Integrating co‐production and functional trait approaches for inclusive and scalable restoration solutions

Abstract

Abstract Calls for, and commitments to, forest restoration and regenerative agriculture are booming. While these practices are often conceptualized and implemented separately, in many contexts, research and practice at the intersection of forest restoration and diversified agriculture can accelerate the mutual goal of increasing biodiversity and ecosystem services on degraded lands. However, research on integrated forest‐agriculture practices, or agroforestry, often leaves out locally important native species and produces findings that are species‐specific, which together constrain research‐practice connections. We discuss a research design process that integrates two well‐established methods and allows for local customization in species selection, while also enabling study findings to be generalized to other sites. We illustrate this process through a case study from Hawai‘i and discuss the benefits, challenges, and potential further applications.

Keywords

• agriculture
• agroforestry
• co‐design
• community assembly
• co‐production
• ecosystem services