Exploring Challenges and Lessons for Monitoring Forest Landscape Restoration

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of Review Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is an approach to restoring forest ecosystems first defined in 2000 that has gained prominence since the launch of the Bonn Challenge in 2011. FLR aims to enhance ecological integrity and improve human well-being within (forested) landscapes. The monitoring of FLR is essential to ensure effective implementation and to learn from practice. Yet to this day, monitoring remains a major challenge for FLR. Monitoring FLR requires measures at a landscape scale and across social and natural sciences. We explore some of the monitoring challenges raised by these dimensions of FLR. We assess the current theory and practice behind FLR monitoring and how it relates to practices in related environmental disciplines. Recent Findings We highlight the challenges raised by the recent attempts at monitoring FLR and explore lessons from other related fields and conclude by proposing a framework of the basic issues to consider when monitoring FLR. Summary