Young voices and visions for tropical restoration science in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

We provide our five visions and contributions that the young tropical restoration science community can make for an impactful beneficial UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Protecting ecosystems, in their current extent function, is no longer sufficient to meet global conservation sustainable development goals: we must also restore ecosystems remedy past degradation (Gann et al., 2019; Leclère 2020). Although ecosystem needed globally, focusing efforts tropics may largest benefits humans nature (Strassburg The harbor a disproportionate amount of “biodiversity hotspots” therefore restoring habitat cover, connectivity, quality degraded landscapes critical preventing species extinctions (Dutta 2018; Newmark 2017). Also, strategies improve vegetation structure, functionality, diversity increase carbon sequestration contribute substantially climate change mitigation (Griscom Additionally, enhance water security (Ellison 2017), (Pires facilitate adaptation (Senior 2019), income, consumption, other dimensions livelihoods well-being (Bradbury 2021). Young people are frequently overlooked, undervalued, or left out from key stages development, leading disengagement, possible failure projects (Barraclough This trend might become relevant, if not already, research communities involving voices academia science. when developing implementing initiatives because they embody reflect different social, cultural, political, academic environment than those academics at advanced careers. For instance, likely spend time field during graduate research, allowing them increased ability witness how affects local people. relative more senior who would have cumulatively spent doing fieldwork but as progress positions. Today, researchers develop perspectives considering contemporary worldviews conservation, such Recoverable Earth narratives versus Finite narratives, is, grounded adaptive action better future morally motivated foregrounded villainous heroic roles worrying change, pragmatic ways approaching contrast with absolutist values (Jepson, 2019). remarkable shift ideals, compared relatively (senior terms age since graduating program). inclusion therefore, forward-looking innovative this field. Hence, successful increasingly recognizing involvement younger generation, including careers (IUCN, 2017a, 2017b). component Restoration (UNEP, However, priorities, steps, points envision largely unknown. crucial information will guide restoration-focused science, policy, finance, on-the-ground implementation activities, fostering leaders restoration. Here, aim outline supported by own experiences scientists findings survey deployed open format session annual meeting Association Tropical Biology Conservation 2021 (ATBC, then research. These advance ecology biome encourage effective define students (Master's level doctoral students) postdoctoral within 1–2 years completion doctorate degrees. organized online ATBC 2021, titled ”Young Voices Visions Science” aims were follows: (1) platform showcase landscapes, (2) build working toward future, (3) present share vision wider researchers. consisted panel six candidates presented case studies tropics. encompassed mountain, agricultural, forest featured range methodologies advancing use remote sensing derived products, functional ecology, field-based data collection, governance instruments. Lastly, each panelist (Table 1). 9-multiple choice question Q&A part session, asking respondents important actionable steps Restoration, demographic information. provided option specify additional categories ideas. designed based joint expertise experience using recent relevant literature (Aronson 2020; Di Sacco 2021; Gann Osborne received 11 responses, nine which (up PhD) aged 18–35 years. nationalities included Brazilian, British, Dutch, German, Indian, Singaporean, Venezuelan, Malaysian/French. researched Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, West Africa, Old World forests, Brazilian Atlantic Forest, India, Andes, Australia, Colombia. acknowledge limited base do represent beliefs all scientists. broad trends support visions. following review approval Central University Research Ethics Committee (CUREC), Oxford (reference: SOGE 1A2020-218). Refer Supplementary Methods details instrument results. Restoring connectivity systems: Benefits biodiversity, climate, stakeholders (Rebekah Puttick, Newcastle) Investigating liana cutting tool rainforest (Emma Mackintosh, Sunshine Coast) Unraveling scale challenges landscape governance- evidence Ecuador Ethiopia (Daniel Wiegant, Wageningen & Research) Choco Andinom Pichincha Bosque Seco, Loja Mount Guna, Amhara, Kafa Biosphere, Southern Of “More academic-practitioner collaborations” was most ranked among top three priorities (91% respondents) followed “Addressing social governance, land tenure issues” (72.7% gaps natural side ecology” (54.5% (Figure said should “engage collaborate major corporate actors, especially transnational corporations whose activities direct impacts cover change” highlighted need “more investments particularly projects/individuals continue long term research…”, “...capacity building opportunity co-develop knowledge…”. Evidence-based partnerships, every step, inspire achievement goals (Brancalion Chazdon, 2017; Holl Brancalion, Partnerships inherently explicitly foreground importance co-producing knowledge, consider variety world views, epistemologies, cosmologies various (Di complex endeavor needs be viewed through practiced cross-disciplinarity (i.e., view perspectives) interdisciplinarity requiring integration knowledge methods disciplines) (Keynejad transdisciplinary approach taken, limitations traditional disciplines environmental sciences overcome. Currently, across biased certain biomes regions, few occur large spatial temporal scales (Christmann Menor, Findings site-specific context-dependent, limiting apply widely. decade multiple geographies, gathering techniques (Dudley Temperton tackle disentangling reconciling contrasting outcomes societal (Holl Martin In vein, monitored evaluated after (Poorter Such long-term monitoring assess end decided inception project participatory approaches include vulnerable communities. recommend both established complementary technologies. technologies drone technology, LiDAR multi/hyperspectral image sensors, soundscapes technologies, camera traps involve collection household surveys, interviews, workshops. Big studies, large-scale data, impetus showing potential achieve continental (Bastin Brancalion Griscom Strassburg these many assumptions vary region lack nuanced contextual information, potentially ineffective even harmful coming decade, fine-scale analyses completed bottom-up policy design delivery national subnational making (Murcia 2016). Contribution 5- Global often basis international campaigns, policies, agreements, influence levels. analyze trade-offs between goals, critique refine scientific assumptions, estimate uncertainty accounting available regional scales. manner, implementation. There magnifying glass state (science, implementation, evaluation) attention successes, failures, lessons shared. generations step up lead way, challenge exciting it complex. supporting increasing participation vital ensuring successes positively impact collaborations stakeholders, goals/outcomes implicit evaluation schemes. Proactive and, indeed, voices, long-lasting. thank organizing committee selecting proposal. Ivan Ortiz Rodriguez, webmaster meeting, patiently answering queries about providing us post-conference statistics. panelists audience attended survey. Dr. Imma Oliveras, Yit Arn Teh, Sergio Guerreiro Milheiras helpful comments manuscript drafts. TG acknowledges funding India Centre Sustainable Development, Somerville College, Oxford. TC Rhodes Trust. MP Gates Cambridge Trust Jesus Cambridge. RP Natural Environment Council (ONE Planet DTP #OP20206). anonymous reviewers suggestions greatly improved commentary. authors declare conflicting interests. conceived idea wrote submitted proposal ran (with assistance Conservation). TG, TC, MP, RP, drafts feedback input RP. Figure 2 TG. Open access enabled Projekt DEAL. commentary Conservation, 2021. Restrictions availability used permission. Please note: publisher responsible content functionality any supplied authors. 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