Molecular and morphological evidence has reshaped our understanding of oyster diversity, distributions and phylogeny, revealing widespread misidentifications and undescribed species. On Australia's east coast the Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata , traditionally thought to be reef‐building both intertidally and subtidally, is likely a predominantly intertidal species. Examination of museum specimens and historical literature indicates that subtidal S. glomerata identifications are likely incorrect and instead represent multiple species, all with reef‐building capacity. Broadly, clarifying species identities and distributions by tidal zone and depth will be an essential first step for guiding subtidal oyster reef restoration in tropical and subtropical areas. Given this re‐interpretation, the threatened status of S. glomerata reefs should be re‐assessed to reflect their true, predominantly intertidal distribution.

Abstract Introduction Vegetation restoration is a crucial aspect of ecosystem recovery and functional reconstruction in mining areas, with rhizosphere soil microorganisms playing a synergistic role in promoting healthy plant growth. Objectives To investigate the effects of rhizosphere soil environmental factors on rhizosphere microorganisms during the ecological restoration process in mining areas, this study focused on five dominant revegetation species: Paspalum wettsteinii , Eleusine coracana , Tephrosia candida , Dodonaea viscosa , and Syzygium cumini . Methods Using soil nutrient measurement techniques and high‐throughput microbial sequencing, we conducted a synchronous analysis of the rhizosphere soil environmental quality and microbial community structure of these plants. This approach aims to elucidate the inherent plant–microbe relationships and provide a foundation for understanding the rhizosphere microecological interaction processes driven by specific plants in mining areas. Results Our results showed that Dodonea viscosa rhizosphere had the highest organic matter and nitrogen content. Microbial analysis showed Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Chloroflexi were the dominant bacteria, with Ascomycota as the predominant fungus. Paspalum wettsteinii rhizosphere exhibited the highest microbial richness, while T. candida showed the greatest bacterial diversity. Soil total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and organic matter were the key factors driving microbial community structure. Regulating these nutrients can strategically enhance beneficial microbial communities and improve restoration outcomes. Conclusion In conclusion, sowing D. viscosa and E. coracana during vegetation restoration in mining areas can enhance soil microbial species diversity and activity, promoting the healthy development of the soil system.

Abstract Introduction Revegetation using native vegetation is a commonly used technique to reclaim landscapes degraded by mining activities. Revegetation efforts in the arid Southwestern United States face physical, geochemical, hydrological, and biological challenges unique to drylands. It is crucial to select seed application methods that have the highest chance of success when considering site characteristics and environmental limitations. Objectives The study evaluated the (1) effects of timing of seeding (summer monsoon vs. winter rains); (2) seed application method (hydroseeding vs. seedball application); and (3) mycorrhizal fungi inoculation (AM120 commercial suite) on plant establishment patterns across 4 years on a copper mine located in an arid region of central Arizona. Results Timing of seeding and mycorrhizae inoculation did not affect the overall cover and density of vegetation; however, plant community composition for all hydroseeded treatments shifted over time from one dominated by annual forbs to a shrub‐dominated community with an understory of annual and perennial grasses. Hydroseeding was most successful in reestablishing vegetation and was shown to contribute to the development and maintenance of a native soil seed bank. Conclusions Our results indicate that hydroseeding is a viable technique for both revegetation and the amplification and development of the native seedbank on hard rock mines in arid lands. Longer term monitoring will further confirm the impact of the seed mix composition and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation on the observed transitions in plant community development and provide a metric for plant establishment patterns during the early monitoring stages of mine site reclamation.

Abstract Introduction The inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) is central to international agendas. Yet, the understanding of how national frameworks operationalize this principle through concrete mechanisms for IPLC participation and rights recognition remains limited. Mexico exemplifies this issue: despite 60% of forests under community management and commitments to restore 8.4 million hectares by 2030, very few restoration projects report meaningful community involvement. Objectives This study determines: (1) the extent to which existing policies align with core FLR principles; (2) how these policies incorporate mechanisms for meaningful IPLC inclusion and rights recognition; and (3) what barriers and opportunities constrain or facilitate policy translation into practice. Methods We assessed 24 Mexican policies (1988–2024) using two complementary indices: an FLR alignment index measuring adherence to eight core restoration principles, and an IPLC inclusion index ranging from exclusion to full autonomy in decision‐making. We followed these with a thematic analysis of policy content to identify barriers and opportunities constraining or facilitating policy‐to‐practice translation. Results Policies demonstrated strong alignment with FLR principles: landscape focus, ecological functionality, multiple benefits, and local adaptation. However, although all policies recognized stakeholder involvement in principle, IPLC inclusion in decision‐making remained severely constrained: only four documents positioned IPLCs as equal collaborators, one granted community leadership, and one provided full autonomy. Conclusions Mexican restoration policy recognizes FLR principles but lacks institutional mechanisms to operationalize meaningful IPLC participation. This gap between international standards and national implementation reflects deeper institutional and governance constraints, underscoring the need for structural changes for equitable and effective restoration.

Abstract Introduction Fire‐tolerant invaders of ecosystems that have undergone fire exclusion create a dilemma for land managers. One example is the invasion of rare oak ( Quercus L.) woodlands in the eastern United States by the invasive grass, Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus, which increases in response to woodland restoration and can reduce native species diversity and wildlife habitat quality. Objectives Because M. vimineum is an annual that produces a persistent seed bank, whereas most oak woodland native plant species are perennials that do not require annual recruitment from seed, preemergent herbicides could control the invader and minimize collateral damage to native vegetation, but long‐term effects are unknown. Methods In 2018, I applied a preemergent herbicide (Barricade 4FL, Prodiamine 40.7%) one time to borders of patches of M. vimineum containing resident groundcover vegetation at two sites that differed in productivity and the stage of restoration. I measured responses of both M. vimineum and the residents in 2019, 2024, and 2025. Results The herbicide significantly reduced M. vimineum density in 2019. Despite a modest increase in 2025 at the more productive site, following a marked decline, M. vimineum had not fully recovered from the preemergent treatment at either site by 2025. The herbicide had immediate but short‐lived negative effects on some native species recruiting from seed at the less productive site. Conclusions A preemergent herbicide reduced the fire‐responsive invasive, M. vimineum , but also had a negative but short‐lived effect on seedling recruitment of some native species at one of the sites.

Abstract Introduction The augmentation of small populations with individuals from other local sites is often proposed as a management tool to overcome the negative impacts of fragmentation but is rarely employed due to concerns of outbreeding depression. This hesitancy is compounded by the lack of examples with genetic monitoring over multiple generations needed to measure the impacts of genetic augmentation. Objectives This study assesses how seeding populations of Platanthera leucophaea (eastern prairie fringed orchid) have altered population genetic structure over multiple generations. Methods We compared DNA samples collected prior to 1998 and 17 years (2015) post seeding. These genetic data were paired with measurements of fruit set and seed viability to test for evidence of inbreeding depression. Results We found genetic management (the combined treatment of hand pollination and seed addition) leading to an increase in all measures of genetic variation. Populations with no genetic management or only population reinforcement via hand pollination had little to no change in genetic variation. Seed viability differed significantly among these populations, and results suggest hand pollination in combination with seed addition is likely to increase seed viability over time. We observed no difference between treatment types solely considering genetic status in 2015. Conclusions This work highlights the importance of genetic monitoring over time to accurately measure the impact of restoration work and offers the rare opportunity to assess a history of well‐documented restoration and management widely applicable to species facing reduced reproductive success in isolated habitats.

Abstract Introduction Over half of dryland ecosystems worldwide are degraded, making restoration a priority. Most dryland restoration efforts use seed‐based approaches, which often result in limited establishment of desirable species. The dual challenges of abiotic stressors and invasive species dominance are key barriers to native plant community reestablishment in degraded drylands. Innovative seeding approaches that help overcome these barriers are needed. Objectives We tested seed pellets, a seed enhancement technology, with varying compositions and activated carbon amendments, both for herbicide protection and in the absence of herbicide. Methods We conducted two greenhouse mesocosm experiments. The first experiment tested the protective effect of activated carbon in seed pellets, produced using a low‐tech “Bicycle‐Powered Seed Pelletizer,” after aminopyralid herbicide (Milestone TM ) application on diverse seedling emergence. The second experiment examined how seed pellet composition, including variable clay ratios and activated carbon additions in the absence of herbicide, affected seedling recruitment. Results Seed pellets improved seedling emergence in both experiments, with 136% and 56% higher odds of emergence from seed pellets compared to broadcast seeding in the first and second experiments, respectively. Composition and activated carbon additions without herbicide treatment had limited effects. Following aminopyralid herbicide treatment, we found significantly higher emergence from seed pellets containing activated carbon. Conclusions Seed pellets with activated carbon may be an effective seeding method in dryland ecosystems where herbicide treatment and reseeding are needed. Varying clay content and activated carbon additions had limited impacts without herbicide treatment.

Abstract Introduction The paper presents a legal analysis in the context of European Union nature restoration legislation. It addresses the restoration of selected habitat types and habitats of certain species to increase ecosystem resilience. Objectives It aims to identify the interrelation among a newly legislated act and the existing legal framework as well as to provide support to scholars and practitioners toward a harmonious and consistent interpretation of the various norms. Methods Various legal interpretation methods are applied within an overall hermeneutical research approach. Results The paper finds that the EU's Nature Restoration Regulation was introduced with a clear and explicit endeavor to complement and support the existing legal framework, adding value. When primarily applying such a purposive focus of the newly introduced norms in the interpretation of the various interrelations to the existing norms, a coherent interpretation is possible. This is particularly valid for these cases where the newly introduced norms show at the first view a lower restoration target, less ambition of effectively achieving restoration, lesser scope of application as well as wider exceptions and exception options. Insofar, the existing legal frameworks prevail, and the newly introduced norms exclusively apply where their scope in terms of habitat, species, and geographic coverage extends the existing conservation level. Conclusions The paper identifies the legal interplay among the newly enacted legal norms and the existing legal framework in multiple dimensions. Respectively, harmonious and consistent ways of interpretation are possible based on the complementary and supportive endeavor of the newly introduced norms.

Abstract Introduction Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES) projects typically require that results from monitoring and reporting are verified to empirically prove that interventions pass the test of additionality. Generally, PES monitoring and reporting assessment frameworks used by community groups or landowners are qualitative while verification methodologies use established quantitative metrics (e.g. forest structural data assessed using standardized techniques). However, few studies have systematically tested the degree of correlation between qualitative and quantitative metrics. Objectives The study aimed to understand whether rapid assessments can accurately gauge forest health when considering various pressures and management responses, and whether this could be tested and evaluated through reference to structural indices. Methods We developed a Rapid Assessment Form (RAF) for application as a monitoring and reporting tool tailored to forests in Northland, New Zealand. The RAF was tested across forest fragments on Pāmu farms and reference forests which exhibit a range of attributes, encompassing a wide spectrum of ecological quality. We collected quantitative data at the same locations and used a revised Index of Structural Complexity (rCI) as a proxy for “quality” to evaluate and verify RAF outcomes. Results Results show a strong, significant coefficient of determination relationship between RAF scores and the rCI (RAF Part B ecological “state” r 2 = 0.993, RAF overall r 2 = 0.838). Conclusions The RAF demonstrated applicability as a robust, reliable means of monitoring and reporting ecosystem quality and the rCI as a useful verification tool, therefore establishing a platform for wider incorporation within PES projects.