UN DECADE ON ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

REVIEW ARTICLE

Historical trajectory of restoration practice and science

across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Débora C. Rother1,2,3 , João P. Romanelli2 , Ricardo R. Rodrigues2

Restoration is fundamentally a hopeful intervention that can meaningfully improve the condition of human-degraded and
destroyed ecosystems. Both restoration science and practice have gained special attention given the recently declared UN
Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. Here, we present an overview of the historical development of forest restoration on the
Brazilian Atlantic Forest with an emphasis in methodological and technical assumptions. We gathered information from pri-
mary and secondary studies to show how forest restoration concepts and strategies evolved over the years. Given the impor-
tance of reviews for informing management and policy as well as research, our study provides a summarized information on
forest restoration approaches or practices that can help practitioners and non-initiated to understand how this field evolved
in Brazil and how lessons learned can be useful for forest restoration in other countries.
Key words: conceptual synthesis, ecological restoration, restoration phases, restoration synthesis, trends, tropical forest, trop-
ical region, UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030)

human well-being (UNEP & FAO 2020; Aronson et al. 2020);

Implications for Practice
in accordance with the sustainable development goals, addres-
• Lessons learned in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest can be sing issues related to water security, climate crisis, food, biodi-
useful for more effective decisions across different eco- versity loss, good health, and well-being.
systems and socioeconomic and ecological contexts Although the decade is aimed at all kinds of ecosystem resto-
around the world. ration (UNEP & FAO 2020), much of the emphasis of publicity
• Functional traits and evolutionary relationships among surrounding the declaration has been on degraded or con-
co-occurring species provide means of ensuring restora-
verted forests (Dudley et al. 2020; Holl & Brancalion 2020).
tion efforts in terms of delivering target ecosystem ser-
Forests occupy a center stage in global debates mainly
vices and overcoming environmental filters.
because of aspects related to carbon removal and biodiversity
conservation (Erbaugh et al. 2020) and also due to the wide
range of human-induced disturbances they suffer (Nunez-
Introduction Mir et al. 2015). Consequently, many forest ecosystems dis-
Restoration practice—the process of assisting the recovery of a play reduced functionality and productivity and species loss,
certain ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed besides reduced delivery of ecosystem services (ES; Wen-
(SER 2004)—has ramped worldwide (Pape 2020). The United hua 2004; Nunez-Mir et al. 2015).
Nations General Assembly’s declaration of 2021–2030, also An ambitious forest restoration agenda has been set globally
called “UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration” represented a (Holl et al. 2020) and motivated by varied goals (Suding
turning point for global movement (Dhyani et al. 2020; Roma-
nelli et al. 2020). The decade is a call for the protection and Author contributions: RRR conceived the idea; RRR, DCR, JPR designed the study;
recovery of ecosystems for the benefit of people and nature, aim- DCR, JPR led the writing of the manuscript; all authors contributed critically to the
drafts and gave approval for publication.
ing to counteract land degradation, and achieve global sustain-
1
able goals. There are optimists’ and even skeptics’ points of Centro de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Campus Lagoa
do Sino, Rod. Lauri Simões de Barros km 12 - SP-189, Buri, Brasil 18245-000, Brazil
view regarding how meaningful such a declaration will be on 2
Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo,
global pledges (Cooke et al. 2019; Young & Schwartz 2019; Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
3
Address correspondence to D. C. Rother, email [email protected]
Dudley et al. 2020). Nevertheless, ecosystem restoration is
expected to support global conservation efforts for local devel-
opment and economic sustainability (Aronson & Alexan- © 2023 Society for Ecological Restoration.
doi: 10.1111/rec.14041
der 2013; Aronson et al. 2020; UNEP & FAO 2020), and Supporting information at:
awareness of the importance of functional ecosystems for http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041/suppinfo

Restoration Ecology 1 of 11
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

et al. 2015; Chazdon et al. 2016). As a mechanism of land and and practical underpinnings of restoration through the prism of
resource management, the “forest landscape restoration” rapid environmental changes becomes increasingly evident
(FLR) has been proposed as a management practice to promote (Hobbs & Cramer 2008; Nunez-Mir et al. 2015).
restoration and human well-being (Erbaugh et al. 2020). How- Through a narrative synthesis, we summarize the evolution of
ever, competing definitions of FLR exist (Mansourian 2018), forest restoration science and practice across the BAF. By shar-
and debates rely on the lack of conceptual clarity as to how this ing the Brazilian experience, we aim to contribute to more uni-
approach can achieve such objectives (Stanturf et al. 2019). versally applicable insights into forest restoration in other
The majority of current restoration targets come from devel- tropical ecosystems. Our synthesis begins by elucidating over-
oping countries in the global South (Fagan et al. 2020). In Latin arching research trends and progressively narrows to the
America, for example, a total of 170 Mha of FLR were pledged Brazilian context, succinctly delineating methodological
as part of the Bonn Challenge, including commitments from advancements, ecological applications, and research outcomes
13 neotropical countries (Brancalion et al. 2019; Chagas et al. across five discernible phases. Ultimately, our narrative con-
2020). Brazil in particular made an ambitious pledge of 12 Mha cludes by succinctly exploring the broader international implica-
of native vegetation recovery as a contribution to the Bonn Chal- tions stemming from the insights garnered from the BAF
lenge global target (www.bonnchallenge.org). This restoration restoration, imparting valuable cross-disciplinary lessons.
commitment is also part of Brazil’s pledge to the Paris Climate
Agreement and its National Policy for Native Vegetation
Recovery. Moreover, the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact Forest Restoration in the BAF: Evolution of Methods,
(AFRP), created in 2009 as a movement to restore 15 Mha of Concepts, and Research
degraded/deforested lands by 2050, pledged 1 Mha toward the The field of restoration ecology is relatively recent
2020 Bonn Challenge (Crouzeilles et al. 2019). The increasing (Harrington 1999; Young et al. 2005). The further unearthing
forest cover already reached in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest of the origins of ecology can be used as a historical landmark
(BAF) brings optimism for the achievement of global restoration for the identity of restoration ecology in the twentyfirst century
commitments in the next years (Rezende et al. 2018; Crouzeilles (Gross 2007). Ernst Haeckel is well-known for originating the
et al. 2019). science of ecology and some of his ideas converge to tighten
Forest restoration in the BAF has a long history (Rodrigues the link between the current science and practice of ecological
et al. 2009b). This natural laboratory’ has contributed funda- restoration (Gross 2007). Thus, much of basic and applied
mentally to a better understanding of the history and restoration research in ecological restoration draws from established princi-
research of tropical forests (Romanelli et al. 2018) and the extent ples and concepts raised in ecology (Young et al. 2005).
to which this irreplaceable biota is susceptible to major human The realm of restoration is divided into restoration ecology as
disturbances (Joly et al. 2014). Originally, the Atlantic Forest the science of ecology and ecological restoration as the overall
covered an area of 1.6 Mha (Muylaert et al. 2018), and it hosts practices, including esthetic and economic factors, and other
one of the world’s most diverse and threatened biodiversity social dimensions (Eden & Tunstall 2006; Keulartz 2007). Echo-
(Oliveira-Filho & Fontes 2000; Scarano 2009). After five centu- ing Murphy et al. (2018), the origins of these terms are hard to
ries of colonial imperialism, most Atlantic Forest landscapes are track accurately. The term restoration was reported in the early
fragmented by small forest patches surrounded by open-habitat 1940s in documents relating to Dekalb County, Illinois, and notes
matrices (Joly et al. 2014). However, the local socio-political from George Ward and Paul Shephard at Knox College in 1954
issues, including land ownership disputes, deforestation pres- (Murphy et al. 2018). Nonetheless, only at the end of the
sures, policy implementation inconsistencies, limited funding, 1970s, restoration ecology started to emerge as a formal research
conflicts between biodiversity conservation and economic field in Brazil (Fig. 1; Rodrigues et al. 2009a). Since the founda-
growth, integration of indigenous knowledge, and vulnerability tion of Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) in 1988, this
to political changes, greatly increase the challenge of any resto- international nonprofit organization has been serving as a founda-
ration project, given they are both related to the causes of degra- tion for the development of the field by promoting the science and
dation and the success of restoration simultaneity (Rodrigues practice of ecological restoration around the world (Fig. 1; Cle-
et al. 2009b). To tackle these challenges successfully, effective well & Aronson 2013). In Brazil, the Brazilian Society for Eco-
restoration strategies must engage stakeholders, cultivate policy logical Restoration (SOBRE, the acronym in Portuguese)
coherence, and embrace adaptive approaches that harmonize emerged in 2014 aiming to promote debates, technical collabora-
ecological and societal concerns. tion, and exchange of experiences between different actors
More than 40 years have passed since the emergence of the involved in ecological restoration efforts. Ecology faced a scien-
field of restoration ecology. In this time, restoration science tific revolution from older paradigms of succession, climax, and
and practice have been evolving, shifting, and developing new balance of nature, amid the agitation for environmental preserva-
foci (Oliet & Jacobs 2012). Changing demands at the social, tion and discussions about human-nature dichotomy (Caillon
economic, and ecological levels (DellaSala et al. 2003; Nunez- et al. 2017). These thinking chains were present when ecological
Mir et al. 2015), along with emerging challenges, such as those restoration started to take shape, emerging as an alternative to
associated with climate change (Jalili et al. 2010; Stanturf account for socioeconomic issues, frame sustainable economic
et al. 2014), required the simultaneous and reciprocate evolution development, and preserve biodiversity (Clewell & Aron-
of the field. Thus, the importance of reassessing the theoretical son 2013). A significant portion of the fundamental and practical

2 of 11 Restoration Ecology
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

Figure 1. Total publications from Web of Science involving ecological restoration research from 1970 to 2020 and association to the growth trends on forest
restoration research separated into five phases. Bars refer to global ecological restoration research. Green line refers to global forest restoration research. Phases
relate to Brazilian research.

research within restoration ecology has predominantly revolved 2016). Restoration ecology is indeed not only rising in promi-
around botany, likely due to the prominent role of plants in natu- nence but also evolving and expanding in its focus to address
ral communities and as the foundational components of most emerging issues and challenges (Romanelli et al. 2018). In this
ecosystems (Young 2000). This emphasis is unavoidably mir- process, it is possible to recognize phases for the Brazilian for-
rored in our review. est restoration since the early 1970s by analyzing trends in the
Over the past three decades, forest restoration has gained a indexed literature across worldwide and different time-spans
strong academic foothold, addressing several different problems (Romanelli et al. 2020). Although arbitrarily defined, we dis-
faced by restoration practitioners (Young et al. 2005; Guan cussed and established so-called “restoration phases” based
et al. 2019). During this period, the discipline has transitioned on previous researches (Rodrigues et al. 2009a, 2009b;
from a fledgling niche topic to a globally recognized, scientifi- Durigan & Melo 2011; Chaves et al. 2015) and academic
cally based solution for humans to respond to damaged and trends, which can represent a useful simplification to under-
destroyed ecosystems (Romanelli et al. 2018). Currently, resto- stand the history of the application of the concepts in the field
ration is part of the international trend toward “nature-based (Rodrigues et al. 2009a, 2009b). Thus, a proposal for dividing
solutions.” However, restorationists (e.g. scientists and practi- the restoration trajectory over time into phases is presented for
tioners) also have gone through a period of academic soul- the BAF, which may also be useful to understand the develop-
searching, trying to discover and develop conceptual bases for ment of forest restoration science and practice from a broad
the emerging science (Young 2000; Young et al. 2005). The perspective. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis on
evolution of forest restoration practice and science has become restoration of BAF research from 1970 to 2020 to understand
a necessary process due to shifting socioeconomic and ecologi- the development of this field through the time and its associa-
cal demands, coupled with the rapid pace of global change tion to the growth trends on forest restoration research sepa-
(Oliet & Jacobs 2012; Stanturf et al. 2014). The restoration goals rated into five phases. The search was made by using the
changed and new techniques have been developed based on the Web of Science and Scopus as bibliographic sources (see
best practices (Rodrigues et al. 2009b; Brancalion et al. 2015, Supplement S1 for details).

Restoration Ecology 3 of 11
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

Phase 1 (Until 1982): No Ecological Criteria for Selecting and based on successional patterns, but now with a focus on greater
Combining Species diversity of native tree species and ecological strategies
The three oldest documented forest restoration initiatives in (Kageyama et al. 2008). Without technical or scientific support,
Brazil were all motivated by the need to recover ES, long before many companies established partnerships with universities and
this concept was coined in the specialized literature (Chaves research institutions to support restoration projects (Chaves
et al. 2015). The first project began in 1861, and focused on et al. 2015). It is important to emphasize that ecological knowl-
the headwaters of the watershed that has become the Tijuca edge about native species was being studied in Brazil, what is
National Park, in Rio de Janeiro (Drummond 1996) at a time not the case for many other countries, where little ecological
of rampant deforestation (Calmon et al. 2011). That restoration research is conducted.
was implemented in order to protect and augment vegetation Brazil promulgated a series of legal instruments during the
cover around natural springs, along streams and degraded lands twentieth century to support the sustainable use of the forests.
by coffee plantations, envisioning the provision of drinking The Forest Code in 1934 (Decree #23793/1934) was the first
water (Calmon et al. 2011). This effort would become the first one. Through this legal instrument, it was enacted that all native
forest restoration project, at least in the tropics (Rodrigues forests were of public interest, and rural properties were required
et al. 2009a). The second project, initiated in 1955, aimed to to preserve forests to benefit society. Nonetheless, due to the
restore 26 ha of riparian forests on land belonging to the sugar- lack of precision in the law’s definitions and difficulties on com-
cane company Usina Ester, in Cosmopolis, São Paulo (Chaves pelling its observance, a revised version of the Forest Code was
et al. 2015). The third project, starting in 1972, was intended established in 1965, (Law #4771/1965)—which defined the
to restore 20 ha of a riparian forest at Cananeia Farm, Cândido areas for permanent preservation and eventually restoration
Mota, São Paulo (Suganuma et al. 2014). These projects and (areas of permanent preservation) and the additional minimum
other reforestation initiatives aiming to protect the reservoirs percentage of forest cover that should be set aside as Legal
of the São Paulo Power Company and the Itaipu hydroelectric Reserve, which could be explored for sustainable timber har-
power plant were motivated by the need to protect water vesting. In 1981, the National Environmental Policy (Law
resources (Durigan & Melo 2011). #6938/1981) stated that large private companies should com-
All these so-called “protection plantings” (Kageyama & Cas- pensate for the deforestation caused by their activities (mainly
tro 1989; Rodrigues et al. 2009a), in that date established with hydroelectric and mining companies) through restoration of
no ecological criteria, characterizes this phase which we consid- degraded lands, as part of offsetting policies. This has been
ered to start in 1861 and became more pronounced after the detailed extensively elsewhere (e.g. Pinto et al. 2014).
1970s. At that date, mixed plantations with no experimental pur- We found that one of the first published studies associating
poses did not allow inferences to be drawn about species interac- the performance of tree species and restoration models date to
tion and on the effectiveness of techniques employed. Such the early 1980s (Hessing & Johnson 1982). Important and sem-
projects were restricted to the use of exotic (i.e. Pinus, Eucalyp- inal studies regarding forest succession in this period go back to
tus, and jackfruit in the case of reforestation in Rio de Janeiro) the work of Tilman (1985) published in American Naturalist,
and native tree planting, pure or mixed with low diversity, Finegan (1984) in Nature, and Christensen and Peet (1984) in
mainly intending to recreate a forest cover (Schweizer Journal of Ecology. In Brazil, the pioneer studies of Gurgel-
et al. 2015). Filho et al. (1982) and Nogueira et al. (1982) also started to bring
light on silvicultural characteristics and competition between
native species of the Atlantic Forest. Restoration practitioners
Phase 2 (1982–1985): the Planting of Brazilian Native Species then start using a few fast-growing species in their projects
Based on Forest Succession (maximum 30 species), planted in high density, with low biolog-
Ecological processes, important for forest self-maintenance and ical and functional diversity (Rodrigues et al. 2009a). From this
sustainability were largely ignored in phase 1, and ecological phase on, the planting of Brazilian native species became wide-
criteria for the selection of species were not considered at that spread, even though they were not always regionally native from
time. Consequently, forest physiognomies were restored, but the restored area (i.e. they were native from Brazil but from other
with no capacity of perpetuating themselves (Rodrigues regions or biomes) (Brancalion et al. 2015). For the first time,
et al. 2009b). Several pioneer species reached adult age and died genetic issues started to be discussed in the context of the suc-
quickly, leaving the plant community, becoming a non- cession of forest native species (Kageyama & Castro 1989).
favorable environment for the establishment of non-pioneer spe-
cies. Thus, many projects with these characteristics declined
after approximately 10–15 years (Barbosa et al. 2003), since Phase 3 (1985–2000): Deterministic Succession Based on the
they were based on reforestation practices and not restoration Floristic and Structural Copy of Forest Remnants
practices. Although some projects did result in permanent for- During this phase, the Brazilian Constitution of 1988 was
ests (e.g. Mariano et al. 1982), they often required long-term enacted, after 21 years of dictatorship, returning to democracy.
maintenance activities and high costs (Rodrigues et al. 2009a). To strengthen environmental protection, the Brazilian Federal
Facing difficulties in conceiving, and carrying out these pio- Constitution established that public authorities must actively
neering large-scale projects, researchers in Brazil started to promote the restoration of ecological processes in order to
develop restoration models that mimicked species turnover secure a healthy environment for people. As a consequence,

4 of 11 Restoration Ecology
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

new legal instruments were created, favoring restoration in the inaugurated the understanding of how species colonize new hab-
Atlantic Forest. In 1998, the Environmental Crimes Law (Law itats by overcoming biotic limitations or limiting factors
# 9605/1998) established penal, civil, and administrative penal- (Temperton et al. 2004; Moir et al. 2005). In practice, concern
ties for environmental crimes performed by individuals and about keeping the high species diversity in restoration projects
companies, and stated forest restoration as a legal obligation remained in force, as well as aspects such as the floristics and
for farmers and private companies (Durigan & Melo 2011). environmental conditions of the target region and species light
Yet, these restoration projects were reactive measures to com- requirements (Engel & Parrotta 2001).
pensate for damage rather than a proactive measure to assist
recovery, enhance ecosystems, and improve land use and
livelihoods. Phase 5 (2004–Today): Multiple Restoration Goals
Atlantic Forest restorationists started to consider the restora- This phase comprises the current efforts on forest restoration sci-
tion trajectories and their endpoints in this phase (Joly ence and practice across the BAF. In the political context, envi-
et al. 2000), in synchrony with the international literature on ronmental laws changed in 2012 in Brazil with the revision of
the theme (Brown & Lugo 1994; White & Walker 1997), and the Forest Code, now Law of Native Vegetation Protection
calls for more attention in understanding the forecasting trajec- (Law #12651/2012) (Garcia et al. 2013; Pinto et al. 2014). Aca-
tories of restoration (Shugart 1989). In this period, restoration demically, restoration science has developed a broad and diver-
trajectories were already considered as the structural and func- sified body of literature since 2004, although only after 2011 it
tional attributes of sites relative to reference conditions, and has gained prominence in international indexed journals
the time required to obtain a restored state or condition (Romanelli et al. 2018, 2020). In the last two decades, restora-
(Twilley et al. 1998). tion has been receiving increasing attention because of its role
Therefore, by the end of the 1980s, projects were carried out in biodiversity conservation (Scarano & Ceotto 2015), the pro-
based on “mixed native species plantations,” envisioning to visioning of ES (Nogueira Júnior et al. 2014), and compliance
copy the composition and structure of natural forests with socioeconomic (Viani et al. 2017) and cultural values
(Brancalion et al. 2015). The most commonly used restoration (Brancalion et al. 2014).
strategy from this time was “modules of planting,” a combina- Since the 2000s, several small-scale forest restoration initia-
tion of plant species according to their ecological groups tives have sprung up in the BAF as a result of the growing
(i.e. light requirements, humidity, or nutrition) (Rodrigues involvement of environmental non-governmental organizations
et al. 2009b). Many projects conducted under these biases (NGOs), farmers (forced by the Forest Code), and private
resulted in self-sustainable restoration projects, at least regard- companies—also forced by biodiversity offsetting policies, cer-
ing forest structure (Souza & Batista 2004). The conservation tification, and market benefits (Wuethrich 2007; Pinto
and restoration of riparian forests also received special attention et al. 2014). However, for several reasons (Pinto et al. 2014),
in this phase (Rodrigues & Gandolfi 2000). the involvement of these three above-mentioned groups did
not result in a significant enlargement of native forests. Failures
in monitoring restoration forests and “openings” in public policy
Phase 4 (2000–2004): Focus on the Ecological Process in the and enforcement culminated in poorly designed tree plantations
Plant Community (Maron et al. 2012; Pinto et al. 2014).
Gradually transitioning from the 1980s to the 1990s and the Seeking to overcome general problems that were preventing
early 2000s, forest restoration approaches predominated with effectively scaling-up of restoration in the BAF, a group of
great emphasis on phytosociology, and also on secondary suc- NGOs and researchers got together in 2006 and created a coali-
cession as the basis for the implementation models (Rodrigues tion to foster large-scale forest restoration. The AFRP was offi-
et al. 2009a; Oliveira & Engel 2011, 2017). Phase four still cially launched in 2009, with the goal of restoring 15 Mha of the
has a few indexed publications on forest restoration in the Atlan- BAF by 2050, promoting biodiversity conservation, jobs ser-
tic Forest (Fig. 1). However, important concepts were intro- vices and income generation, the provisioning and maintenance
duced in the international restoration literature that started to of ES, and supporting farmers to comply with the Forest Code
influence practitioners in Brazil, such as the “assembly rules” through the 17 Brazilian states when the Atlantic Forest occurs
(Temperton et al. 2004) and the concept of “ecological filters,” (Pinto et al. 2014). After the pact was launched, the coalition
as part of this theory (Keddy 1992; Götzenberger et al. 2012). was committed to elaborate a multifaceted monitoring protocol,
Nevertheless, it has only been at the end of this phase that studies envisioning restoration success in terms of ecological, socioeco-
linking assembly rules theory to restoration ecology made pro- nomic, and management aspects (Viani et al. 2017).
gress (e.g. Moir et al. 2005; Funk et al. 2008), developing stron- Diversity-focused approaches continue to be a central issue
ger linkages between these fields (Audino et al. 2017). (Guan et al. 2019; Dimson & Gillespie 2020) in that phase. With
The focus on the assembly rules started the debate on the fac- the continuous deepening and broadening of practice, many
tors that affect the development of the regenerating community problems are exposed; thus, improving existing approaches
in a given ecosystem, considering both the interaction of the and developing new ones remain in force. Identifying the factors
environment with the organisms in a community and on driving the success of restoration projects, or even defining what
the interactions among organisms (Lockwood et al. 1997; Tem- success is, in relation to a multi-dimensional context also con-
perton et al. 2004). The concept of ecological filters, in turn, tinues to be challenges in ecological restoration (Suganuma

Restoration Ecology 5 of 11
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

et al. 2018). Topics related to monitoring, ecological indicators, the effects of climate change (Silva et al. 2017). This is consid-
active restoration, and natural regeneration appeared numerous ered a powerful strategy for large-scale restoration, and payment
times across recent publications from this phase (Fig. 2), which for ecosystem services (PES) is being used to support FLR pro-
can further be associated with the importance of such processes grams and projects on privately owned land (Viani et al. 2019).
in evaluating the restoration progress and taking adaptive man- Trade-offs in ES have received increasing attention because pro-
agement measures (Londe et al. 2020). visioning services often come at the expense of biodiversity loss
Assessing the conservation value of restoration projects by (Marcilio-Silva et al. 2018; Gardon et al. 2020a). Thus, PES has
monitoring areas and improving strategies is also critical to sup- been initiated throughout Brazil to encourage forest restoration
port large-scale restoration (Brancalion et al. 2018). Achieving on private lands, especially smaller properties that are out of
ambitious restoration targets will require minimizing implemen- compliance with national environmental policies requiring con-
tation costs and negative outcomes for agricultural production servation of native vegetation (Richards et al. 2020). There is
(Molin et al. 2018), as well as be attractive to farmers (Badari great potential for incorporating biodiversity conservation
et al. 2020). Accordingly, natural regeneration has been dis- objectives into restoration projects that can be optimized by
cussed steadily in the recent literature, as an effective alternative adopting a landscape ecology perspective in the planning and
to achieve restoration commitments (Santos et al. 2019b; Borda- implementation of ecological restoration efforts (Rother
Niño et al. 2020). Agroforestry systems are also et al. 2018; Viani et al. 2018).
largely discussed and presented as a cost-effective strategy that The long-term ecological success of large-scale restoration
integrates both production and biodiversity conservation, programs planned for the next decades will also rely on the con-
although their capacity to conserve biodiversity and ES provi- servation genetics of reintroduced or colonizing species, a limit-
sion is still poorly investigated (Santos et al. 2019a; Brancalion ing factor in highly fragmented landscapes. Despite the
et al. 2020). paramount role of this issue for species persistence, its levels
The approach of FLR is also at the forefront of Atlantic For- in restoration programs still fall short of optimal inclusion
est’s efforts to recover ES, conserve biodiversity, and mitigate (Zucchi et al. 2018). Moreover, the study of some ecological

Figure 2. Results of network analysis of the main research topics addressed in studies on forest restoration in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest from 2004 to 2020 in
overlay visualization (data collected on December 10, 2020), through the analysis of all keywords (author keywords and keywords plus). Network maps are
limited to present keywords with a minimum of five occurrences (the same term or expression). The size of the node is proportional to the number of occurrences,
and the thickness of the edges represents co-occurrences between items.

6 of 11 Restoration Ecology
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

processes remains in force in this phase, such as seed dispersal instance, it has been observed that relying solely on methods
(da Silva et al. 2015). In recent years, efforts have included uti- and techniques mirroring preserved forests leads to undesirable
lizing functional traits to select species that offer specific ES dur- consequences, such as restricted biodiversity and compromised
ing restoration and understanding species’ responses to ecological resilience. These approaches have fallen short of
environmental filters (Carlucci et al. 2020; Zupo et al. 2022). achieving their restoration goals concerning species composi-
Evolutionary relationships between co-occurring species have tion and structural integrity. Restoration developed in BAF can
also been studied to provide insights into trait conservatism also influence the global political restoration agenda considering
and community assembly processes influencing restoration for- it is one of the few countries to restore on a large scale owing the
est trajectory (Schweizer et al. 2015). Additionally, a method size, the variety of biomes, the extent of degraded areas and
involving a mix of native species seeds and fast-growing the economic engine in BAF. The academic powerhouse with
legumes (green manure) has been employed to overcome chal- many masters and PhD students focused on restoration in
lenges like herbivory and invasive grasses (Reis et al. 2019). Brazil is another important reason. Such characteristics give to
In synthesis, several changes have occurred in the Atlantic Brazil a considerable contribution to the global restoration
Forest restoration since the publication of Rodrigues agenda. On the other hand, some fundamental disciplines to sup-
et al. (2009b) up to the present. These include pivotal events port goals and the implementation of international agendas are
such as the adoption of the new Forest Code in 2012 (Pinto still poorly applied in the Brazilian restoration interventions.
et al. 2014), the increase in programs that involve PES Human dimensions (i.e. gender equality and social inclusion),
(Ruggiero et al. 2019), a substantial rise in direct seeding prac- for example, need to be prioritized in the national restoration
tices (Meli et al. 2018), and more recently, the proliferation of strategies and action plans.
carbon sequestration initiatives (Gardon et al. 2020b). Studies In conclusion, the BAF restoration approach provides signif-
published in the last decades collectively contribute to a compre- icant insights for restoration efforts in diverse biomes. Moving
hensive understanding of ecological restoration in the BAF by beyond basic reforestation, emphasizing natural regeneration
offering insights into assessing restoration effectiveness, identi- at more resilient regions, and promoting self-sustaining ecosys-
fying advancements and gaps, proposing strategic approaches, tems can enhance restoration effectiveness and reduce costs.
and highlighting research trends and gaps (Strassburg The legal framework, represented by the “Codigo Florestal,”
et al. 2018; Mendes et al. 2019; Guerra et al. 2020; Oliveira supports and encourages the promotion of transparent reporting,
et al. 2021; Zupo et al. 2022). In light of its comprehensive adaptive management, and inventive solutions. Nevertheless,
nature compared to other phases, we have encompassed the challenges persist, encompassing the continuous monitoring of
period 2004–2022 as a single phase. This final phase is, there- ecological benchmarks, ensuring open reporting practices, and
fore, characterized by a diverse array of novel approaches that innovating outcome evaluation technologies. Achieving suc-
emerged in both practical applications and scientific research cessful restoration outcomes mandates effective communica-
within the Atlantic Forest restoration context. tion, seamless integration, and unwavering commitment to
resilience and self-sustainability principles. This is especially
pivotal in light of the escalating global investments in forest
Concluding Remarks restoration.
Here, we discussed the speed of evolution of restoration in
Brazil and its relative contribution to the restoration science.
LITERATURE CITED
On a critical view, the historical trajectory of BAF restoration
reproduces the environmental adequacy of rural properties to Aronson J, Alexander S (2013) Ecosystem restoration is now a global priority:
Time to roll up our sleeves. Restoration Ecology 21:293–296. https://doi.
environmental legislation and provision of ES for the population
org/10.1111/rec.12011
(e.g. public water supply reservoirs) but also an evolution of sci- Aronson J, Goodwin N, Orlando L, Eisenberg C, Cross AT (2020) A world of
ence and practice to achieve ecological success. The recovery of possibilities: Six restoration strategies to support the United Nation's
degraded ecosystems is an old practice around the world Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Restoration Ecology 28:730–736.
(Rodrigues et al. 2009a). However, only recently this activity https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13170
acquired the character of an area of knowledge starting to incor- Audino LD, Murphy SJ, Zambaldi L, Louzada J, Comita LS (2017) Drivers of
porate knowledge of ecological theories (e.g. processes related community assembly in tropical forest restoration sites: role of local envi-
ronment, landscape, and space. Ecological Applications 27:1731–1745.
to the dynamics of plant communities). In this way, programs
https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1562
for the recovery of degraded ecosystems stopped applying agro- Badari C, Bernardini LE, de Almeida DRA, Brancalion PHS, César RG,
nomic and silvicultural practices to assume the objective of Gutierrez V, Chazdon RL, Gomes HB, Viani RAG (2020) Ecological out-
recovering the complex ecological interactions (Rodrigues & comes of agroforests and restoration 15 years after planting. Restoration
Gandolfi 2004). Ecology 28:1135–1144. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13171
From a global outlook, the insights garnered from the BAF Barbosa LM, Barbosa JM, Barbosa KC, Potomati A, Martins SE, Asperti LM,
et al. (2003) Recuperação florestal com espécies nativas no Estado de São
restoration journey can be valuable in empowering practitioners
Paulo: pesquisas apontam mudanças necessarias. Florestar Estatístico 6:
and researchers to craft more efficient strategies for rehabilitat- 28–34
ing forests in comparable biomes. This is applicable even when Borda-Niño M, Meli P, Brancalion PHS (2020) Drivers of tropical forest cover
faced with diverse landscapes, socioeconomic scenarios, and increase: a systematic review. Land Degradation & Development 31:
ecological settings, all driven by varying objectives. For 1366–1379. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3534

Restoration Ecology 7 of 11
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

Brancalion P, Niamir A, Broadbent E, Crouzeilles R, Barros F, Almeyda DellaSala DA, Martin A, Spivak R, Schulke T, Bird B, Criley M, Van Daalen C,
Zambrano A, et al. (2019) Global restoration opportunities in tropical rain- Kreilick J, Brown R, Aplet G (2003) A citizen’s call for ecological forest
forest landscapes. Science Advances 5:eaav3223. https://doi.org/10.1126/ restoration: forest restoration principles and criteria. Ecological Restoration
sciadv.aav3223 21:14–23. https://doi.org/10.3368/er.21.1.14
Brancalion PHS, Amazonas NT, Chazdon RL, van Melis J, Rodrigues RR, Dhyani S, Bartlett D, Kadaverugu R, Dasgupta R, Pujari P, Verma P (2020) Inte-
Silva CC, Sorrini TB, Holl KD (2020) Exotic eucalypts: from demonized grated climate sensitive restoration framework for transformative changes
trees to allies of tropical forest restoration? Journal of Applied Ecology to sustainable land restoration. Restoration Ecology 28:1026–1031.
57:55–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13513 https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13230
Brancalion PHS, Bello C, Chazdon RL, Galetti M, Jordano P, Lima RAF, Dimson M, Gillespie TW (2020) Trends in active restoration of tropical dry for-
Medina A, Pizo MA, Reid JL (2018) Maximizing biodiversity conservation est: methods, metrics, and outcomes. Forest Ecology and Management 467:
and carbon stocking in restored tropical forests. Conservation Letters 11: 118150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118150
e12454. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12454 Drummond J (1996) The garden in the machine: An environmental history of
Brancalion PHS, Cardozo IV, Camatta A, Aronson J, Rodrigues RR (2014) Cul- Brazil's Tijuca forest. Environmental History 1:83–104. https://doi.org/
tural ecosystem services and popular perceptions of the benefits of an eco- 10.2307/3985065
logical restoration project in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Restoration Dudley N, Eufemia L, Fleckenstein M, Periago ME, Petersen I, Timmers JF
Ecology 22:65–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12025 (2020) Grasslands and savannahs in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Resto-
Brancalion PHS, Gandolfi S, Rodrigues RR (2015) Restauração Florestal. Oficina ration. Restoration Ecology 28:1313–1317. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.
de Textos, São Paulo, Brazil 13272
Brancalion PHS, Schweizer D, Gaudare U, Mangueira JR, Lamonato F, Durigan G, Melo ACG (2011) An overview of public policies and research on
Farah FT, Nave AG, Rodrigues RR (2016) Balancing economic costs and ecological restoration in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Pages 320–355.
ecological outcomes of passive and active restoration in agricultural land- In: Biodiversity conservation in the Americas: lessons and policy recom-
scapes: the case of Brazil. Biotropica 48:856–867. https://doi.org/10. mendation. 1st ed. Editorial FEN, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
1111/btp.12383 Eden SE, Tunstall S (2006) Ecological versus social restoration? How urban river
Brown S, Lugo AE (1994) Rehabilitation of tropical lands: a key to sustaining restoration challenges but also fails to challenge the science-policy nexus in
development. Restoration Ecology 2:97–111. https://doi.org/10.1111/j. the United Kingdom. Environment and Planning C: Government and Pol-
1526-100X.1994.tb00047.x icy 24:661–680. https://doi.org/10.1068/c0608j
Caillon S, Cullman G, Verschuuren B, Sterling EJ (2017) Moving beyond the Engel VL, Parrotta JA (2001) An evaluation of direct seeding for reforestation
human-nature dichotomy through biocultural approaches: including eco- of degraded lands in Central São Paulo state, Brazil. Forest Ecology and
logical well-being in resilience indicators. Ecology and Society 22:art27. Management 152:169–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(00)
https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-09746-220427 00600-9
Calmon M, Brancalion PHS, Paese A, Aronson J, Castro P, da Silva SC, Erbaugh JT, Pradhan N, Adams J, Oldekop JA, Agrawal A, Brockington D,
Rodrigues RR (2011) Emerging threats and opportunities for large-scale Pritchard R, Chhatre A (2020) Global forest restoration and the importance
ecological restoration in the Atlantic forest of Brazil. Restoration Ecology of prioritizing local communities. Nature Ecology and Evolution 4:1472–
19:154–158. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00772.x 1476. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01282-2
Carlucci MB, Brancalion PHS, Rodrigues RR, Loyola R, Cianciaruso MV (2020) Fagan ME, Reid JL, Holland MB, Drew JG, Zahawi RA (2020) How feasible are
Functional traits and ecosystem services in ecological restoration. Restora- global forest restoration commitments? Conservation Letters 13:1–8.
tion Ecology 28:1372–1383. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13279 https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12700
Chagas GF, Salk CF, Vidal EJ, de Souza SEXF, Brancalion PHS (2020) Exploit- Finegan B (1984) Forest succession. Nature 312:109–114. https://doi.org/10.
ing fruits of a threatened palm to trigger restoration of Brazil's Atlantic For- 1038/312109a0
est. Restoration Ecology 29:e13294. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13294 Funk JL, Cleland EE, Suding KN, Zavaleta ES (2008) Restoration through reas-
Chaves RB, Durigan G, Brancalion PHS, Aronson J (2015) On the need of legal sembly: plant traits and invasion resistance. Trends in Ecology & Evolution
frameworks for assessing restoration projects success: new perspectives 23:695–703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2008.07.013
from São Paulo state (Brazil). Restoration Ecology 23:754–759. https:// Garcia LC, Silveira J, Matsumoto M, Sanna T, Silva F, Padovezi A, Sparovek G,
doi.org/10.1111/rec.12267 Hobbs RJ (2013) Restoration challenges and opportunities for increasing
Chazdon RL, Brancalion PHS, Laestadius L, Bennett-Curry A, Buckingham K, landscape connectivity under the new Brazilian Forest Act. Natureza e
Kumar C, Moll-Rocek J, Vieira ICG, Wilson SJ (2016) When is a forest Conservaçao 11:181–185. https://doi.org/10.4322/natcon.2013.028
a forest? Forest concepts and definitions in the era of forest and landscape Gardon FR, dos Santos RF, Rodrigues RR (2020b) Brazil’s forest restoration,
restoration. Ambio 45:538–550. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-016- biomass and carbon stocks: a critical review of the knowledge gaps. Forest
0772-y Ecology and Management 462:117972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.
Christensen NL, Peet RK (1984) Convergence during secondary forest succes- 2020.117972
sion. The Journal of Ecology 72:25. https://doi.org/10.2307/2260004 Gardon FR, Toledo RM d, Brentan BM, dos Santos RF (2020a) Rainfall intercep-
Clewell AF, Aronson J (2013) Ecological restoration. Island Press/Center for tion and plant community in young forest restorations. Ecological Indica-
Resource Economics, Washington D.C. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1- tors 109:105779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105779
59726-323-8 Götzenberger L, de Bello F, Bråthen KA, Davison J, Dubuis A, Guisan A, et al.
Cooke SJ, Bennett JR, Jones HP (2019) We have a long way to go if we want to (2012) Ecological assembly rules in plant communities-approaches, pat-
realize the promise of the “Decade on Ecosystem Restoration”. Conserva- terns and prospects. Biological Reviews 87:111–127. https://doi.org/10.
tion Science and Practice 1:e129. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.129 1111/j.1469-185X.2011.00187.x
Crouzeilles R, Santiami E, Rosa M, Pugliese L, Brancalion PHS, Rodrigues RR, Gross M (2007) Restoration and the origins of ecology. Restoration Ecology 15:
et al. (2019) There is hope for achieving ambitious Atlantic Forest restora- 375–376. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2007.00232.x
tion commitments. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation 17:80–83. Guan Y, Kang R, Liu J (2019) Evolution of the field of ecological restoration over
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2019.04.003 the last three decades: a bibliometric analysis. Restoration Ecology 27:647–
da Silva FR, Montoya D, Furtado R, Memmott J, Pizo MA, Rodrigues RR (2015) 660. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12899
The restoration of tropical seed dispersal networks. Restoration Ecology Guerra A, Reis LK, Borges FLG, Ojeda PTA, Pineda DAM, Miranda CO, et al.
23:852–860. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12244 (2020) Ecological restoration in Brazilian biomes: identifying advances

8 of 11 Restoration Ecology
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

and gaps. Forest Ecology and Management 458:117802. https://doi.org/10. Mendes MS, Latawiec AE, Sansevero JBB, Crouzeilles R, Moraes LFD,
1016/j.foreco.2019.117802 Castro A, et al. (2019) Look down-there is a gap-the need to include soil
Gurgel-Filho OA, Moraes JL, Morais E (1982) Características silviculturais e data in Atlantic Forest restoration. Restoration Ecology 27:361–370.
competição entre espécies folhosas. Silvicultura em São Paulo 16:895–900 https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12875
Harrington C (1999) Forests planted for ecosystem restoration or conservation. Moir ML, Brennan KEC, Koch JM, Majer JD, Fletcher MJ (2005) Restoration of
New Forests 17:175–190. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006539910527 a forest ecosystem: the effects of vegetation and dispersal capabilities on
Hessing MB, Johnson CD (1982) Early secondary succession following restora- the reassembly of plant-dwelling arthropods. Forest Ecology and Manage-
tion and reseeding treatments in northern Arizona. Journal of Range Man- ment 217:294–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.06.012
agement 35:667–669. https://doi.org/10.2307/3898660 Molin PG, Chazdon R, de Barros F, Ferraz S, Brancalion PHS (2018) A land-
Hobbs RJ, Cramer VA (2008) Restoration ecology: interventionist approaches scape approach for cost-effective large-scale forest restoration. Journal of
for restoring and maintaining ecosystem function in the face of rapid envi- Applied Ecology 55:2767–2778. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.
ronmental change. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 33:39– 13263
61. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.environ.33.020107.113631 Murphy SD, Allen EB, Hobbs RJ (2018) Restoration ecology at 25 years: the edi-
Holl KD, Brancalion PHS (2020) Tree planting is not a simple solution. Science tors reflect on how we got here. Restoration Ecology 26:1009–1012.
368:580–581. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aba8232 https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12885
Holl KD, Reid JL, Cole RJ, Oviedo-Brenes F, Rosales JA, Zahawi RA (2020) Muylaert RL, Vancine MH, Bernardo R, Oshima JEF, Sobral-Souza T,
Applied nucleation facilitates tropical forest recovery: lessons learned from Tonetti VR, Niebuhr BB, Ribeiro MC (2018) A note on the territorial limits
a 15-year study. Journal of Applied Ecology 57:2316–2328. https://doi.org/ of the Atlantic Forest. Oecologia Australis 22:302–311. https://doi.org/10.
10.1111/1365-2664.13684 4257/oeco.2018.2203.09
Jalili A, Jamzad Z, Thompson K, Araghi MK, Ashrafi S, Hasaninejad M, et al. Nogueira JCB, Siqueira ACMF, Garrido MAO, Garrido LMAG, Rosa PRF,
(2010) Climate change, unpredictable cold waves and possible brakes on Moraes JL, Zandarin MA, Gurgel-Filho O (1982) Ensaio de competição
plant migration. Global Ecology and Biogeography 19:642–648. https:// de algumas essências nativas em diferentes regiões do estado de São Paulo.
doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2010.00553.x Silvicultura em São Paulo 16:1051–1063
Joly CA, Metzger JP, Tabarelli M (2014) Experiences from the Brazilian Atlantic Nogueira Júnior LR, Engel VL, Parrotta JA, Melo ACG, Ré DS (2014)
Forest: ecological findings and conservation initiatives. New Phytologist Allometric equations for estimating tree biomass in restored mixed-species
204:459–473. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.12989 Atlantic Forest stands. Biota Neotropica 14:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1590/
Joly CA, Spigolon JR, Lieberg SA, Salis SM, Aidar MPM, Metzger JP, et al. 1676-06032013008413
(2000) Projeto Jacaré-Pepira – o desenvolvimento de um modelo de Nunez-Mir GC, Iannone BV, Curtis K, Fei S (2015) Evaluating the evolution of
recomposição da mata ciliar com base na florística regional. Pages 271– forest restoration research in a changing world: a “big literature” review.
287. In: Rodrigues RR, Leitão-Filho HF (eds) Matas Ciliares: Conservação New Forests 46:669–682. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-015-9503-7
e Recuperação. Universidade de São Paulo/FAPESP, São Paulo, Brazil Oliet JA, Jacobs DF (2012) Restoring forests: advances in techniques and theory.
Kageyama PY, Castro CFA (1989) Sucessão secundaria, estrutura genética e New Forests 43:535–541. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-012-9354-4
plantações de espécies arb oreas nativas. Ipef 41/42:83–93 Oliveira RE, Engel VL (2011) A restauração ecol ogica em destaque: Um retrato
Kageyama PY, Gandara FB, Oliveira RE (2008) Biodiversidade e a restauração dos últimos vinte e oito anos de publicações na area. Oecologia Australis
da floresta tropical. Pages 27–48. In: Kageyama PY (ed) Restauração 15:303–315. https://doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2011.1502.08
ecologica de ecossistemas naturais. FEPAF, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil Oliveira RE, Engel VL (2017) A restauração florestal na mata Atlântica: três déc-
Keddy PA (1992) Assembly and response rules: two goals for predictive commu- adas em revisão. Revista Cincia, Tecnologia & Ambiente 5:40–48. https://
nity ecology. Journal of Vegetation Science 3:157–164. https://doi.org/10. doi.org/10.4322/2359-6643.05101
2307/3235676 Oliveira RE, Engel VL, Loiola PP, Moraes LFD, Vismara ES (2021) Top 10 indi-
Keulartz J (2007) Using metaphors in restoring nature. Nature and Culture 2:27– cators for evaluating restoration trajectories in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
48. https://doi.org/10.3167/nc.2007.020103 Ecological Indicators 127:107652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.
Lockwood JL, Powell RD, Nott MP, Pimm SL (1997) Assembling ecological 107652
communities in time and space. Oikos 80:549–553. https://doi.org/10. Oliveira‐Filho AT, Fontes MAL (2000) Patterns of floristic differentiation among
2307/3546628 Atlantic forests in southeastern Brazil and the influence of climate. Biotro-
Londe V, Turini Farah F, Ribeiro Rodrigues R, Roberto Martins F (2020) Refer- pica 32:793–810. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2000.tb00619.x
ence and comparison values for ecological indicators in assessing restora- Pape T (2020) Futuristic restoration: an oxymoronic paradigm for an idiosyn-
tion areas in the Atlantic Forest. Ecological Indicators 110:105928. cratic place in time. Restoration Ecology 28:1321–1323. https://doi.org/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105928 10.1111/rec.13265
Mansourian S (2018) In the eye of the beholder: reconciling interpretations of for- Pinto S, Melo F, Tabarelli M, Padovesi A, Mesquita C, de Mattos SC, et al. (2014)
est landscape restoration. Land Degradation and Development 29:2888– Governing and delivering a biome-wide restoration initiative: the case of
2898. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3014 Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact in Brazil. Forests 5:2212–2229. https://
Marcilio-Silva V, Marques MCM, Cavender-Bares J (2018) Land-use trade- doi.org/10.3390/f5092212
offs between tree biodiversity and crop production in the Atlantic For- Reis LK, Guerra A, Colado MLZ, Borges FLG, da Rosa Oliveira M, Gondim EX,
est. Conservation Biology 32:1074–1084. https://doi.org/10.1111/ Sinani TRF, Guerin N, Garcia LC (2019) Which spatial arrangement of
cobi.13138 green manure is able to reduce herbivory and invasion of exotic grasses
Mariano G, Giannotti E, Timoni JL, Veiga AA (1982) Reconstituição de floresta in native species? Ecological Applications 29:1–9. https://doi.org/10.
de essências indígenas. Silvicultura em São Paulo 16:1086–1091 1002/eap.2000
Maron M, Hobbs RJ, Moilanen A, Matthews JW, Christie K, Gardner TA, Rezende CL, Scarano FR, Assad ED, Joly CA, Metzger JP, Strassburg BBN,
Keith DA, Lindenmayer DB, McAlpine CA (2012) Faustian bargains? Res- Tabarelli M, Fonseca GA, Mittermeier RA (2018) From hotspot to hope-
toration realities in the context of biodiversity offset policies. Biological spot: an opportunity for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Perspectives in Ecol-
Conservation 155:141–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2012.06.003 ogy and Conservation 16:208–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2018.
Meli P, Isernhagen I, Brancalion PHS, Isernhagen ECC, Behling M, 10.002
Rodrigues RR (2018) Optimizing seeding density of fast-growing native Richards RC, Petrie R, Christ JB, Ditt E, Kennedy CJ (2020) Farmer preferences
trees for restoring the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Restoration Ecology 26: for reforestation contracts in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Forest Policy and
212–219. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12567 Economics 118:102235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102235

Restoration Ecology 9 of 11
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

Rodrigues RR, Brancalion PHS, Isernhagen I (2009a) Pacto pela restauração da challenge: a systematic approach. Annals of Forest Science 76:50. https://
mata atlântica: referencial dos conceitos e ações de restauração florestal. doi.org/10.1007/s13595-019-0833-z
LERF/ESALQ, Instituto BioAtlântica, São Paulo, Brazil Stanturf JA, Palik BJ, Dumroese RK (2014) Contemporary forest restoration: a
Rodrigues RR, Gandolfi S (2000) Conceitos, tendências e ações para a recupera- review emphasizing function. Forest Ecology and Management 331:292–
ção de florestas ciliares. Matas ciliares: conservação e recuperação. 323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.07.029
EDUSP/FAPESP, São Paulo Strassburg BBN, Beyer HL, Crouzeilles R, Iribarrem A, Barros F, de
Rodrigues RR, Gandolfi S (2004) Conceitos, tendências e ações para recuperação Siqueira MF, et al. (2018) Strategic approaches to restoring ecosystems
de florestas ciliares. Pages 235–247. In: Matas ciliares: conservação e can triple conservation gains and halve costs. Nature Ecology & Evolution
recuperação. EDUSP/FAPESP, São Paulo 3:62–70. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0743-8
Rodrigues RR, Lima RAF, Gandolfi S, Nave AG (2009b) On the restoration of Suding K, Higgs E, Palmer M, Callicott JB, Anderson CB, Baker M, et al. (2015)
high diversity forests: 30 years of experience in the Brazilian Atlantic For- Committing to ecological restoration: efforts around the globe need legal
est. Biological Conservation 142:1242–1251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. and policy clarification. Science 348:638–640. https://doi.org/10.1126/
biocon.2008.12.008 science.aaa4216
Romanelli JP, Boschi RS, Almeida DRA, Rodrigues RR (2020) Is the methodol- Suganuma MS, Assis GB, Durigan G (2014) Changes in plant species composi-
ogy used in reviews of restoration outcomes reliable? A systematic map tion and functional traits along the successional trajectory of a restored
protocol. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 1:1–7. https://doi.org/10. patch of Atlantic Forest. Community Ecology 15:27–36. https://doi.org/
1002/2688-8319.12030 10.1556/ComEc.15.2014.1.3
Romanelli JP, Fujimoto JT, Ferreira MD, Milanez DH (2018) Assessing ecolog- Suganuma MS, Torezan JMD, Durigan G (2018) Environment and landscape
ical restoration as a research topic using bibliometric indicators. Ecological rather than planting design are the drivers of success in long‐term restora-
Engineering 120:311–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.06.015 tion of riparian Atlantic Forest. Applied Vegetation Science 21:76–84.
Rother DC, Vidal CY, Fagundes IC, da Silva MM, Gandolfi S, Rodrigues RR, https://doi.org/10.1111/avsc.12341
Nave AG, Viani RAG, Brancalion PHS (2018) How legal-oriented restora- Temperton V, Hobbs R, Nuttle T, Halle S (2004) Assembly rules and restoration
tion programs enhance landscape connectivity? Insights from the Brazilian ecology: bridging the gap between theory and practice. Island Press, Wash-
Atlantic Forest. Tropical Conservation Science 11:1–9. https://doi.org/10. ington, DC
1177/1940082918785076 Tilman D (1985) The resource-ratio hypothesis of plant succession. The Ameri-
Ruggiero PGC, Metzger JP, Reverberi Tambosi L, Nichols E (2019) Payment for can Naturalist 125:827–852. https://doi.org/10.1086/284382
ecosystem services programs in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: effective but Twilley RR, Rivera-monroy VH, Chen R, Botero L (1998) Adapting an ecological
not enough. Land Use Policy 82:283–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. mangrove model to simulate trajectories in restoration ecology. Marine Pollu-
landusepol.2018.11.054 tion Bulletin 37:404–419. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-326X(99)00137-X
Santos JFC, Gleriani JM, Velloso SGS, de Souza GSA, do Amaral CH, UNEP & FAO (2020) The United Nations decade on ecosystem restoration:Strat-
Torres FTP, Medeiros NDG, dos Reis M (2019b) Wildfires as a major chal- egy. Nairobi and Rome Retrieved from ERDStrat.pdf (unep.org) (accessed
lenge for natural regeneration in Atlantic Forest. Science of the Total Envi- 26 Oct 2023)
ronment 650:809–821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.016 Viani RAG, Bracale H, Taffarello D (2019) Lessons learned from the water pro-
Santos PZF, Crouzeilles R, Sansevero JBB (2019a) Can agroforestry systems ducer project in the Atlantic forest, Brazil. Forests 10:1–20. https://doi.org/
enhance biodiversity and ecosystem service provision in agricultural land- 10.3390/f10111031
scapes? A meta-analysis for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Forest Ecology Viani RAG, Braga DPP, Ribeiro MC, Pereira PH, Brancalion PHS (2018) Syner-
and Management 433:140–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018. gism between payments for water-related ecosystem services, ecological
10.064 restoration, and landscape connectivity within the Atlantic Forest hotspot.
Scarano FR (2009) Plant communities at the periphery of the Atlantic rain forest: Tropical conservation Science 11:194008291879022. https://doi.org/10.
rare‐species bias and its risks for conservation. Biological Conservation 1177/1940082918790222
142:1201–1208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2009.02.027 Viani RAG, Holl KD, Padovezi A, Strassburg BBN, Farah FT, Garcia LC,
Scarano FR, Ceotto P (2015) Brazilian Atlantic Forest: impact, vulnerability, and Chaves RB, Rodrigues RR, Brancalion PHS (2017) Protocol for monitor-
adaptation to climate change. Biodiversity and Conservation 24:2319– ing tropical forest restoration: perspectives from the Atlantic Forest Resto-
2331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-015-0972-y ration Pact in Brazil. Tropical Conservation Science 10:1–8. https://doi.
Schweizer D, Machado R, Durigan G, Brancalion PHS (2015) Phylogenetic pat- org/10.1177/1940082917697265
terns of Atlantic Forest restoration communities are mainly driven by sto- Wenhua L (2004) Degradation and restoration of forest ecosystems in China. For-
chastic, dispersal related factors. Forest Ecology and Management 354: est Ecology and Management 201:33–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.
300–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2015.05.026 2004.06.010
SER (2004) Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) International. Page 15. White PS, Walker JL (1997) Approximating nature’s variation: selecting and
Princípios da SER International Sobre a Restauração Ecológica. http:// using reference information in restoration ecology. Restoration Ecology
www.ser.org/ (accessed 26 Oct 2023) 5:338–349. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-100X.1997.00547.x
Shugart HH (1989) The role of ecological models in long‐term ecological studies. Wuethrich B (2007) Reconstructing Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest. Science 315:
Pages 90–109. In: Long‐term studies in ecology: approaches and alterna- 1070–1072. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.315.5815.1070
tives. Springer, New York, NY Young TP (2000) Restoration ecology and conservation biology. Ecological Res-
Silva APM, Schweizer D, Rodrigues Marques H, Cordeiro Teixeira AM, toration 18:243–246. https://doi.org/10.3368/er.18.4.243
Nascente dos Santos TVM, Sambuichi RHR, Badari CG, Gaudare U, Young TP, Petersen DA, Clary JJ (2005) The ecology of restoration: historical
Brancalion PHS (2017) Can current native tree seedling production and links, emerging issues and unexplored realms. Ecology Letters 8:662–
infrastructure meet an increasing forest restoration demand in Brazil? Res- 673. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00764.x
toration Ecology 25:509–515. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12470 Young TP, Schwartz MW (2019) The Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is an
Souza FM, Batista JLF (2004) Restoration of seasonal semideciduous forests in impetus to get it right. Conservation Science and Practice 1:2–4. https://
Brazil: influence of age and restoration design on forest structure. Forest doi.org/10.1111/csp2.145
Ecology and Management 191:185–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco. Zucchi MI, Sujii PS, Mori GM, Viana JPG, Grando C, Silvestre E d A, et al.
2003.12.006 (2018) Genetic diversity of reintroduced tree populations in restoration
Stanturf JA, Kleine M, Mansourian S, Parrotta J, Madsen P, Kant P, Burns J, plantations of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Restoration Ecology 26:694–
Bolte A (2019) Implementing forest landscape restoration under the Bonn 701. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12620

10 of 11 Restoration Ecology
 1526100x, 0, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.14041 by Univ of Sao Paulo - Brazil, Wiley Online Library on [06/11/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
Restoration history in Atlantic Forest

Zupo T, Lazzarotto Freitas J, Almeida dos Reis D, Ferreira de Siqueira M (2022) Supporting Information
Trends and knowledge gaps on ecological restoration research in the The following information may be found in the online version of this article:
Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Restoration Ecology 30:e13645. https://doi.org/
Supplement S1. Limitations of the study.
10.1111/rec.13645

Coordinating Editor: Stephen Murphy Received: 3 March, 2023; First decision: 26 May, 2023; Revised: 15 August,
2023; Accepted: 4 October, 2023

Restoration Ecology 11 of 11