Forests of urban/suburban areas are being increasingly restored, but before/after-control/impact studies addressing effects on biodiversity in peri-urban forest restorations are virtually lacking. Using a before/after-control/impact (BACI) design, we explored the effects on birds (commonly used as indicators for restoration impacts) of small-scale restoration interventions in 2019 targeting residual forests north of Milan, in the largest Italian conurbation, with trees and shrub planting around existing patches or in formerly cultivated areas. Birds were surveyed in 2018, 2019, and 2021, at 20 intervention and 20 control sites. We evaluated the short-term effects of restoration by analysing changes in avian communities (i.e. richness, richness and abundance of forest specialists, single species’ abundance), considering the effect of year and intervention (i.e. before/during/after intervention). Species richness of breeding birds was largely unaffected by on-going interventions, while it was positively related to concluded restoration. The abundance of five individual species varied according to restoration: on-going interventions had positive effects on two species, Common Blackbird Turdus merula and Hooded Crow Corvus corone cornix, and negative effects on Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, while concluded restoration positively affected two species, Common Blackbird Turdus merula again, and the forest specialist Marsh Tit Poecile palustris. Even small-scale interventions in peri-urban areas may provide tangible benefits to breeding birds in the short term: peri-urban forest restoration could contribute to biodiversity conservation.

Kelp forests are being degraded and/or lost in many regions, and as such, interest in active kelp restoration approaches to reinstate forests is growing. ‘Green gravel’ is a promising new kelp restoration technique that involves seeding small rocks with kelp zoospores, rearing the gametophyte and juvenile sporophyte stages in aquaria before outplanting them at restoration sites. However, to be considered a viable approach to kelp forest restoration, the efficacy of this technique needs to be assessed across a range of environmental contexts and kelp species. Here, we aimed to understand the utility of green gravel as a kelp restoration technique for wave-exposed intertidal shores. Two substrate types – gravel and cobbles – were seeded with Saccharina latissima, reared in the aquarium and outplanted at two sites along the northeast coast of England. Outplanted rocks were monitored for retention, and the density and length of S. latissima. Juvenile sporophytes persisted on both rock types, although declines in density and variations in length were observed over time. Substrate retention was low, with gravel more likely to be removed from restoration sites compared to cobbles, and all outplanted rocks were lost after eight months. While our initial testing of the green gravel restoration technique on wave-exposed shores was not successful, our results provide important insights for developing/refining the technique and a baseline for comparison for future efforts. However, prior to commencing large-scale kelp restoration in wave-exposed areas using green gravel, further testing of the technique and comparisons with other restoration approaches are needed.

The extensive clearing and modification of forests by anthropogenic activities is a major driver of biodiversity loss. Declines of common species are especially concerning because of the potentially large cascading effects they might have on ecosystems. Regrowth of secondary forests may help reverse population declines by restoring habitats to similar conditions prior to land conversion but the value of these secondary forests to fauna is not well understood. We compared the abundance of a direct-developing terrestrial frog, Craugastor stejnegerianus, in riparian and upland habitats of pasture, secondary forest, and mature forest sites. Mean abundance per transect was lower in upland pasture compared to mature forest. Secondary forest had similar abundance to mature forest regardless of age. We show that conversion of forest habitat to pasture represents a conservation threat to this species. However, riparian buffers help mitigate the negative effect of conversion of forest to pasture, and regrowth of secondary forest is an effective management strategy for restoring the abundance of this common leaf-litter species.

Forest succession drives concomitant changes in associated faunal communities. Thus, maintaining landscapes with high successional diversity can be an important consideration in habitat management. We sought to describe avian community characteristics across a successional gradient created by reforestation efforts in a tropical premontane wet forest in Costa Rica. Specifically, we examined the effects of successional stage on overall abundance, species richness, diet niche, migratory status, and community composition. We hypothesised that these metrics of bird abundance, diversity and community composition would differ across successional stages. Using data from transects conducted in 2018, we found that several metrics of avian abundance, diversity and community composition varied as a function of successional stage. Surprisingly, the earliest successional stage exhibited the greatest abundance, species richness and proportion of migrant species. We suggest that an ephemeral vegetation structure present for only a short period (early in succession) creates a unique habitat that results in a distinct avian community. This highlights the potential importance of early successional forests for avian communities, especially neotropical migrants.

The objective of this study was to test the tolerance of two species of Schinus and two species of Handroanthus cultivated in iron mining tailings from the rupture of the dam in Mariana, Brazil. Samples of mining tailings were collected 1 km away from the dam location and then dried, stored in plastic bags and further analysed for elemental composition. The seeds, later seedlings, were cultivated in the mining waste and in sand in two experiments separately and the experimental design was in a 2 × 3 factorial scheme (two substrates and three combinations of species), with six replications (n = 36). After 60 d of the establishment of the experiments, the germination data, biometric and anatomical measurements of the leaves were evaluated, in addition to the elemental characterization of the tailings. Mining tailings showed macro and micronutrients in addition to potentially toxic elements (As, Al, Cr, Pb and Ni). Seeds germinated and seedlings survived in the mining tailings. Mining tailings reduced the seedling emergence in Handroanthus, whereas it increased the emergence in S. molle and had no significant effect in S. terebinthifolia. Mining tailings reduced the number and length of roots in Schinus but increased these traits in Handroanthus species. Moreover, mining tailings reduced the fresh mass in Handroanthus but had no effect in the Schinus species. Mining tailings reduced the palisade and spongy parenchyma Handroanthus but only the spongy parenchyma was reduced in Schinus species. Therefore, mining tailings provided conditions for seed germination and seedling growth and Schinus species showed higher tolerance.

Recently, human activities have impacted biodiversity-rich forest in western Rwanda, creating a need to enhance restoration activities of degraded lands in the region. To evaluate the effects of reforestation activities on the community composition of soil-litter ants, research was conducted in Gishwati tropical montane forest, located in northern-western part of Rwanda. The ant fauna was studied in reforested lands dominated by regenerated native species and exotic tree species. Further, a primary forest made of native trees served as a reference. In each forest type, nine sampling points were used to sample ants. Ant specimens were collected using pitfalls, hand sampling and Winkler extractor. They were identified to subfamilies, genus and species levels using dichotomous keys, and also statistically analysed for species richness, diversity, evenness and community composition. We collected a total of 2,481 individuals from 5 subfamilies, 18 genera and 35 species. Higher abundance, diversity and species richness were found in soil-litter under natural primary and secondary forests dominated by regenerated native plant species compared to exotic tree forest. The ant community composition analysis indicated higher similarities in ant species sampled under primary native forest and secondary forest dominated by regenerated native species. Reforestation by regenerating native species may be given priority in restoration of degraded lands due to their importance in species richness and species diversity.

Nonnative invasive plant species are a major cause of ecosystem degradation and impairment of ecosystem service benefits in the United States. Forested riparian areas provide many ecosystem service benefits and are vital to maintaining water quality of streams and rivers. These systems are also vulnerable to natural disturbances and invasion by nonnative plants. We assessed whether planting native trees on disturbed riparian sites may increase biotic resistance to invasive plant establishment in central Vermont in the northeastern United States. The density (stems per square meter) of invasive stems was higher in non-planted sites (x̄ = 4.1 stems m−2) compared with planted sites (x̄ = 1.3 stems m−2). More than 90% of the invasive plants were Japanese knotweed [Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr.; syn. Polygonum cuspidatum Siebold & Zucc.]. There were no significant differences in total stem density of native vegetation between planted and non-planted sites. Other measured response variables such as native tree regeneration, species diversity, soil properties, and soil function showed no significant differences or trends in the paired riparian study sites. The results of this case study indicate that tree planting in disturbed riparian forest areas may assist conservation efforts by minimizing the risk of invasive plant colonization.

We demonstrate an application evaluating carbon sequestration benefits from federal policy alternatives. Using detailed forest inventory data, we projected carbon sequestration outcomes in the coterminous 48 states for a baseline scenario and three policy scenarios through 2050. Alternatives included (1) reducing deforestation from development, (2) afforestation in the eastern United States and reforestation in the western United States, and (3) reducing stand-replacing wildfires. We used social cost of carbon estimates to evaluate the present value of carbon sequestration benefits gained with each policy. Results suggest that afforestation and reforestation would provide the greatest marginal increase in carbon benefit, far exceeding policy cost.

A recent trend of regreening formerly bare hills in central Vietnam is often described in the media as a form of recovery from 1960s wartime destruction. However, this modern framework of wartime “wasting” and regreening obscures a longer history of bare hills. Colonial explorers noted eroded slopes in 1877, and imperial land surveyors described stretches of “idle, fallow land” decades earlier. This article describes a longer history of a “wasteland” not only to challenge a presentist framing of environmental decline but also to recognize the historic roles people played in producing these spaces, often in response or resistance to state policies. Colonial engagements with land clearing and customary uses of “open” lands gave shape to colonial visions of “wasteland” and later spurred colonial environmentalist critiques, even calls for a new form of green colonialism via exotic tree plantations. Writing the history of such a “wasteland” is one way to decenter imperial, colonial, and nationalist teleologies that tend to emphasize the environmental “footprints” of state actions but not the reverse. This history of “bare hills” draws from a mix of historical sources to show how people produced this “wasteland” and why, at times, they maintained it despite state efforts at reclamation.

Studies were conducted in 2007 and 2008 to evaluate herbicides having both PRE and POST activity for selective weed control in bald cypress plantings. Five herbicides were applied at two or three rates at two different timings. The first timing was to dormant seedlings without foliage and prior to weed emergence (i.e., PRE). The second timing was to foliated seedlings with established weed seedlings present (i.e., POST). Herbicide treatments included aminopyralid at 70 and 120 g ae ha−1, hexazinone at 420 and 560 g ai ha−1, imazapyr at 140 and 210 g ae ha−1, sulfometuron methyl at 110, 160, and 210 g ai ha−1, and flumioxazin at 290 and 430 g ai ha−1. Herbicide rate had little effect on vegetation control. PRE-applied sulfometuron methyl was most effective, providing nearly complete control of graminoids and broadleaves at 60 d after treatment (DAT). POST-applied treatments were generally less effective, though in the 2008 study imazapyr and sulfometuron methyl resulted in approximately 60% bare ground at 60 DAT. Growth of bald cypress seedlings was enhanced by both PRE- and POST-applied sulfometuron methyl, flumioxazin, or hexazinone and by PRE imazapyr. The best bald cypress growth response followed POST-applied sulfometuron methyl at 210 g ha−1, which resulted in 63 cm3 mean volume index, more than fivefold greater than the nontreated check. Aminopyralid caused severe and lasting seedling injury. POST-applied imazapyr resulted in fasciculation and no growth benefit, despite providing the most efficacious weed control among POST treatments. Survival and growth of bald cypress can be greatly enhanced with a single selective herbicide treatment using sulfometuron methyl, flumioxazin, or hexazinone applied before or following foliation in the spring.

Sulfometuron was applied at 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 kg ai/ha over the top of oak seedlings. Three separate field studies were completed. In 1997, 0.1 and 0.2 kg ai/ha was applied PRE over six oak species. In 1998 and 1999, 0.1 and 0.15 kg ai/ha were applied PRE and 0.1 kg ai/ha was applied POST over two species of oaks. Results demonstrate that first-year survival of oak seedlings is greater in areas which receive competition control. Survival was 21 to 44% greater in treated areas as compared to nontreated areas. Observations indicate that survival differences are increased in droughty years. Competition control appears essential to obtaining desirable levels of survival when oak seedlings are planted in areas with established herbaceous competition.

Sulfometuron was applied over the top of recently planted oak seedlings in three separate studies. Both preemergent (PRE) and postemergent (POST) timings were utilized in all studies. In 1997, six species of oaks were planted and evaluated, and two species were planted in the 1998 and 1999 studies. Sulfometuron was applied at rates of 0.1 and 0.2 kg ai/ha in 1997 PRE and at 0.1 kg ai/ha POST. In 1998 and 1999, treatment rates were 0.1 and 0.15 kg ai/ha for PRE and 0.1 kg ai/ha POST. Results indicate that sulfometuron is effective for competition control and can be applied PRE with total safety with the tested oaks. However, sulfometuron should not be applied POST over white oak seedlings, as mortality will result.

Neotropical fruit-eating bats play a crucial role in forest regeneration by dispersing seeds of pioneer plants from forests into deforested areas. However, later in succession bats may carry seeds in both directions. We used an isotopic approach to reveal the direction of seed transfer mediated by three co-existing short-tailed fruit bats (Carollia castanea, C. sowelli and C. perspicillata) between a forest and an adjacent mid-successional site (>15 y since deforestation); two habitats where individuals of the genus Piper differed in stable carbon isotope ratios by ~2.5‰. In a feeding experiment, we confirmed that δ13C of seeds is not altered by digestive processes. We then collected seeds defecated by bats of the genus Carollia and found that δ13C of these seeds is higher than those of Piper individuals growing in the forest, irrespective of whether bats were captured in or outside the forest. We conclude that bats of the genus Carollia were more likely to carry seeds from successional areas into the forest than in the opposite direction.