Publications
Publications
The Natural History of Ecological Restoration: A short format blog/journal with new posts every month since November 2015. A joint project of the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Ecological Health Network, and the Restoration Ecology Lab at Virginia Tech.
Selected publications by EHN leaders, members, and allies
Aronson, J., Goodwin, N., Orlando, L., Eisenberg, C., & Cross, A. T. (2020). A world of possibilities: Six restoration strategies to support the United Nations’ Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Restoration Ecology, 28, 730–736. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13170
Cross, A. T., Nevill, P., Dixon, K. W., & Aronson, J. (2019). Time for a paradigm shift toward a restorative culture. Restoration Ecology, 27(5), 924–928. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12984
Blignaut, J., & Aronson, J. (2020). Developing a restoration narrative: A pathway towards system-wide healing and a restorative culture. Ecological Economics, 168, 106483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.106483
Aronson, J., Mola, I., & Pérez, D. R. (2026). Depoblamiento rural, una oportunidad para el Rewilding o un desafío para la Restauración Ecológica? (Rural exodus: an opportunity for Rewilding or a challenge for Ecological Restoration?). Ecosistemas. https://doi.org/10.7818/ECOS.3050
Avisar, A., Aronson, J., & Dayan, T. (2026). Restoration tools and strategies for afforested Mediterranean coastal grasslands: Is eucalypt removal alone enough to kickstart ecosystem recovery? Restoration Ecology, 34, e70340. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70340
Siqueira, L., Salk, C., Garcia, L. C., Guerra, A., Meli, P., Mendes, A., Roma, J., Rovedder, A., Balderi, F., Aronson, J., & Brancalion, P. (2026). Gender disparity and biases in ecological restoration in Brazil. Restoration Ecology, e70482. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70482
Corinaldesi, C., Anantharaman, K., Aronson, J. C., Baker, B. J., et al. (2026). Grounding microbial conservation in ecological principles. Nature Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-026-02462-9
Danovaro, R., Aronson, J., Bianchelli, S., Boström, C., Cebrian, E., et al. (2025). Assessing the success of marine ecosystem restoration using meta-analysis. Nature Communications, 16, 3062. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57254-2
Zorbalas, F. N., Alvarez, A., Pérez, D. R., Rodriguez Araujo, M. E., Valfré Giorello, T. A., & Lagos, L. J. (2025). Root nodulation and growth in nursery garden of Neltuma flexuosa var. depressa (Fabaceae), a framework species for Monte Desert ecological restoration. Journal of Arid Environments, 229, 105405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105405
Aronson, J. (2025). La Restauracion holistica: Portal hacia una cultura de Restauración Ecológica. In D. Pérez, F. González, M. E. Rodriguez Araujo, et al. (Eds.), Abordajes y debates para la restauración ecológica de la Argentina (pp. 25–31). Red de Restauración Ecológica de Argentina. ISBN 978-631-00-6989-0.
Cross, A. T. (2025). Aportes a la Restauración de zonas áridas Latinoamericanas: La Experiencia de Restauración en áreas de Minería en Australia. In D. Pérez, F. González, M. E. Rodriguez Araujo, et al. (Eds.), Abordajes y debates para la restauración ecológica de la Argentina (pp. 293–300). Red de Restauración Ecológica de Argentina. ISBN 978-631-00-6989-0.
Pérez, D., González, F., Rodriguez Araujo, M. E., et al. (Eds.). (2025). Abordajes y debates para la restauración ecológica de la Argentina. Red de Restauración Ecológica de Argentina. 309 pp. ISBN 978-631-00-6989-0.
Allen, E. B., Cross, A. T., Berger, A. M., & Aronson, J. (2024). Restoration seed and plant material supply chains are complex social networks. Restoration Ecology, 32(8), e14279. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14279
Dictionary Definitions (ecological restoration, ecohealth, human health, microbiome, natural capital, and one health) in: Haddad, B.M. & Solomon, B.D. eds., Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New Millennium. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023 (citations for each word are at the end of the document)
Cross, A. T., & Aronson, J. (2023). Editorial: Plant-soil-microbe interactions and drivers in ecosystem development and ecological restoration. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 11, 1216016. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1216016
Stanhope, J., & Weinstein, P. (2023). Exposure to environmental microbiota may modulate gut microbial ecology and the immune system. Mucosal Immunology, 16(2), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mucimm.2023.03.001
Sekera, J., Cagalanan, D., Swan, A., Birdsey, R., Goodwin, N., & Lichtenberger, A. (2023). Carbon dioxide removal—what’s worth doing? A biophysical and public need perspective. PLOS Climate, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000124
Rodriguez Araujo, M. E., & Pérez, D. R. (2023). From seed germination to established seedlings: A comparative evaluation in five shrub species and implications for seed-based restoration in arid lands. Restoration Ecology, 31(6), e13862. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13862
Robinson, J. M., Aronson, J., Daniels, C. B., Goodwin, N., Liddicoat, C., Orlando, L., Phillips, D., Stanhope, J., Weinstein, P., Cross, A. T., & Breed, M. F. (2022). Ecosystem restoration is integral to humanity’s recovery from COVID-19. The Lancet Planetary Health, 6(9), e769–e773. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00171-1
Orlando, L. F., DePinto, A. J., & Wallace, K. J. (2022). Ecohealth villages: A framework for an ecosystem approach to health in human settlements. Sustainability, 14(12), 7053. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127053
Albrecht, M. A., Dell, N. D., Engelhardt, M. J., Reid, J. L., Saxton, M. L., Trager, J. C., Waldman, C., & Long, Q. G. (2022). Recovery of herb-layer vegetation and soil properties after pile burning in a Midwestern oak woodland. Restoration Ecology, 30, e13547. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13547
Aronson, J., Goodwin, N., Cross, A., & Orlando, L. (2022). Focus on Ecosystem Health. Contribution to GTI Forum “Conservation at the Crossroads,” Great Transition Initiative.
Bradley, H. S., Craig, M. D., Cross, A. T., Tomlinson, S., Bamford, M. J., & Bateman, P. W. (2022). Revealing microhabitat requirements of an endangered specialist lizard with LiDAR. Scientific Reports, 12, 5193. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08524-2
Krueger, T., Cross, A. T., Hübner, J., Morinière, J., Hausmann, A., & Fleischmann, A. (2022). A novel approach for reliable qualitative and quantitative prey spectra identification of carnivorous plants combining DNA metabarcoding and macro photography. Scientific Reports, 12, 4778. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08580-8
Turner, S. R., Cross, A. T., Just, M., Newton, V., Pedrini, S., Tomlinson, S., & Dixon, K. (2022). Restoration seedbanks for mined land restoration. Restoration Ecology, 30(S1), e13667. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13667
Rajapakshe, R. P. V. G. S. W., Cross, A. T., Turner, S. R., & Tomlinson, S. (2022). Understanding the interplay of temperature and moisture on the germination niche to improve management of threatened species impacted by mining. Restoration Ecology, 30(S1), e13708. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13708
Goodwin, N., & Sekera, J. (2021, November 23). Why the oil industry’s pivot to carbon capture and storage—while it keeps on drilling—isn’t a climate change solution. The Conversation.
Farrell, C. A., Aronson, J., Daily, G. C., Hein, L., Obst, C., Woodworth, P., & Stout, J. C. (2022). Natural capital approaches: shifting the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration from aspiration to reality. Restoration Ecology, 30(7), e13613. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13613
Cross, S. L., Bradley, H. S., Tudor, E. P., Craig, M. D., Tomlinson, S., Bamford, M. J., Bateman, P. W., & Cross, A. T. (2022). A life-of-mine approach to fauna monitoring is critical for recovering functional ecosystems to restored landscapes. Restoration Ecology, 30(S1), e13540. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13540
Cross, A. T. (2022). Nutrient-acquisition strategy influences seed nutrient concentration and seed-to-seedling transition in ecological restoration in a regional dryland flora. Plant and Soil, 476. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05198-z
FAO, IUCN CEM, & SER. (2021). Principles for ecosystem restoration to guide the United Nations Decade 2021–2030. FAO.
Bradby, K., Wallace, K. J., Cross, A. T., Flies, E. J., Witehira, C., Keesing, A., Dudley, T., Breed, M. F., Howling, G., Weinstein, P., & Aronson, J. (2021). Four Islands EcoHealth Network: An Australasian initiative building synergies between the restoration of ecosystems and human health. Restoration Ecology, 29(4), e13382. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13382
Cross, S. L., Cross, A. T., Tomlinson, S., Clark-Ioannou, S. M., Nevill, P. G., & Bateman, P. W. (2021). Mitigation and management plans should consider all anthropogenic disturbances to fauna. Global Ecology and Conservation, 26, e01500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01500
Milton, S. J., & Dean, W. R. J. (2021). Anthropogenic impacts and implications for ecological restoration in the Karoo, South Africa. Anthropocene, 36, 100307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2021.100307
Cross, A. T., Zhong, H., & Lambers, H. (2021). Incorporating rock in surface covers improves the establishment of native pioneer vegetation on alkaline mine tailings. Science of the Total Environment, 768, 145373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145373
Cross, A. T., & Lambers, H. (2021). Calcicole–calcifuge plant strategies limit restoration potential in a regional semi-arid flora. Ecology and Evolution, 11(11), 6941–6961. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7544
Cross, S. L., Bateman, P. W., & Cross, A. T. (2020). Restoration goals: Why are fauna still overlooked in the process of recovering functioning ecosystems and what can be done about it? Ecological Management & Restoration, 21(1), 4–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.12393
Nevill, P. G., Cross, A. T., & Dixon, K. W. (2018). Ethical sourcing of wild seeds—A key issue in meeting global restoration targets. Current Biology, 28(24), R1378–R1379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.015
Valliere, J. M., Ruscalleda Alvarez, J., Cross, A. T., Lewandrowski, W., Riviera, F., Stevens, J. C., Tomlinson, S., Tudor, E. P., Wong, W. S., Yong, J. W. H., & Veneklaas, E. J. (2022). Restoration ecophysiology: An ecophysiological approach to improve restoration strategies and outcomes in severely disturbed landscapes. Restoration Ecology, 30(S1), e13571. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13571
Bradley, H. S., Tomlinson, S., Craig, M. D., Cross, A. T., & Bateman, P. W. (2022). Mitigation translocation as a management tool. Conservation Biology, 36(1), e13667. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13667
Hall, M. M., Wehi, P. M., Whaanga, H., Walker, E. T., Koia, J. H., & Wallace, K. J. (2021). Promoting social and environmental justice to support Indigenous partnerships in urban ecosystem restoration. Restoration Ecology, 29(1), e13305. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13305
Nabhan, G. P., Orlando, L., Smith Monti, L., & Aronson, J. (2020). Hands-on ecological restoration as a nature-based health intervention: Reciprocal restoration for people and ecosystems. Ecopsychology, 12(3), 195–202. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0003
Cross, A. T., Wallace, K. J., & Aronson, J. (2020). Healthy societies built from healthy ecosystems: How Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are working at the intersection of human health and ecological restoration for a healthier world. Natural History of Ecological Restoration, July 2020.
Cross, A. T., Krueger, T. A., Gonella, P. M., Robinson, A. S., & Fleischmann, A. S. (2020). Conservation of carnivorous plants in the age of extinction. Global Ecology and Conservation, 24, e01272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01272
Breed, M. F., Cross, A. T., Wallace, K. J., Bradby, K., Flies, E., Goodwin, N., Kendal, D., Orlando, L., Skelly, C., Weinstein, P., & Aronson, J. (2021). Ecosystem restoration: A public health intervention. EcoHealth,18(3), 269–271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-020-01480-1
Mills, J. G., Bissett, A., Gellie, N. J. C., Lowe, A. J., Selway, C. A., Thomas, T., Weinstein, P., Weyrich, L. S., & Breed, M. F. (2020). Revegetation of urban green space rewilds soil microbiotas with implications for human health and urban design. Restoration Ecology, 28(S4), S322–S334. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13175
Goodwin, N. (2019). Addressing meta-externalities: Investments in restoring the Earth. Real-World Economics Review, 87, 36–53.
Eisenberg, C., Anderson, C. L., Collingwood, A., Sissons, R., Dunn, C. J., Meigs, G. W., Hibbs, D. E., Murphy, S., Kuiper, S. D., SpearChief-Morris, J., Little Bear, L., Johnston, B., & Edson, C. B. (2019). Out of the ashes: Ecological resilience to extreme wildfire, prescribed burns, and Indigenous burning in ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7, 436. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00436
Gann, G. D., McDonald, T., Walder, B., Aronson, J., Nelson, C. R., Jonson, J., Hallett, J. G., Eisenberg, C., Guariguata, M. R., Liu, J., Hua, F., Echeverría, C., Gonzales, E., Shaw, N., Decleer, K., & Dixon, K. W. (2019). International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Second edition. Restoration Ecology, 27(S1), S1–S46. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13035
Goodwin, N. (2018). Ecological repair: A hope for the human economies. Opinion Sur, August.
Aronson, J., Aronson, T. B., Patzelt, M. A., Knees, S., Lewis, G., Lupton, D., Taifour, H., Gardner, M. F., Thompson, H., Al Hatmi, S., & Al Khulaidi, A. W. (2017). Paleorelicts or archaeophytes: Enigmatic trees in the Middle East. Journal of Arid Environments, 137, 69–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.11.001
Aronson, J., Blatt, C. M., & Aronson, T. B. (2016). Restoring ecosystem health to improve human health and well-being: Physicians and restoration ecologists unite in a common cause. Ecology and Society, 21(4), 39. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08974-210439
Woodworth, P. (2015). Our once and future planet: Restoring the world in the climate change century. University of Chicago Press.
Society for Ecological Restoration International Science & Policy Working Group. (2004). The SER international primer on ecological restoration. Society for Ecological Restoration International.
Ecological restoration Definitions in Dictionary of Ecological Economics:
Aronson, J.C., Cross, A.T., Goodwin, N.R. & Orlando, L. 2023. Ecological restoration. In:
Haddad, B.M. & Solomon, B.D. eds., Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New
Millennium. Edward Elgar Publishing. Pp. 153-154.
Ecohealth
Orlando, L., Aronson, J.C., Cross, A.T. & Goodwin, N.R. 2023. Ecohealth. In: Haddad, B.M.
and Solomon, B.D. eds., Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New Millennium.
Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 144.
Human health
Orlando, L., Aronson, J.C., Cross, A.T. & Goodwin, L.R. 2023. Human health. In: Haddad,
B.M. and Solomon, B.D. eds., Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New
Millennium. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 277.
Microbiome
Cross, A.T., Goodwin, N.R., Orlando, L. & Aronson, J.C. 2023. Microbiome. In: Haddad, B.M.
and Solomon, B.D. eds., Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New Millennium.
Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 351.
Natural capital
Aronson, J.C., Cross, A.T., Goodwin, N.R. & Orlando, L. 2023. Natural capital. In: Haddad,
B.M. and Solomon, B.D. eds. Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New
Millennium. Edward Elgar Publishing. Pp. 366-367.
One health
Orlando, L., Aronson, J.C., Cross, A.T. & Goodwin, N.R. 2023. One health. In: Haddad, B.M.
and Solomon, B.D. eds., Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New Millennium.
Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 389.
Planetary health
Orlando, L., Aronson, J.C., Cross, A.T. & Goodwin, N.R., 2023. Planetary health. In: Haddad,
B.M. and Solomon, B.D. eds., Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New
Millennium. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 406.
Restoration ecology
Aronson, J.C., Cross, A. T., Goodwin, N.R. & Orlando, L. 2023. Restoration ecology. In:
Haddad, B.M. and Solomon, B.D. eds. Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New
Millennium. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 467.
Restoration of natural capital (RNC)
Aronson, J.C., Cross, A. T., Goodwin, N.R. & Orlando, L. 2023. Restoration of Natural Capital
(RNC). In: Haddad, B.M. and Solomon, B.D. eds. Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms
for the New Millennium. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 467.
Soil health
Cross, A.T., Goodwin, L.R., Orlando, L. & Aronson, J.C. 2023. Soil Health. In: Haddad, B.M.
and Solomon, B.D. eds., Dictionary of Ecological Economics: Terms for the New Millennium.
Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 498.