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Forest restoration faces financial constraints due to land opportunity costs and delayed returns from ecosystem services and timber production. A socially fair bioeconomy of non-timber products from native species is a promising pathway to overcome these challenges. We investigated the bioeconomic potential of native species in the reforested lands of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. A forest inventory across 46 plots (41 400 m²) in regenerating forests revealed 5181 individuals and 329 species. A review of 603 articles showed 167 species (59%) with bioeconomic potential. Medicinal (58%), cosmetic (12%), and food (5%) uses predominated. Leaves were the most used plant part. Of 2520 patents, we found 78 species patented in 61 countries (8% in Brazil). Only 13% of studies reached the final product stages. The palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana and Euterpe edulis) and the conifer (Araucaria angustifolia) highlight how native species synergistically improve the restoration’s supply of resources to the biotech industry.

Graphical abstract

Amid the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), which aims to restore degraded areas in the coming decades, post-mining sites must be integrated into biodiversity and ecosystem recovery strategies as key contributors. While mining, quarrying, and other extractive activities have considerable environmental impacts, they also present massive opportunities to create valuable habitats, support biodiversity, guide restoration efforts, and contribute to conservation. A strong foundation of scientific and practical knowledge is already in place, yet implementation gaps persist, and regulatory frameworks remain under-utilised for restoring these degraded areas. Under-exploited pathways exist to reconcile development needs with NRR restoration goals. To maximise the biodiversity potential of post-mining sites, we emphasise the need for: (1) Site-specific scientific assessments and long-term monitoring; (2) Practical restoration guidelines for European habitats; (3) The strategic use of restored site networks as demonstration areas; (4) Active stakeholder engagement; and (5) Supportive policies.

Rewilding deliberately forges new relationships within complex socio-ecological systems. Yet, many rewilding initiatives proceed without fully considering the multitude of relationships at play. In this paper, we advance a framework that reimagines rewilding as a relationship-centered process, emphasizing that success depends on fostering connections from individual to collective levels for humans and non-humans alike. To illustrate this, we focus on species (re)introductions, identifying the various collective and individual relationships that shape rewilding outcomes. We then propose five principles for effectively forging these relationships: (1) reconsider values and perceptions of nature; (2) embrace a collective and individual-oriented approach; (3) place local communities at the heart of rewilding initiatives; (4) cautiously revive lost relationships; and (5) strengthen the connection between science and policy. Our framework demonstrates that identifying and fostering these relationships is not just essential but transformative, paving the way for rewilding practitioners to create ethical, interconnected, and resilient socio-ecological systems.

While there is growing understanding of the impact of urbanisation on nature access and nature connection, little is known about this pattern across the rural-urban gradient. Through a nationally-representative survey, we explore relationships of nature connection, wellbeing, and pro-environment behaviour across remote, regional, and urban Australia. We also examine two open-ended questions about an individual’s everyday interaction and meaningful experiences with nature. The results show non-linear relationships with stronger levels of nature connection in remote and outer regional areas of Australia, while personal well-being and pro-environmental behaviour scores were higher in outer regional Australia. Open-ended questions revealed that increasing urbanisation led to more limited interactions or meaningful experiences with nature, and individuals in remote and outer regional areas feel immersed in nature, while individuals in major cities travel to visit nature. Regional areas appear to provide opportunities for immersive nature while also access to key services that contribute to wellbeing.

Rewetting drained peatland forests restores pristine ecosystem functions, improves peatland ecological status, and has been considered to mitigate climate change. We quantified climate impact of rewetting boreal peatland forests in Northern Europe by comparing the radiative forcing of alternative restoration pathways to that of continued forestry use. We considered changes in soil carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide balance, tree stand carbon sink-source dynamics, albedo change, and included the wood product carbon storage and release. We show that restoring nutrient-rich drained boreal peatland forests contributes to climate warming in the short and medium term (< 200 yr), except in specific cases when tree stand carbon storage is preserved. Rewetting nutrient-poor peatland forests has a persistent warming impact. Our results indicate the ecological benefits of rewetting drained boreal peatland forests come at a climate cost, and that restoration is unlikely to mitigate climate change within a timeframe relevant to the EU climate goals.

The establishment of marine protected areas with high levels of compliance is a cornerstone of global marine conservation. Previous studies highlight the importance of psycho-social mechanisms (e.g. attitudes, social norms) for driving self-compliance amongst recreational fishers. However, our ability to put these fishery-specific insights into broad-practice requires understanding how transferable they are across locations. In this study, we find that psycho-social determinants of sustainable fishing practices are consistent across three contrasting marine protected areas spanning the Australian continent (separated by up to 3500 km). Intentions to promote sustainable fishing practices were stronger for fishers who were aware of zoning, were positive towards regulations, and whose peers supported sustainable fishing practices. Most of the variability in these factors was linked to intangible fisher characteristics, especially fisher motivations. Consistency across our national sample raises the potential for a national approach to tackling self-compliance of recreational fishers with marine protected area regulations.

Nature connection and its relationships with stewardship vary across social and environmental contexts. Through a nationally representative survey in Australia, this study examined engagement in four different pro-environmental behaviours (PEBs) (advocacy, consumer-conscious, conservation, and gardening), their socio-demographic correlates, and the associations with both nature connection and well-being. We found strong associations between nature connection and all examined PEBs; however, different groups were more likely to engage in different types of PEBs. For example, younger adults are more likely to engage in advocacy and conservation behaviours, while older Australians are more likely to engage in consumer-conscious behaviours and gardening. All PEBs were significantly associated with well-being; however, only the advocacy behaviours variable remained significant when including nature connection as a control variable. These findings highlight the importance of biodiversity policies that holistically enhance nature connection for a range of people, alongside sustainability measures to support the well-being of both people and planet.