Wetland Restoration Ecology: Invasive Species Control and Biodiversity Recovery in Freshwater and Coastal Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Wetland restoration demands integrated strategies to counter accelerating degradation from invasive species, habitat fragmentation, and human pressures. Over the past century, wetland loss has been exceptionally severe: an estimated 64–71% of wetlands present in 1900 have disappeared, and an additional 22% have been lost since 1970. These losses critically impact biodiversity, water regulation, carbon storage, and community resilience.

Effective restoration must therefore combine biodiversity recovery with invasive species management. Invasives often thrive in degraded habitats, outcompeting natives and altering ecosystem processes, which can reverse restoration gains. Success depends on integrating hydrological rehabilitation, native vegetation reestablishment, and long-term monitoring. Early detection and rapid response are also vital to prevent new invasives from becoming established. Since invasive species spread through disturbance corridors like roads and drainage networks, restoration planning must consider landscape-scale interactions that shape the viability of native wetland communities.

This Special Issue will examine restoration strategies across freshwater and coastal wetland systems, emphasizing invasive species management and biodiversity recovery mechanisms. We seek contributions addressing experimental restoration approaches, invasive plant control methodologies, native species reestablishment, ecosystem function recovery indicators, and long-term monitoring outcomes. Papers may cover tropical and temperate wetlands, including marshes, swamps, mangroves, and riparian zones. We particularly encourage studies linking restoration practices to measurable biodiversity outcomes, comparative analyses of control techniques, and assessments of restoration sustainability. Contributions examining socio-ecological dimensions of wetland restoration and community-based management approaches are welcome.

Dr. Hugo López Rosas
Dr. Enrique Ãvila
Guest Editors

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