Tahra Talib Al-Rashdi , Mushtaque Ahmed , Alexandros Stefanakis
{"title":"Assessment of a sludge treatment reed bed mesocosm under an arid and hot climate","authors":"Tahra Talib Al-Rashdi , Mushtaque Ahmed , Alexandros Stefanakis","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107676","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107676","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work is the first mesocosm study that evaluates the performance of sludge treatment reed beds (STRB) under hot and arid climatic conditions, focusing on the dewatering and mineralization of surplus activated sludge. Two mesocosms with and without plants were loaded with sludge at loading rate of 100 kg TS/m<sup>2</sup>/year and monitored for more than a year before the application of a one-month resting phase. The STRB showed higher sludge volume and total solids reduction than the unplanted drying bed, indicating enhanced dewatering capacity. The STRB achieved outstanding dewatering with more than 98 % of sludge volume reduction at the end of the study, with the total solids content exceeding 60 %. The STRB displayed a gradual mineralization of organic matter, as indicated by the reduction of the volatile solids from 73 % in the activated sludge to levels below 55 %. Metals in the residual sludge remained within national/international limits for sludge reuse in agriculture. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the efficiency and feasibility of STRB as a nature-based technology for sustainable sludge management sludge in arid and hot environments, affording valuable perspectives for real-world implementations and prospective expansion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 107676"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tatiana Lobato-de Magalhães , Andrew Ryan Sample , Jacob Aaron Hockensmith , Brook D. Herman , Gray Turnage , Gary N. Ervin
{"title":"Is companionship preferable to being alone? Properly paired wetland plant species improve nutrient phytoremediation outcomes","authors":"Tatiana Lobato-de Magalhães , Andrew Ryan Sample , Jacob Aaron Hockensmith , Brook D. Herman , Gray Turnage , Gary N. Ervin","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the specific nutrient and biomass allocation strategies of wetland plants is crucial for selecting suitable species or combinations of species for wetland restoration or creation. To investigate differences in growth and nutrient uptake, we measured the above- and belowground biomass of 520 individuals from four species grown in single and paired mesocosms over three growing seasons. Key growth parameters—including biomass, maximum height, number of leaves, and culms—were recorded, along with tissue nutrient content (C, N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) and analyzed using inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). <em>Juncus effusus</em> in single-species cultures produced a higher average aboveground biomass and culm production than in paired cultures, where this species increased its own Ca, Mg, Cu, and Mn uptake. Species paired with <em>J. effusus</em> exhibited higher total and aboveground biomass, maximum height, and culm production (<em>Typha latifolia</em>); aboveground biomass and culm production (<em>Phragmites australis</em>); and culm production (<em>Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani</em>) than they did when grown alone. Additionally, <em>S. tabernaemontani</em> paired with <em>J. effusus</em> demonstrated higher nutrient uptake, while <em>P. australis</em> in paired culture enhanced its carbon concentration in aboveground tissues. We also observed strong correlations among nutrient concentrations, particularly in the case of <em>P. australis.</em> These findings highlight the importance of species selection in wetland restoration and creation, as specific species interactions, especially involving <em>J. effusus</em>, can enhance biomass production and nutrient uptake. This research offers valuable insights for optimizing plant pairings to improve nutrient mitigation, which could support the development of advanced ecological modeling for wetlands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 107666"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143943713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Long-term performance of a denitrifying bioreactor for the treatment of nitrate-laden agricultural drainage water in northeastern Germany","authors":"Andreas Bauwe, Bernd Lennartz","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Denitrifying bioreactors are a promising end-of-pipe technology to reduce nitrate losses in the receiving surface waters in agricultural tile-drained landscapes. However, this technology has been barely tested over longer time periods and under Northern German weather conditions. A denitrifying bioreactor was installed at a 2.9 ha tile-drained field alongside a brook in 2017. The bioreactor is 20 m long, 3.75 m wide and 2.2 m deep. We recorded weather data (precipitation and air temperature), water temperature inside the woodchip filter and flow rates at 15-min time intervals. Additionally, water samples were taken from the influent and effluent several times a week and analyzed for nitrate, dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), total phosphorus (TP) and total organic carbon concentration (TOC). After seven monitoring seasons (November to April), the main results can be summarized as follows. Nitrate removal efficiency and nitrate removal rate were on average 59 % and 5.5 g N m<sup>−3</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>, respectively, indicating that microbial denitrification takes place in winter at water temperatures <8 °C. After initial flushing, the bioreactor acted also as a sink for phosphorus (ca. 61 % TP load reduction). However, as a negative side effect, the bioreactor released organic carbon and the TOC load increased by ca. 59 % at the outlet as compared to the inflow. The results indicate further that the hydraulic retention time is crucial for an optimal management of denitrifying bioreactors. Increasing the hydraulic retention time leads to greater nitrate removal efficiencies and vice versa. In contrast, water temperature fluctuations throughout the drainage season did not influence the performance of the bioreactor. Overall, denitrifying bioreactors have the potential to significantly reduce nitrate pollution in hot-spot areas of agricultural used tile-drained landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 107675"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143943712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P. Wiberg-Larsen , B. Kronvang , E.A. Kristensen , A. Baattrup-Pedersen
{"title":"The fate of biodiversity following regulation and restoration of a Lowland River of Danish and European importance","authors":"P. Wiberg-Larsen , B. Kronvang , E.A. Kristensen , A. Baattrup-Pedersen","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Historically, the lower River Skjern (Denmark) was a biodiversity hotspot of national and European importance, but in the 1960s this part of the river was channelized and the wetlands drained to improve conditions for agriculture. However, to regain former biodiversity, a major restoration project was conducted in 2000–2002, which transformed a 19 km straight channel into a 26 km meandering river. In this study, we use historical data to evaluate how the channelization of the river and its restoration 40 years later affected the aquatic biodiversity. Generally, and as expected, we observed a significant reduction in the taxon richness of aquatic plants and EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) in response to the channelization, especially taxa associated with backwaters. As hoped, the restoration mediated an increase in taxon richness for both aquatic plants and EPT taxa. This positive response took place immediately after the restoration (1 year) and persisted throughout the study period (10 years). However, taxon richness did not reach the pre-channelization levels. Especially, we observed that the recovery of backwater-associated taxa was limited. The main reason for this is likely that only 5.8 % of the original backwater area was recreated and, additionally, that natural regeneration of these areas relies on natural hydromorphological processes that might take several decades. Furthermore, the possibility of several taxa to recolonize from other and distant areas is poor, reflecting today's rarity of backwater habitats in Danish rivers. Full recovery of the river's former biodiversity might therefore take decades or more without implementing active measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 107664"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143932247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A full scale waterwheel-rotating biological contactor (WRBC) with resource recovery means treating sewage in rural region","authors":"Jiansheng Huang , Xin Wen , Deshao Liu , Shuangkou Chen , Qian Tang , Guoming Zeng","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wastewater treatment in rural China with better energy efficiency and recyclability is in urgent demand. In this demonstration project study, a novel process consisting of a waterwheel-rotating biological contactor (WRBC) and plants purification system was developed to treat rural sewage with a design flow of 20m<sup>3</sup>/d. The removal efficiency of COD, TN (total nitrogen), TP (total phosphorus) was 76 %–87 %, 52 %–66 % and 67 %–79 %. Microbial communities of biofilm sludge and suspended sludge in WRBC system, together with sludge attached to plant roots in plants purification system were analyzed and compared. Data of similar facilities (electricity consumption required) at 22 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were collected to evaluate the process operation cost level. The operating energy consumption of this project was 21 %–40 % lower than that of A<sup>2</sup>/O process and 24 %–36 % lower than that of bio-contact oxidation process. The system had the advantage of removing pollutants with low economic cost and could realize resource recovery through economic crop planting, which may give references in the development of a circular economy at the WWTPs in rural areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 107665"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143924526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"In memory of Prof. William J. Mitsch, the founder of Ecological Engineering journal (March 29, 1947 – February 12, 2025)","authors":"Jan Vymazal","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107660","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 107660"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143921827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huan Zhao , Rui Wang , Ning Wang , Zhengcai Zhang , Zhengyao Liu , Zhengchao Zhou , Zhibao Dong
{"title":"Response of vegetation and soil properties following natural restoration to different past land uses in China: A meta-analysis","authors":"Huan Zhao , Rui Wang , Ning Wang , Zhengcai Zhang , Zhengyao Liu , Zhengchao Zhou , Zhibao Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Past land uses play a crucial role in shaping alternative successional pathways for natural restoration. However, our understanding of how various past land uses affect natural restoration remains incomplete, particularly across restoration types. This study conducted a meta-analysis of 2112 experimental datasets from 212 published studies in China to examine the effects of five past land uses (farming, mining, burning, logging, and grazing) on vegetation and soil properties during natural restoration. The analysis also explored the influence of environmental factors and restoration duration on these responses. The results revealed significant differences in vegetation and soil properties depending on the past land use. Among land uses, natural restoration was the least effective after mining (vegetation properties: −164.33 %, soil properties: −153.44 %) and the most effective after logging (vegetation properties: 63.08 %, soil properties: −27.86 %). Furthermore, as natural succession progressed to different restoration types, vegetation and soil properties responded differently to past land uses. For example, when restoration led to grasslands, logging yielded the best outcomes, with vegetation coverage, diversity, soil moisture (SM), and total phosphorus (TP) exceeding reference levels by 39.06 %, 39.25 %, 32.08 %, and 13.70 %, respectively. When restored to shrubland, burning produced better outcomes, with plant diversity, bulk density (BD), pH, and TP exceeding reference levels by 23.16 %, 12.69 %, 2.85 %, and 7.15 %, respectively. For forest restoration, the vegetation and soil properties following farming, burning, and logging were similar to the reference levels, and the evenness index (17.15 %) significantly improved after logging (<em>p</em> < 0.05). Climate factors, specifically mean annual precipitation and temperature, were secondary only to past land use in influencing vegetation and soil properties during natural restoration. Although most vegetation and soil properties performed better in areas with high temperatures and precipitation, those following mining showed no significant spatial variations. The restoration outcomes were generally favorable for gentle slopes and moderately textured soils. However, when the slope gradient exceeded 25°, plant diversity improved by 18.33 % and 17.57 % after burning and logging, respectively. After burning and logging, vegetation and soil properties can reach or surpass pre-disturbance levels within a few years (< 5 years) and remain stable over the long term (> 30 years). Overall, natural restoration is most suitable for land recovery after logging and burning and is recommended for farming and grazing under favorable hydrothermal conditions and extended durations. However, natural restoration alone is insufficient for land recovery after mining.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 107659"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143881587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huawei Pi , Chuanzhou Wang , Sifeng Li , Sisi Li , Nicholas P. Webb
{"title":"Crushing energy-based indicators of dry soil aggregate stability from contrastive land management practices in a semi-arid agroecosystem","authors":"Huawei Pi , Chuanzhou Wang , Sifeng Li , Sisi Li , Nicholas P. Webb","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dry soil aggregate stability (DAS) is a critical indicator of soil quality and a significant factor influencing soil wind erosion in arid and semi-arid agroecosystems. Previous research primarily used aggregate size distribution, determined through “dry sieving,” to describe DAS. However, the standardization of “dry sieving” has faced criticism, and the resultant DAS based on particle size distribution (DAS<sub>%</sub>) does not effectively reflect the aggregate's resistance to abrasion. To address this issue, we aimed to develop a novel quantitative analysis method and indicator based on aggregate crushing energy (DAS<sub>Jkg</sub><sup>−1</sup>) and validate this procedure by comparing it with DAS<sub>%</sub> and aggregate Geometric Mean Diameter (GMD). We selected 58 research sites with varying land management practices (e.g., crop rotation, tillage, and irrigation) in the lower FloodPlain of the Yellow River (FPYR) to quantitatively evaluate the wind stability of farmland aggregates. Our findings show a significant exponential increase in DAS<sub>Jkg</sub><sup>−1</sup> (0.2121<span><math><msup><mi>e</mi><mrow><mn>0.0451</mn><mi>x</mi></mrow></msup></math></span>) corresponding to increasing DAS<sub>%</sub> (x) for aggregates that remained relatively stable (> 61 %). Conversely, a weak correlation was observed between the GMD of aggregates (x) and DAS<sub>Jkg</sub><sup>−1</sup>. Our results suggest that DAS<sub>%</sub> can be used to assess the abrasion flux of aggregates under certain conditions by converting it to DAS<sub>Jkg</sub><sup>−1</sup>. Additionally, crop rotation and irrigation had a substantial impact on DAS<sub>Jkg</sub><sup>−1</sup>, with flood-affected plots exhibiting a significantly higher DAS<sub>Jkg</sub><sup>−1</sup> (86 %) than that exhibited by non-flooded plots. These findings provide valuable insights into improving soil management practices to mitigate wind erosion and for the restoration ecology of degraded farmland.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 107663"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143876949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Huma Ilyas , Diederik P.L. Rousseau , Jan Vymazal , Gabriela Dotro , Yaqian Zhao , Stijn Van Hulle
{"title":"Editorial: Pollutant dynamics and Wetlands (WETPOL 2023)","authors":"Huma Ilyas , Diederik P.L. Rousseau , Jan Vymazal , Gabriela Dotro , Yaqian Zhao , Stijn Van Hulle","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 10th International Symposium on Wetland Pollutant Dynamics and Control (WETPOL), held in Bruges, Belgium (September 10–14, 2023), convened 182 participants from 32 countries to discuss recent advances in wetland-based pollution control. The program included 120 oral presentations, 29 posters, and seven keynote lectures, covering nutrient and contaminant removal, climate resilience, and sustainable water management. Three field excursions showcased wetland applications, including greywater reuse via green walls, hybrid constructed wetlands for horticulture and municipal treatment, and nature-based systems for water reuse and ecosystem restoration. A special issue in <em>Ecological Engineering</em> features 11 selected papers addressing nitrogen and microplastic removal, biomass composting, and the role of aeration in vertical flow wetlands. Additional studies explored reactive transport modelling, flood control, and riparian buffer performance under frozen conditions. Full-scale case studies examined iron removal from mine drainage and biodiversity integration in circular systems. WETPOL continues to bridge fundamental research and applied solutions, fostering global collaboration and innovation in wetland science.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 107651"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143922743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brice Yannick Djiofack , Nils Bourland , Hans Beeckman , Paolo Omar Cerutti , Collins Dzernyuy Fai , Martin Van Hulle , Mathilde Pierson , Jules Mayaux , Nestor Kashikija Luambua , Donatien Musepena , Basile Luse Belanganayi , Félix Laurent , Bhely Angoboy Ilondea , Jan Van den Bulcke , Wannes Hubau
{"title":"The potential of native tree species for forest restoration in the Central Congo Basin","authors":"Brice Yannick Djiofack , Nils Bourland , Hans Beeckman , Paolo Omar Cerutti , Collins Dzernyuy Fai , Martin Van Hulle , Mathilde Pierson , Jules Mayaux , Nestor Kashikija Luambua , Donatien Musepena , Basile Luse Belanganayi , Félix Laurent , Bhely Angoboy Ilondea , Jan Van den Bulcke , Wannes Hubau","doi":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Decades of deforestation and unsustainable land use have created extensive areas of degraded and deforested land across the central Congo Basin, contributing substantially to climate change and biodiversity loss. Recently, nature-based solutions have gained increasing interest, particularly those focusing on forest restoration for long-term carbon sequestration and additional societal benefits for human well-being. Thus, forest restoration, especially with native species, offers a viable pathway to address environmental and social challenges while supporting local communities. However, both technical and scientific knowledge about many native species' performance in large-scale plantations, which could serve the current and future needs of central African countries, is currently lacking. To address these knowledge gaps, we established an experimental plantation in Yangambi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to evaluate the potential of native tree species in comparison with the fast-growing exotic species <em>Acacia auriculiformis,</em> which is often planted in monoculture at a large-scale in the central Congo Basin. From 37 promising native species initially selected, the seeds of 19 were successfully harvested from the natural forest. Among these, 16 species yielded sufficient seedlings in the nursery and were planted in the field. After five years, five native species (<em>Pachyelasma tessmannii, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Irvingia smithii, Ongokea gore,</em> and <em>Canarium schweinfurthii</em>) demonstrated growth, survival, and carbon sequestration performance comparable to <em>Acacia auriculiformis</em>. This illustrates that local tree species are promising alternatives for exotic species. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to optimize the large-scale production of native seedlings, including improving seed conservation and nursery techniques. Drawing on the ongoing forest restoration initiatives in Yangambi, we emphasize the importance of integrating local knowledge and actively involving local communities to ensure the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of tree-planting efforts, benefiting both nature and human well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11490,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Engineering","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 107662"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143863383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}