Coexistence of Ecological Restoration and Renewable Energy Development: Biodiversity Adaptation and Habitat Evolution

Human activities and environmental degradation have made ecological restoration a cornerstone of global conservation strategies. While large-scale restoration projects have successfully initiated habitat and biodiversity recovery worldwide, critical scientific gaps remain. First, the field lacks robust, standardized frameworks to evaluate restoration success through the lens of species adaptability—specifically regarding behavioral, physiological, genetic, and population-level responses. Second, there is an urgent need to translate empirical research findings into practical, field-ready technical guidelines for conservation practitioners.

Concurrently, the global transition to renewable energy has accelerated the deployment of large-scale wind and solar infrastructure. While essential for climate mitigation and decarbonization, these utility-scale installations alter regional environmental factors, including microclimates, wind patterns, and surface albedo. Such physical modifications directly and indirectly influence local wildlife, altering habitat suitability, breeding success, and migratory pathways. Systematic, long-term studies on the ecological successions and evolutionary responses triggered by these infrastructures remain scarce. Empirical, data-driven evidence is urgently required to guide sustainable planning and policy.

This Research Topic aims to address these dual challenges by bringing together cutting-edge research on ecological restoration outcomes and the environmental footprints of renewable energy development. We seek to compile scientific evidence that supports practical restoration management, while offering ecologically informed, predictive solutions to reconcile renewable energy expansion with the preservation of ecosystem integrity and biodiversity.

We welcome submissions of various article types (including Original Research, Review, Methods, Perspective, and Policy and Practice Reviews) addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Biodiversity & Adaptation: Quantitative methods and empirical studies evaluating species- and population-level adaptability (behavioral, physiological, and genetic) following ecological restoration.

o Translational Ecology: Research translating biodiversity and ecological data into actionable technical guidelines for restoration practitioners.

o Microclimate & Physical Shifts: The direct effects of wind and solar energy infrastructure on regional climates, wind patterns, and localized environmental factors.

o Wildlife & Vegetation Impacts: Individual and community-level responses of regional flora and fauna to the construction and operation of renewable energy installations.

o Long-Term Succession: Long-term ecological succession and wildlife dynamics within and surrounding solar photovoltaic and wind energy sites.

o Migratory Pathways: The specific behavioral and population-level effects of wind farm construction and operation on avian migration.