Data from: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative human wellbeing survey

This dataset represents a comprehensive exploration of ecosystem
restoration practices and their impacts on both ecological and human
wellbeing indicators. Traditionally, ecosystem restoration efforts have
focused on ecological benchmarks such as water and habitat quality,
species abundance, and vegetation cover. However, there is an increasing
recognition of the interplay between restoration and human communities,
evidenced by positive socio-ecological connections like property value,
natural hazard mitigation, recreation opportunities, and overall
happiness. With the United Nations declaring 2021-2030 as the "Decade
of Ecosystem Restoration" and a push for more socio-ecological goals
in restoration, this dataset delves into the degree to which restoration
practitioners consider human wellbeing. It is based on a case study of the
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a federally funded program that
has awarded over $3.5 billion to 5,300 projects. A total of 1,574 GLRI
projects were surveyed, with 437 responses received, revealing that almost
half of these projects set human wellbeing goals, and more than 70%
believed they achieved them. In comparison, 90% of project managers
believed they met their ecological goals. This dataset highlights the
documented perceptions of positive impacts on both people and nature,
suggesting that restoration efforts often go beyond traditional
indicators. As such, it advocates for the adoption of a socio-ecological
perspective in ecosystem restoration programs to comprehensively document
the full extent of restoration outcomes. The data collection process
included a survey methodology, and the dataset provides insights into
project design, implementation, and success measurements. The data was
collected between November 2020 and March 2021, with a maximum of three
contact attempts for each project. It offers a unique perspective on the
relationship between ecosystem restoration and human wellbeing,
emphasizing the importance of capturing the often "unseen"
benefits of these projects.