Research Staff

James Aronson
Senior Scientist Emeritus
Restoration Ecology
Research

emails: james@ehnglobal.org; ja42014@gmail.com

Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110
USA

Education
Ph.D., Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1990
B.Sc., Washington University in Saint Louis, 1978

The science and technology, methodologies, values, and policy of ecological restoration and allied restorative activities, especially as they affect ecosystem 'health' and human health and wellbeing at landscape and higher spatial scales. Thus, how can biodiversity conservation, environmental conservation, ecological restoration, biocultural restoration, and sustainable community-based social-economic development be pursued coherently at landscape and larger spatial scales? How can we promote greater inter-cultural cooperation and "two-eyed seeing" in the growing field of action and knowledge-and know-how building space? The evolutionary ecology, biogeography, and role in ecological restoration of trees native to arid, semi-arid, and mediterranean-climate regions. See Desert Trees database.
 

Research Emphases Improving effectiveness and supporting greater integration of science-based, participative ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems as part of coherent programs for biological and environmental conservation, ecological restoration and related activities, and sustainable stewardship of the ecosystems and landscapes on which we all depend. Advancing the science, action, and bioregional and global networking needed to expand and deepen the benefits to ecosystems and people of all relevant restorative activities, with special emphasis on public health in rural and urban areas. See the website of the 8-year old Ecological Health Network.
* Desert trees and canopies of hot and cold deserts of the world and their micro symbionts : especially related to their roles in ecological restoration, regenerative agroforestry systems, and urban ecosystem revitalization.
* The Natural History of Ecological Restoration, please click here to visit the blog that I co-founded and which I co-curate with co-founders J. Leighton Reid, head of the Biocultural and Ecological Restoration Initiative, Virginia Tech University, and Matthew Albrecht, Director of the Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development, Missouri Botanical Garden.
Selected Publications

Articles and book chapters
Danovaro, R., J. Aronson, S. Bianchelli, et al. 2025. A meta-analysis of marine ecosystem restoration. Nature Communications. 16:3062 Allen, E.B., A.T. Cross, A.M. Berger & J. Aronson 2024. Restoration seed and plant material supply chains are complex social networks. Restoration Ecology e14279. http://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14279 Ovalle, J.F., A. Peirano, A. Pauchard & J. Aronson 2024. The iconic Jubaea chilensis teeters on the edge of local extinction after the last Valparaíso megafire: A plea for enhanced conservation policies. Biodiversity and Conservation 33: 3923–3927. Hicks, S., J. Aronson, W.W. Webb & Z. Webb 2024. Balga: Totem and Teacher. Natural History. September 132(8): 14-21. Cross, A.T. & J. Aronson 2023. Editorial: Plant-Soil-Microbe Interactions and Drivers in Ecosystem Development and Ecological Restoration. Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution. Vol. 11, doi: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1216016 Robinson, J., J. Aronson, C.B. Daniels, N. Goodwin, C. Liddicoat, L. Orlando, D. Phillips, J. Stanhope, P. Weinstein, A.T. Cross M. Breed 2022. Ecosystem restoration is integral to humanity’s recovery from COVID-19. Lancet Planetary Health 6: e769–773. Farrell, C.A., J. Aronson, G.C., Daily, L. Hein, C. Obst, P. Woodworth. & J.C. Stout 2022. Natural Capital Approaches: shifting the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration from aspiration to reality. Restoration Ecology 30(7), e13613214. Bradby, K., K.J. Wallace, A.T. Cross, E. Flies, C. Witehira, A. Keesing, T. Dudley, M.F. Breed, M.F., G. Howling, P. Weinstein & J. Aronson 2021. The Four Islands EcoHealth Program: An Australasian regional initiative for synergistic restoration of ecosystem and human health. Restoration Ecology 29(4)e13382 Aronson, J., N. Goodwin, L. Orlando, C. Eisenberg & A.T. Cross 2020. A World of Possibilities: Six Restoration Strategies to support the United Nations’ Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Restoration Ecology 28: 730-736. Blignaut, J.N. & J. Aronson 2020. Developing a restoration narrative: A pathway towards system-wide healing and a restorative culture. Ecological Economics 168: 106483. Breed, M.F., A.T. Cross, K. Wallace, K., Bradby, E. Flies, N. Goodwin, M. Jones, L. Orlando, C. Skelly, P. Weinstein & J. Aronson 2020. Ecosystem restoration – a public health intervention. EcoHealth 18: 269–271. Nabhan, G.P., L. Orlando, L.S. Monti & J. Aronson 2020. Hands-On Ecological Restoration as a Nature-Based Health Intervention: Reciprocal Restoration for People and Ecosystems. Journal of Ecopsychology 12: 195-202. Nabhan, G. P., E. Riordan, L.S. Monti, J. Aronson, et al. 2020. An Aridamerican model for agriculture in a hotter, water-scarce world. Plants, People, Planet. 2(6) https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10129 Aronson, J., N. Goodwin, L. Orlando, C. Eisenberg and A.T. Cross. 2020. A World of Possibilities: Six Restoration Strategies to support the United Nation's Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Restoration Ecology 28(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13170. Breed, M.F., Cross, A.T., Wallace, K., Bradby, K., Flies, E., Goodwin, N., Jones, M., Orlando, L., Skelly, C., Weinstein, P. & Aronson. J. 2020. Ecosystem restoration – a public health intervention. EcoHealth. doi.org/10.1007/s10393-020-01480-1. Brancalion, P.H.S., A. Niamir, E. Broadbent, R. Crouzeilles, F.S. Barros, A.M. Almeyda Zambrano, J. Aronson, S. Goetz, J.L. Reid, B.N. Strassburg, L.R. Tambosi, S. Wilson, & R. Chazdon. 2019. Global hotspots for restoring tropical rainforest landscapes. Science Express 5:eaav3223. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aav3223. Pérez, D.R., F. M. Farinaccio & J. Aronson. 2019. Towards a Dryland Framework Species Approach. Research in progress in the Monte Austral of Argentina. J. Arid Environments. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2018.09.001. Cross, A.T., P.G. Neville, K.W. Dixon and J. Aronson. 2019. Time for a paradigm shift towards a restorative culture. Restoration Ecology 27: 924-928. Mazón, M., N, Aguirre, C. Echeverria, J. Aronson. 2019. Monitoring attributes for ecological restoration in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Restoration Ecology. 27: 992-999. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12986. Pérez, D.R., C. Pilustrelli, F. M. Farinaccio, G. Sabino & J. Aronson. 2019. Evaluating success of various restorative interventions through drone- and field-collected data, using six putative framework species in Argentinian Patagonia. Restoration Ecology. 28, S1. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13025. Gann, G.D., T. McDonald, B. Walder, J. Aronson, C. Nelson, J. Jonson, C. Eisenberg, J.G. Hallett, M. R. Guariguata, J. Liu, F. Hua, C. Echeverría, K. DeCleer, E. Gonzales, & K. Dixon. 2019. International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Second edition. Restoration Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13035. Blignaut, J.N., J. Aronson. 2019. Developing a restoration narrative: A pathway towards system-wide healing and a restorative culture. Ecological Economics 168: 106483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2019.106483. Aronson, J., D. Simberloff, A. Ricciardi & N. Goodwin. 2018. Restoration science does not need redefinition. Nature Ecology & Evolution 2:916. Cross, A.T., R. Young, P. Nevill, T. McDonald, K. Prach, J. Aronson, G.W. Wardell-Johnson & K.W. Dixon. 2018. Appropriate aspirations for effective post-mining restoration and rehabilitation: a response to Kazmierczak et al. Environmental Earth Sciences 77:256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7437-z. Aronson, J., P.B. Phillipson, E. Le Floc’h & T. Raminosoa. 2018. Dryland tree data for Madagascar: vital elements for conserving and restoring ecosystems of the South-west. Madagascar Conservation and Development.13(1): 60-69. Gann, G.D., T. McDonald, J. Aronson, K. Dixon, B. Walder, J. G. Hallett, K. Decleer, D.A Falk, E. K. Gonzales, C. Murcia, C. Nelson & A. J. Unwin. 2018. The SER Standards: a globally relevant and inclusive tool for improving the practice. Restoration Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12819. Reid, J.L. & J. Aronson. 2017. Ecological Restoration in a Changing Biosphere. Missouri Botanical Garden 102:185–187. Aronson, J., J.N. Blignaut, T.B. Aronson. 2017. Conceptual frameworks and references for landscape-scale restoration: Reflecting back and looking forward. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 102:188-200. http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.3417/2017003 Moreno-Mateos, D., E. B. Barbier, P. C. Jones, H. P. Jones, J. Aronson, M.L. McCrackin, P. Meli, D. Montoya, J. M. Rey Benayas. 2017. Anthropogenic ecosystem disturbance and the recovery debt. Nature Communications 8, 14163. Aronson, J., T. B. Aronson, M. A. Patzelt, S. Knees, G. Lewis, D. Lupton, H. Taifour, M.F. Gardner, H. Thompson, S. Al Hatmi & A.W. Al Khulaidi. 2016. Paleorelicts or archaeophytes: enigmatic trees in the Middle East. J. Arid Environments 137: 69-82. Aronson, J., C. M. Blatt, T. B. Aronson. 2016. Restoring ecosystem health to improve human health and well-being: physicians and restoration ecologists unite in a common cause. Ecology and Society 21 (4):39. Aronson, J., A. Clewell, D. Moreno-Mateos 2016. Ecological restoration and ecological engineering: Complementary or indivisable? Ecological Engineering 91:392-395. Chaves, R., G. Durigan, P. Brancalion, J. Aronson. 2015. On the need of legal frameworks for assessing restoration projects success: new perspectives from São Paulo state (Brazil). Restoration Ecology 23:754-759. Moreno-Mateos, D., P. Meli, M.I. Vara Rodriguez, J. Aronson. 2015. Similar responses to different intervention approaches in restored and created wetland ecosystems. Journal of Applied Ecology 52: 1528–1537. Murcia, C., J. Aronson, G. Kattan, D. Moreno-Mateos, K. Dixon, D. Simberloff. 2014. A critique of the ´novel ecosystem´ concept. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 29:548-553. Simberloff, D., J-L Martin, P. Genovesi, V. Maris, D. A. Wardle, J. Aronson, F. Courchamp, B. Galil, E. García-Berthou, M. Pascal, P. Pyšek, R. Sousa, E. Tabacchi & M. Vilà. 2013. Impacts of biological invasions: What’s what and the way forward. Trends Ecology & Evolution 28:58-66. Aronson, J., C. Murcia, G. Kattan, D. Moreno-Mateos, K. Dixon & D. Simberloff. 2014. The road to confusion is paved with novel ecosystem labels. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 29:646-647. Neßhöver, C., J. Aronson, J.N. Blignaut, D. Lehr, A. Vakrou, H. Wittmer. 2011. Investing in Ecological Infrastructure. In: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in National and International Policy Making. Edited by Patrick ten Brink. Earthscan, London and Washington, D.C. Pp. 401-448. Aronson, J.. 2011. Sustainability science demands that we define our terms across diverse disciplines. Landscape Ecology 26:457-460. Bugalho, M.N., M.C. Caldeira, J.S. Pereira, J. Aronson, J.G. Pausas. 2011. Human-shaped Cork oak savannas require human use to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services. Frontiers in Ecology & the Environment 9:278-286. Aronson, J., J.N. Blignaut, S.J. Milton, D. le Maitre, K. Esler, A. Limouzin, C. Fontaine, M. de Wit, W. Mugido, P. Prinsloo, L. van der Elst, N. Lederer. 2010. Are socio-economic benefits of restoration adequately quantified? A meta-analysis of recent papers (2000-2008) in Restoration Ecology and 12 other scientific journals. Restoration Ecology 18:143-154. de Groot, R., B. Fisher, M. Christie, J. Aronson, L. Braat, R. Haines-Young, J. Gowdy, E. Maltby, A. Neuville, S. Polasky, R. Portela, I. Ring. 2010. Integrating the ecological and economic dimensions in biodiversity and ecosystem service valuation. In: TEEB Foundations: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Ecological and Economic Foundations. Edited by Pushpam Kumar. Earthscan, London and Washington, D.C. Pp. 9-40. Clewell, A.F., J. Aronson. 2006. Motivations for the Restoration of Ecosystems. Conservation Biology 20: 420-428. Aronson J., E. Le Floc'h. 1996. Vital landscape attributes: missing tools for restoration ecology. Restoration Ecology 4: 377-387. Aronson J., C. Floret, E. Le Floc'h, C. Ovalle, R. Pontanier. 1993. Restoration and rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems. I. A view from the South. Restoration Ecology 1: 8-17.
Books
L’Enfant, P., A. Gudefin, J. Aronson, P. Boissery, S. Fonbonne, G. Lecaillon. 2016. Ecological Restoration of Fish Nurseries in Shallow Coastal Areas of the Mediterranean Basin. Guidelines and Principles. CREM-IEEM Editions. Perpignan, France. Clewell, A. F., J. Aronson. 2013. Ecological Restoration: Principles, Values, and Structure of an Emerging Profession. 2^nd Edition. Island Press, Washington, D.C. Le Floc’h, E. & J. Aronson. 2013. Les Arbres des Déserts. Enjeux et promesses. Actes Sud, Arles. Van Andel, J., J. Aronson, Eds. 2012. Restoration Ecology: The New Frontier. 2^nd Ed. Blackwell, Oxford. Blondel, J., J. Aronson, J.-Y. Bodiou, G. Bœuf. 2010. The Mediterranean Basin - biological diversity in space and time. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Aronson, J., S.J. Milton, J. Blignaut, Eds. 2007. Restoring Natural Capital: Science, Business and Practice. Island Press, Washington, DC. Aronson, J.. 1989. HALOPH: Salt Tolerant Plants of the World a computerized global data base of halophytes with emphasis on their economic uses. University of Arizona Press: Tucson. (See also eHaloph).