Functional traits are used in restoration practice: a response to Merchant et al. (2022)

Abstract

A recent Restoration Ecology article by Merchant et al. (2022) suggested that practitioners do not regularly use functional traits in restoration planning. We disagree and provide our collective experience that practitioners do leverage trait‐based approaches and information, but in ways that are different from researchers. Here, we provide an expanded perspective that incorporates practitioner voices to provide a more complete assessment of how traits are used in restoration practice. We highlight that a major challenge in the field of restoration ecology that leads to a disconnect between researchers and practitioners is a different set of knowledge systems, goals, incentives, and limitations. We provide approaches that researchers can use to connect with practitioners and leverage their knowledge.

Atributos funcionales en la restauración ecológica en bosques tropicales: estrategias y perspectivas

“…Según Carlucci et al (2020), es un desafío abordar las características funcionales y los servicios ecosistémicos en proyectos de restauración de ecosistemas tropicales. Sin embargo, se debe tener precaución en este enfoque, ya que según Gornish et al (2023) lo que falta es una amplia difusión de la información en formato científico, ya que esta información a menudo se encuentra en formato técnico a través de profesionales con amplio conocimiento local.…”

Testing for priority effects of tree plantings on natural regeneration in restoration sites in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

“…The framework species method proposed by Elliott et al (2003) includes species representative of the reference ecosystem, the ability to suppress weeds, attractiveness to seeddispersing animals, and ease of propagation (Elliott et al, 2022). Some other sets of criteria commonly applied are ecological groups (Souza & Batista, 2004), growth performance (Carnevale & Montagnini, 2002), and plant functional traits (Gornish et al, 2023;Loureiro et al, 2023), which can be associated with biotic and abiotic interactions (Ostertag et al, 2015;Navarro-Cano et al, 2019).…”

“…(2003) includes species representative of the reference ecosystem, the ability to suppress weeds, attractiveness to seed‐dispersing animals, and ease of propagation (Elliott et al., 2022). Some other sets of criteria commonly applied are ecological groups (Souza & Batista, 2004), growth performance (Carnevale & Montagnini, 2002), and plant functional traits (Gornish et al., 2023; Loureiro et al., 2023), which can be associated with biotic and abiotic interactions (Ostertag et al., 2015; Navarro‐Cano et al., 2019). Although species selection criteria may vary regarding the theoretical background, some are based on similar mechanisms, such as species ecological groups (Budowski, 1965; Swaine & Whitmore, 1988; Finegan, 1996) and resource‐use strategies assessed through plant functional traits, varying continuously from acquisitive to conservative strategy (Easdale & Healey, 2009).…”