Ecological protection and restoration strategies have been defined as the design of ecosystems for the mutual benefit of humans and nature. A range of practices has been implemented in many countries around the world to protect and restore the eco-environment, such as Mangrove Protection, Grain for Green Programme, Restoring Wetlands or Farmland from Aquaculture Ponds, Building Dams in Rivers, and Reuse of Contaminated Sites. However, we still lack a systematic understanding of the ecological benefits, environmental impacts, and pollution risks of these practices. There should be studies that discuss and address such issues as soon as possible.

The main objective of this Research Topic will be the evaluation of the impact of ecological technologies and approaches on ecosystems and monitoring the responses of elements in geochemical processes to reduce the outflow of nutrients and pollutants and avoid potential ecological risks. We are particularly concerned and interested in the biogeochemical behavior of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) under the ecological strategies, the evaluation of carbon and nitrogen sequestration benefits of major ecological projects, and the impact of ecological strategies on biogeochemical processes of nutrient elements (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur).

Studies on the application of different ecological solutions will be welcomed, including cases and evaluations of both successes and failures. Review papers discussing in depth a variety of case studies will also be welcome. These papers will identify which questions are difficult to answer based on current knowledge and current methodologies employed in the ecological engineering field. Unexpected results will also be detected and discussed in the framework of the global body of knowledge. Proposals for new research areas will be appreciated. The specific topics covered in this Research Topic will be:

• clarifying the remediation mechanisms of soil biological and physical

• driving mechanisms of C or N sequestration

• effects of soil-plant interactions under ecological practices

• restoration and nutrients supplement of abandoned quarries

• transport of riverine nutrients in fragile ecosystems

• isotope geochemistry of elements in constructed wetlands and sediments

• Evaluation of the sources and risk of PTEs

• PTE fate and phytoavailability dynamics in the soil-plant interface

• Bioassays of the effect of PTEs on the soil microbial community

• Nature-Based Solutions for the remediation of PTE-polluted soils

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Frontiers in Environmental Science

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