npj Urban Sustainability

Artificial intelligence for urban ecosystem restoration: reshaping social–ecological–technological interactions

2026-08-10

Ecosystem functioning enabled by urban ecosystem restoration (UER) contributes to sustainable cities. We examine how artificial intelligence (AI) supports integrated UER approaches by linking monitoring, simulation, and participatory processes within a social–ecological–technological systems framework, forming an AI-integrated UER feedback cycle. AI can contribute to social-ecological monitoring, multisource data integration, landscape simulation, citizen understanding, co-design, and adaptive management in UER under expert oversight and with attention to associated risks.

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DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-026-00453-7