Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is a dynamic and constantly evolving field. It aims to regain ecological integrity and enhance human well-being in deforested and degraded landscapes. This is achieved by balancing agriculture, forestry, conservation areas, etc. at the landscape scale. Much progress has been made in recent decades with the development of new techniques and strategies for forest restoration. These advancements have been driven by a growing understanding of the complex interplay among ecological, social, and economic factors. Innovative approaches have emerged that prioritize not only the recovery of forest cover but also the restoration of ecosystem services, biodiversity, and the enhancement of local livelihoods. Furthermore, the role of FLR in climate change mitigation and adaptation has gained recognition, with restored forests acting as significant carbon sinks and providing resilience against climate change impacts.

Despite progress in Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR), significant challenges persist. These include the need for more inclusive participation of local communities in FLR initiatives, expansion of successful pilot projects to larger scales, and development of robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for assessing FLR outcomes. These challenges have become increasingly critical in light of the current UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, which has brought more attention and resources to restoration efforts globally.

To address the issues listed above, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions that leverage the recent advances in technology, social science, and ecological research. For instance, the use of remote sensing technology for monitoring restored areas, the application of participatory approaches for involving local communities in restoration planning and implementation, and the integration of ecosystem service valuation methods in project evaluation. This research topic aims to explore these and other cutting-edge approaches to overcome the current challenges in the FLR and unlock its full potential for ecological restoration and sustainable development at scale.

We are interested in original research articles, review articles, methodological papers, perspectives, opinions, commentary pieces, case reports, and policy and practice reviews presenting:

• New findings on innovative techniques, methodologies, and technologies in FLR (including planning, implementation, and monitoring);
• A comprehensive overview of recent advancements in FLR;
• Critical analyses of current challenges and potential solutions;
• Reflections on current trends, critiques of policies or practices, or new ideas or hypotheses for advancing FLR;
• Critical analyses of policies or practices on FLR outcomes; and
• Policy recommendations for improving FLR effectiveness.

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Frontiers in Environmental Science

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