Forest restoration in Aotearoa New Zealand: Advancing decolonial and reparative ecology

Sarah Bürli (Graz): In a forest restoration project conducted in partnership with Māori communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, we simultaneously planted early- and late-successional tree species to accelerate the establishment of resilient forest ecosystems. Draw-ing on data from 1,840 trees, this project explores how planting design and envi-ronmental variables shape tree establishment. Our results show that simultane-ous planting can successfully support late-successional species survival, particu-larly when early-successional trees are spaced two meters apart and there is ground vegetation cover. By identifying key ecological and environmental drivers of late-successional tree survival, this work offers practical guidance for enhanc-ing the effectiveness, biodiversity, and resilience of future forest restoration pro-jects. Most importantly, this project helps lay the foundations for a reparative ecology that advances scientific knowledge while restoring relationships among and between People and Nature.