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In rural dryland areas, the socioeconomic diagnosis of the population and their traditional knowledge of the flora are key to restoration. In this study, we asked rural people (locally called "puesteros") about their knowledge of the native flora, in a settlement of 160 inhabitants, located in drylands of Argentine. For this, semi-structured surveys and open interviews were carried out with 30 puesteros. The surveys collected information about the puesteros' socio-economic characteristics, their knowledge and value about the use of species, and their interest in planting those species in their farms. Once the list of multipurpose species was obtained, we reviewed the scientific literature to know some of their favorable ecological attributes. The interviews were carried out to know the limitations and advantages associated with planting native species in the puesteros' home gardens. Our results show that 33% of the people surveyed were illiterate, and their primary economic source of income was livestock. In the surveys, the puesteros mentioned 44 multipurpose species, which were classified by their uses. 97% of respondents expressed interest in planting on their farms and mentioned 21 potentially useful species. Of the 44 multipurpose species mentioned by the puesteros, we found that 22 had ecological attributes for restoration. In the interviews, the puesteros identified the factors that limited and favored plantations. They had already planted 44 species in their home gardens for different purposes. The implications of current local knowledge for future socio-ecological approaches to productive restoration in drylands are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Abstract We discuss the strategies and early results from an ecological restoration and rehabilitation project underway in Monte Austral (Southern Monte) of Argentinian Patagonia. We use this as a platform to propose a dryland framework species approach (DFSA) to ecological restoration and rehabilitation (ERR). DFSA is based on the 'framework species approach' developed in mega-diverse tropical forest biomes of Australia and southern Asia over the past 20 years. We discuss how the approach could be adapted and modified to boost the impact of ERR and help achieve more effective recovery of biodiversity, ecosystem health, and human health and well-being in the vast dryland ecosystems of the world. In arid and semiarid ecosystems, not all native species respond well to methods for growing in nurserys, and a key to ERR success is the identification of a coherent set of species selected on the basis of multiple criteria, both ecological and practical, and simple tests for field performance. We describe selection criteria and early results of field trials of three candidate framework plant species undergoing field trials in our region. Of these three, Atriplex lampa and Hyalis argentea var. latisquama showed uniformly high performance while the response of Senecio subulatus var. subulatus varied according to substrates. We also discuss the use of drones, and other tools for both research and action in conjunction with DFSA. Highlights • A Dryland Framework Species Approach (DFSA) may increase effectiveness of drylands restoration work. • Few species in dryland plant communities may qualify as serious candidates for inclusion in a DFSA. • Species found growing in highly degraded areas may be the most useful genetic material or provenances for use in DFSA. • Selection criteria for DFSA include rapid gains in plant cover and attractiveness to fauna. • Other criteria are ease of propagation, availability of seeds, and importance of species to local people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Field data and unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, were used to analyze a long‐term experiment in a severely degraded area of the "Monte," one of the most arid and degraded biomes in Argentina. Field methods and drone orthoimages obtained from flights of a quadcopter at 20 and 40 m were used to compare plantation plots versus natural recovery on scarified sites, and the field performance of six putative framework species under four different treatments was evaluated. After 5 years of recovery in soils with almost no organic matter and mean annual rainfall averaging 145 mm, plantation plots had high survival rates (>65%) for all species as determined through both field survey and drone imagery. Three species were planted with a greater number of seedlings due to their availability in nurseries. For these species experimental treatments were studied statistically. Independently of treatment applied (control; 1/2 L hydrogel; 1 L hydrogel; 1 L of hydrogel + 1/2 kg of organic compost), highest survival rates were found for P. flexuosa var. depressa (88% ± 14.8) and A. lampa (84% ± 14.8). Drone images and field data both showed that these two putative framework species had the highest plant cover. In sharp contrast, mechanical scarification without planting or other treatments induced very low recovery (<2%). We demonstrate that drone imagery provides a new and very valuable tool for evaluating and monitoring restorative interventions in drylands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In a Latin American and national context of increasing environmental degradation, we describe the perception of the members of the REA on the current state of restoration in Argentina, and we identify the current prospect of progress and achievements in order to suggest ecological restoration actions in the country. The REA was formalized in 2012 and held its first national organizational meeting in 2017. It currently has 198 members distributed in eight regional nodes. Analyses carried out at this meeting indicate relatively few restoration initiatives at the institutional and landscape levels. Most of the actions are carried out at the local level by scientists who contribute through research and practitioners who promote the activity in a wide range of social and ecological contexts. Restoration practitioners (i.e., those who execute projects in the field) use information generated by the scientific, social, private and government sectors. Among other deficiencies, they mention the limited availability of basic ecological information, the inexistence or inadequacy of legal frameworks, institutional and technical capacities. We hope the consolidation of the REA will allow all those interested and involved in the ecological restoration of the country to share experiences and generate links to contribute to the continuity of a multidisciplinary, participatory work, integrated to the socio-environmental problems of the country, at different scales and with a long-term perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...