Ecosystem

Data project

Data owner:

Dryad

Geographies: United States·Topic: Ecosystem

This dataset represents a comprehensive exploration of ecosystem restoration practices and their impacts on both ecological and human wellbeing indicators. Traditionally, ecosystem restoration efforts have focused on ecological benchmarks such as water and habitat quality, species abundance, and vegetation cover. However, there is an increasing recognition of the interplay between restoration and human communities, evidenced by positive socio-ecological connections like property value, natural hazard mitigation, recreation opportunities, and overall happiness. With the United Nations declaring 2021-2030 as the "Decade of Ecosystem Restoration" and a push for more socio-ecological goals in restoration, this dataset delves into the degree to which restoration practitioners consider human wellbeing. It is based on a case study of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a federally funded program that has awarded over $3.5 billion to 5,300 projects. A total of 1,574 GLRI projects were surveyed, with 437 responses received, revealing that almost half of these projects set human wellbeing goals, and more than 70% believed they achieved them. In comparison, 90% of project managers believed they met their ecological goals. This dataset highlights the documented perceptions of positive impacts on both people and nature, suggesting that restoration efforts often go beyond traditional indicators. As such, it advocates for the adoption of a socio-ecological perspective in ecosystem restoration programs to comprehensively document the full extent of restoration outcomes. The data collection process included a survey methodology, and the dataset provides insights into project design, implementation, and success measurements. The data was collected between November 2020 and March 2021, with a maximum of three contact attempts for each project. It offers a unique perspective on the relationship between ecosystem restoration and human wellbeing, emphasizing the importance of capturing the often "unseen" benefits of these projects.