Research Geographical Distribution, Strategies, and Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors Influencing the Success of Land-Based Restoration: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The effectiveness of restoration programs may differ in terms of environmental and socioeconomic metrics, depending on the strategies employed and ecological settings. Thus, we synthesized different restoration strategies and discussed the environmental and socioeconomic factors influencing restoration success. In the present systematic review, we examined peer-reviewed articles published between 1990 and 2024 that discussed strategies and factors impacting land-based restoration. Only 227 of 55,229 articles from ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases met the inclusion criteria. China, Brazil, and India are more active in conducting studies about land restoration compared to other regions, particularly in megadiverse countries in Asia with high degradation rates. There is a strong emphasis on practical and adaptive restoration strategies, including soil and water management (e.g., agroforestry), the use of native plant species, and weed and invasive species management. The prevalence of Acacia, Leucaena, and Eucalyptus species in restoration programs can inform decisions about effective species selection. Here, a holistic understanding of the complex ecological processes is crucial for the development of effective restoration strategies. Although policy frameworks have received less attention in restoration research, their incorporation into restoration projects can help address policy implications for land-based restoration. Overall, successful restoration necessitates a thorough understanding of the optimal strategies and environmental and socioeconomic factors impacting restoration success. Future restoration initiatives can leverage such an understanding to ensure successful implementation.