Restoration of ecosystems and landscapes across different spatial and temporal scales to promote biodiversity and climate resilience in agricultural landscapes (AgriRestore)
Global change is affecting biodiversity and ecosystem functions in agricultural landscapes through climate change, intensified land use, and habitat degradation. To counteract these negative effects, various measures for ecosystem and landscape restoration (ELR) have been developed. However, there is still a lack of deeper understanding in restoration ecology of the key indicators for the transition to restored, resilient ecosystems and landscapes, of well-designed experiments that show which factors determine the success or failure of ELR measures, and of complex analyses of existing data.
The aim of AgriRestore is to comprehensively assess the impact of ELR measures in agricultural landscapes. In the extremely dry and, in some cases, very structurally poor agricultural landscape of Saxony-Anhalt, we will combine field and mesocosm experiments along a landscape gradient in an innovative approach and use remote sensing for spatial scaling of the patterns. Meta-analyses and knowledge graphs will also be used to synthesize existing studies and assess the benefits, risks, and uncertainties of ELR measures. By comparing restored and degraded agricultural ecosystems, the effects of ELR measures on above-ground and below-ground biodiversity and associated ecosystem functions will be analyzed. Positive long-term effects of temporary ELR measures are investigated by combining time series with multiscale remote sensing data. Novel analytical approaches are used to synthesize field-based results and test their transferability to larger spatial scales.
With a focus on synergies, our research will provide unique and comprehensive data on the effects of ELR measures. Based on this, various scenarios will be developed and key indicators for the successful restoration of resilient agroecosystems and landscapes across spatial and temporal scales will be derived.
Project priorities
ecosystem functions
Project region
Sachsen-Anhalt