. We also assessed above-and below-ground biomass and sediment characteristics of each habitat. Though sediment organic content in the existing marsh was more than double that of any other habitat type, we found similar rates of nitrogen removal via denitrification in the existing and newly restored marsh. Adding mussels to the marsh plants increased rates of nitrogen removal by 50%. Post goose-exclusion, we saw plant growth like that of the existing marsh, showing that managing species interactions can have a positive effect on the benefits provided by living shorelines.

An important goal of coastal wetland restoration is to support and rehabilitate wildlife populations, including birds, fish, and key invertebrate species, by providing habitat and trophic support ([Tori et al. 2002][1], Wozniak et al. 2006, [Benson et al. 2018][2]). Restoring these ecological

Even though cloud forests are estimated to cover less than 0.2% of the Earth’s surface ([Bruijnzeel et al. 2011][1]), they hold almost 14% of the world’s biodiversity, with a high percentage of endemic species ([Karger et al. 2021][2]). Cloud forest conservation is a priority ([Myers et al. 2000

How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World . Ethan Tapper. 2024. Minneapolis, MN: Broadleaf Books. $28.99 USD Hardback. ISBN: 978-8-8898-3055-9; 229 pages. I was taught that most oak seedlings grew from acorns that had been cached by jays, squirrels or chipmunks

Hunt for the Shadow Wolf: The Lost History of Wolves in Britain and the Myths and Stories that Surround Them Derek Gow. 2024. London: Chelsea Green Publishing. $24.95 USD Paperback. ISBN: 978-1-915294-46-3; 246 pages. Wolves likely were extirpated from the British Isles in the mid- to late-18th

<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> <i>Bromus tectorum</i> invasion and associated impacts have been documented extensively in the western United States. Integrated approaches have been shown to be effective in restoring rangeland impacted by <i>B. tectorum</i>. While integrating herbicide and seeding of native species can be effective, strategic timing of these tools could further improve restoration outcomes. At three <i>B. tectorum</i>-infested rangeland sites in western Montana, we tested the effects of glyphosate application and timing (fall or spring) and five <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i> seeding dates (one fall and four spring dates) on density and cover of <i>P. spicata. Pseudoroegneria spicata</i> density was nearly ten times higher with glyphosate applied to <i>B. tectorum</i> compared to none at one site, and <i>P. spicata</i> abundance was generally greater when spring glyphosate application was combined with spring seeding at two other sites where densities ranged from six to 25 plants per m². Overall, <i>B. tectorum</i> abundance was minimally affected by treatments and fluctuated between years and across study sites. Our results indicate that spring seeding of <i>P. spicata</i> following a spring glyphosate application promoted establishment of <i>P. spicata</i>, increasing its density and cover compared to fall glyphosate application and fall seeding, spring glyphosate following fall seeding, or seeding without any glyphosate. Restoration practitioners have an ecologically-based strategy for timing glyphosate application and seeding <i>P. spicata</i> based on our results, where spring-seeded <i>P. spicata</i> can grow for several months prior to fall emergence of the next <i>B. tectorum</i> cohort.

<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> River reconstructions, encompassing flood and erosion control along with the restoration of fish habitat, can alter hydrodynamics within the constructed channel, thereby impacting fish habitat. This study aimed to assess the influence of specific river reconstruction practices, particularly spur dikes, on both hydrodynamics and fish habitat, to optimize the design of spur dike constructions for fish habitat restoration. The study utilized ecohydraulic modeling to examine the design of river reconstruction strategies and provide valuable insights on their efficacy, with a focus on refining these practices to enhance the suitability of habitat for <i>Myxocyprinus asiaticus</i> (Chinese Sailfin Sucker) in the Yangtze River. We used various flow rates and time periods to test hydrodynamic and habitat responses and long-term stability of the restoration schemes. The results suggested that the habitat quality of all the tested cases increased with flow rates and then decreased. Modelling results indicated a ranking of the habitat status from high to low in the following scenarios: baseline channel without riverbank constructions, with straight or T-shaped spur dikes installed on a single riverbank, and with straight or T-shaped spur dikes installed on both riverbanks. For post-effects of the restoration strategies, each approach would scour the riverbed. Installing spur dikes on both riverbanks would severely degrade the fish habitat suitability level, with the overall suitability index decreasing over time. In summary, installation of spur dikes along a single riverbank minimized the impact on the suitability of fish habitats and was the preferred scenarios to optimize habitat suitability for Chinese Sailfin Sucker.

<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is a primary manager of federal public lands in the northern Great Plains region, with over 400,000 hectares (ha) of mostly grassland and wetland administered under the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). More specifically, the Service manages &gt; 100,000 ha of mixed-grass and tallgrass prairie in northern Great Plains states. Prairies range from small, isolated &lt; 16-ha tracts embedded in agricultural landscapes to &gt; 10,000-ha contiguous tracts embedded within grassland-dominated landscapes. The mission of the NWRS is uniquely wildlife/wildland oriented, with human uses secondary in importance. As such, the expectation is that natural plant communities occur as relatively high-quality habitats. Grant et al. (2009) explored this expectation, concluding that "Despite 40–70 years of protection, the integrity of many prairies held in public trust continues to decline, primarily because of invasion by cool-season, introduced plants and woody vegetation." To address this concern, the Service proposed a program to evaluate restoration of Service-owned prairies following principles of adaptive management, including a decision support function. Our purpose in this paper is to update 14 years of development and implementation of the Native Prairie Adaptive Management (NPAM) program. We confirmed that Service-owned prairies continue to be degraded by invasive plants, especially <i>Bromus inermis</i> (smooth brome) and <i>Poa pratensis</i> (Kentucky bluegrass). However, NPAM has facilitated a significant gain in our understanding of ecological restoration and management of prairies in the region, increasing hope that restoration successes can occur when viewed over the long-term (i.e., many decades).