Assessing the success of marine ecosystem restoration using meta-analysis

R. Danovaro (), J. Aronson, S. Bianchelli, C. Boström, W. Chen, R. Cimino, C. Corinaldesi, J. Cortina-Segarra, P. D’Ambrosio, C. Gambi, J. Garrabou, A. Giorgetti, A. Grehan, A. Hannachi, L. Mangialajo, T. Morato, S. Orfanidis, N. Papadopoulou, E. Ramirez-Llodra, C. J. Smith, P. Snelgrove, J. Koppel, J. Tatenhove and S. Fraschetti
Additional contact information
R. Danovaro: Polytechnic University of Marche
J. Aronson: Missouri Botanical Garden
S. Bianchelli: Polytechnic University of Marche
C. Boström: Åbo Akademi University
W. Chen: Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)
R. Cimino: National Cluster Blue Italian Growth
C. Corinaldesi: Polytechnic University of Marche
J. Cortina-Segarra: University of Alicante
P. D’Ambrosio: National Institute of Marine Biology Ecology and Biotechnology
C. Gambi: Polytechnic University of Marche
J. Garrabou: Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC)
A. Giorgetti: Polytechnic University of Marche
A. Grehan: University of Galway
A. Hannachi: University of Carthage
L. Mangialajo: UMR 7035 ECOSEAS
T. Morato: University of the Azores
S. Orfanidis: Fisheries Research Institute (ELGO DIMITRA)
N. Papadopoulou: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research
E. Ramirez-Llodra: REV Ocean
C. J. Smith: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research
P. Snelgrove: Memorial University of Newfoundland
J. Koppel: Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)
J. Tatenhove: Wageningen University
S. Fraschetti: National Biodiversity Future Centre

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Marine ecosystem restoration success stories are needed to incentivize society and private enterprises to build capacity and stimulate investments. Yet, we still must demonstrate that restoration efforts can effectively contribute to achieving the targets set by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis on 764 active restoration interventions across a wide range of marine habitats worldwide. We show that marine ecosystem restorations have an average success of ~64% and that they are: viable for a large variety of marine habitats, including deep-sea ecosystems; highly successful for saltmarshes, tropical coral reefs and habitat-forming species such as animal forests; successful at all spatial scales, so that restoration over large spatial scales can be done using multiple interventions at small-spatial scales that better represent the natural variability, and scalable through dedicated policies, regulations, and financing instruments. Restoration interventions were surprisingly effective even in areas where human impacts persisted, demonstrating that successful restorations can be initiated before all stressors have been removed. These results demonstrate the immediate feasibility of a global ‘blue restoration’ plan even for deep-sea ecosystems, enabled by increasing availability of new and cost-effective technologies.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57254-2

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