Dataset: Global review on restoration incentive mechanisms and their outcomes in open ecosystems
Fisher, Brendan Galford, Gillian
Fisher, Brendan
Galford, Gillian
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Abstract
Dataset for a global review on restoration incentive mechanisms and their outcomes in open ecosystems. Details on the study are included in the abstract below, as stated in the submitted manuscript. The dataset includes data from 129 peer-reviewed articles that evaluated incentive mechanisms for restoring open ecosystems. The data comprises qualitative and quantitative information, including metadata for each reviewed article (title, authors, abstract, publication year, journal, country, continent) and three main domains of information: i) restoration intervention: country and objective of restoration, restoration age, spatial scale of restoration under evaluation, original ecosystem being restored, primary land use, and restoration techniques implemented; ii) incentive mechanism: name of the incentive program, type of incentive, intentionality of the incentive mechanism, type of proponent organization, source of funding, targeted recipients, and land tenure of recipients; iii) outcomes: environmental and socioeconomic results achieved through the implementation of incentive mechanisms. An explanation of the metadata for each variable and the classification scheme used is included, along with a list of articles excluded during the full-text screening phase. Manuscript abstract: Open ecosystems provide critical habitat for biodiversity and essential ecosystem services, but are increasingly threatened by land conversion, altered disturbance regimes, and biological invasions. Restoration initiatives have mobilized incentives to recover millions of hectares, but these mechanisms have historically targeted forests, which can be problematic when translated directly to open ecosystems. Comprehensive assessments of restoration incentive outcomes in open ecosystems remain limited, restricting our ability to identify general patterns and context-dependent effects across regions. Through a systematized literature review, we (i) characterized the geographic distribution of restoration incentive mechanisms in open ecosystems, (ii) investigated how these mechanisms were designed, financed, and implemented, and (iii) assessed their environmental and socioeconomic outcomes. We found 129 scientific articles documenting 90 incentives across 25 countries, located predominantly in temperate regions. Direct payments were the most common incentive type, typically combined with other mechanisms and funded by governmental agencies targeting landholders and land users. Approximately 72% of reported outcomes were positive, with environmental gains often associated with improvements in biodiversity, soil conditions, and broader ecosystem indicators. Positive socioeconomic outcomes included increased income, employment, and environmental awareness. Yet, negative outcomes were more frequent for socioeconomic than environmental indicators, including reduced income, increased livelihood vulnerability, and displacement of traditional communities. Unlike forest-focused approaches, restoration in open ecosystems relied largely on land abandonment and grazing management. Long-term, multifunctional restoration strategies that integrate environmental and socioeconomic objectives are essential, particularly in tropical regions where restoration needs remain high. Incentive programs should combine multiple mechanisms within multi-level governance and align restoration goals with local land-use systems, particularly where grazing and other human activities are closely linked to ecosystem functioning and traditional livelihoods. Incorporating active restoration where natural regeneration is limited and integrating local communities into restoration planning can support long-term recovery while reducing leakage and recultivation risks once incentives end.
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Date
2026-06-26