Integrating co-production and trait-based approaches for inclusive and scalable restoration solutions

Unprecedented levels of land degradation globally have triggered parallel calls for forest restoration and regenerative agriculture. While these practices are often conceptualized and implemented separately, in many contexts, innovating at their intersection can accelerate the mutual goal of increasing biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, the applicability of research on integrated forest-agriculture practices, or agroforestry, is often constrained by the underrepresentation of locally important native plants in studies and compounded by species-specific study findings. We discuss the benefits, challenges, and potential applications of a co-design, trait-based approach to increasing diversity in agroforestry restoration research that is both customizable and generalizable.