Vicky M. Temperton

Bending the biodiversity curve and delivering on biodiversity promises from international agreements and laws, including Kunming-Montreal and the EU Restoration Law, requires upscaling ecological restoration from smaller to larger spatial and temporal dimensions and across different spheres of society. Achieving this depends on a strong scientific evidence base and synthesis of effective practices from both ecological and social perspectives.
The Grassworks project investigates the factors driving success in grassland restoration in Germany, addressing ecological, socio-economic, and socialecological dimensions. We address this by conducting a post-hoc assessment of previously restored sites, comparing them to both positive and negative reference sites across three regions along a north-south gradient in Germany. In the post-hoc assessment, we employed a stratified design to evaluate the effects of restoration methods, previous land use, current management, governance, finance, and time since restoration intervention. We assessed vegetation, butterflies, wild bees, soil characteristics, and economic performance, while controlling for surrounding landscape configuration. Additionally, we examined key socialecological dimensions, including stakeholder values, knowledge exchange, and decision-making processes within established networks. This was complemented by a Real-World Laboratory approach, integrating ex-ante and ex-post assessments, demonstration sites, and live restoration activities co-created with local stakeholders.
This publication provides an overview and reflection, drawing on insights from the Grassworks project in Germany, to inform, guide and support the development of future large-scale socialecological restoration efforts worldwide.