Interdisciplinary approaches to ecosystem restoration

In June 2024, the EU made history by adopting the Nature Restoration Law — a clear signal that Europe’s ecosystems need urgent care. Today, restoring nature isn’t only about species and habitats, but also about creating landscapes that work for people and reflect what communities value. As restoration goals have grown broader, scientists have come up with different frameworks to help guide the work. They look great on paper, but we still don’t really know how well they hold up in the real world.

Rethinking how we restore nature

To investigate this, a team of SLU researchers investigated existing frameworks for ecological restoration and explored how these are used in real projects as part of the SLU Interdisciplinary Academy (IDA). The researchers are experts in ecology, aquatic ecology, soil biology, rural development, and environmental psychology and consisted of SLU researchers Minh-Xuan Truong, Patrik Oskarsson, Judith Lundberg-Felten, Carolyn Faithfull and Hedvig Nenzén. 

During eight months the group spent 20% of their working time exploring restoration for present and future generations across disciplinary boundaries. The methods were many: the group went on field trips, reviewed literature, sent out a survey about past restoration projects, wrote a research application and even investigated if forest bathing could help ease Sweden’s heated forest debates.

The contrast between forest and water restoration

In May 2025, the team visited two sites in the Gävleborg region, the forested Ekopark Grytaberg and the Voxnan River, to see restoration in action with guidance from practitioners from Sveaskog, Rivers of Life and the Biosphere reserve Voxnadalen. 

– Water restoration is often large-scale and well-defined — restoring hydrodynamic processes so that aquatic species can recolonise. But hydropower still blocks migration. In forests, restoration is much more site-specific. It’s ongoing management rather than a clear endpoint, says Carolyn Faithfull.

The group also noticed that people view restoration differently. Arborists cared for individual trees, while forestry companies thought in terms of whole landscapes focusing on timber production. Cultural heritage mattered more in river projects than in forests.

– Cultural heritage played a stronger role in water restoration than in forestry, where production often took priority. Interestingly, none of our company forest experts used the term forest restoration — it was always alternative forest management, notes Patrik Oskarsson.

“Restoration is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary”

To understand how restoration science connects nature and people, nearly 5,000 research articles were screened. From these, the researchers selected 382 studies to see how social and ecological ideas are balanced in restoration research. 

– Our results show a clear trend: over the past decade, social aspects, like community involvement and stakeholder engagement, have gained more attention than ever before. Restoration is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary . We also found gaps in existing frameworks, such as limited focus on climate change and governance, says Hedvig Nenzén.

Lessons about restoring nature in Sweden

The survey the researchers did shows that Swedish restoration projects usually start when ecosystems are already in trouble — for example when species disappear or storm damage hits. Rarely do we act early to prevent problems. And while ecological expertise is strong, involvement of social expertise often lags behind.

– Project leaders told us about the biggest hurdles: short-term funding, too few hands-on deck, complicated permits, and a lack of time to build trust with local landowners. Conflicts over land use and a general worry about change also slow things down. Urban and coastal habitats still don’t get as much attention as forests and wetlands, says Minh-Xuan Truong.

– But the survey also revealed what makes projects succeed. Stable, long-term funding can kick-start ideas and keep them running. Small pilot projects that grow over time work better than trying to take huge leaps. Clear communication and early involvement of local communities help avoid friction later. And when different skills meet such as ecology, law, economics, and social science, projects become both fairer and more effective, says Judith Lundberg-Felten.

Forest bathing meets forest politics

The researchers also explored whether “forest bathing”, the practice of slowing down and engaging all senses in nature, could help ease Sweden’s heated forest debates. 

– Our idea was that shared experiences in the woods might build understanding among people with different stakes in forests. At a workshop during the Science and Technology Studies conference in Stockholm, I guided participants through a mindful walk in the rain-soaked forest, followed by a quiet moment and a group sharing circle. The participants felt calmer and more connected afterwards, says Judith Lundberg-Felten

Could this approach fit into real policy talks? The mood boost was clear, but bringing sensory, open nature experiences into, goal-driven negotiations also create challenges that were discussed.

Working across disciplines: inspiring, messy, and worth it

team brought together very different skills, so leadership shifted depending on the task, while curiosity kept the researchers moving. Going on field trips and talking to stakeholders together helped them see how each perspective added value.

– Interdisciplinary work means there is not just one “right” method. That freedom sparked creativity, but also temptation, we chased new ideas and even started a grant proposal we later abandoned. In the end, working across disciplines was both a challenge and an eye-opener: progress is slower, but the insights are more valuable.

For me, the mix of backgrounds and shared curiosity was energizing. I loved expanding my network beyond my department and meeting such kind and inspiring colleagues, says Minh-Xuan Truong.

– Working with a motivated team where everyone takes different responsibilities made the work move on smoothly. As someone new to Uppsala, it was also a great way to build connections and learn from others — something I truly value, says Judith Lundberg-Felten.

“The openness and shared responsibility have been remarkable”

The group is still working together; two papers are on the way. One abstract is accepted for a full-paper submission to a special issue of the scientific journal People and Nature in late 2025 and concerns how frameworks can make restoration more effective and fairer. They are also exploring new research ideas as a team.

– The best advice for interdisciplinary collaboration is to say yes to chances to connect. Join initiatives like IDA, go to networking events, and talk to colleagues outside your field — even casually during courses or workshops, says Judith Lundberg-Felten. The more bridges you build, the richer the experience becomes. I appreciated having space for real reflection and trying new approaches like games and forest bathing. Getting to know colleagues outside my field has already sparked new collaborations, says Carolyn Faithfull.

– Setting aside time each week to explore new ideas with this group has been fantastic. The openness and shared responsibility have been remarkable, I warmly recommend IDA to other SLU researchers, concludes Patrik Oskarsson.

Text by Cajsa Lithell.