The conservation and restoration of natural resources (e.g. forests, water, land) is a pivotal concern, particularly in the face of escalating environmental challenges and natural resource depletion. Despite being under-recognised role players, grassroots movements have emerged globally as significant players in the conservation arena, often filling gaps left by governmental policies on conservation. These movements and the actor groups behind them, harness local knowledge, rules-based systems and collaboration to manage resources sustainably. Despite their growing prominence, there is a need to critically evaluate these movements to understand their effectiveness, the diversity of their methodologies, and their outcomes in different geographical and cultural settings. Additionally, the need for a joint actor-cum-institutional analysis in locally led resource conservation and restoration governance still beg for significant theoretical and empirical substantiation. Recent studies have begun to highlight some promising results, but comprehensive, comparative analyses remain scarce.

This Research Topic aims to critically evaluate the effectiveness of current grassroots movements, rule-based systems and the actor dynamics around resource conservation and restoration, focusing on the evolution of rules and actor groups, their impact, methodologies, and scalability. By compiling diverse case studies and data-driven analyses, the goal is to delineate which elements of community-driven conservation and restoration efforts are most effective and under which conditions. The research will also explore how these movements integrate with modern technologies and what this means for future conservation efforts.

The scope of this Research Topic is global, with a focus on understanding patterns in both successful and less successful grassroots movements across various environments. To gather further insights in this domain, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Methodological approaches and metrics used in grassroots conservation and restoration

• Evolution of institutional arrangements in natural resource conservation and restoration

• Actor dynamics in the governance of natural resources

• Case studies comparing different community-driven approaches towards sustainable environmental management

• Analysis of community engagement models and leadership in conservation

• The role of indigenous or local knowledge and technology in enhancing grassroots conservation and restoration efforts

• Strategies for scaling and replicating successful conservation models

• Different rule-based systems and the actor dynamics around resource conservation and restoration and their merits and demerits

This Research Topic will generate knowledge that is crucial for policymakers, conservation groups, and community leaders aiming to enhance the effectiveness of grassroots conservation efforts.

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Grassroots Movements and institutions in Natural Resource Conservation: Global Effectiveness of Community-Driven Conservation and Restoration Strategies