Shaping the future of ecological restoration: Integrating predictability and adaptive insights

Introduction: Ecological restoration must move beyond fixed historical baselines to face the realities of climate change, biodiversity loss, and complex socioecological dynamics. Framework for restoration: We propose the Future-Based Approach (FaBRestor), a novel framework that reframes restoration as a forward-looking, adaptive process. FaBRestor integrates multitemporal lenses—past legacies, present conditions, and future projections to design interventions that are ecologically sound and socially inclusive, better coping with global change. This article outlines the framework’s core principles, including adaptive management, transdisciplinary collaboration, and the use of predictive tools, demonstrating how they are put together in a holistic and interconnected way. Implications for practice: FaBRestor provides essential strategic support for practitioners and decision-makers, offering forward-looking strategies to cope with global change and dynamic ecosystems. Its novelty lies in the systematic integration of emerging best practices into a single, coherent framework. While individual components may exist in the literature, they are rarely combined into an actionable strategy. FaBRestor provides interconnection among the elements, better equipping restoration efforts for an uncertain future by promoting more flexible, adaptive, and resilient outcomes.