The meaning of ecological restoration in Argentina: an analysis of the discourse of its third National Network meeting

Introduction Ecological restoration offers an opportunity to reverse environmental degradation and social decline. However, society may have different interpretations of its objectives. Some may consider it, for example, a humanistic and holistic project that seeks new relationships between culture and nature, while others may view it as a technology and business opportunity, or even as a new conservation strategy based on trophic web management. Discourse analysis can provide insight into how ecological restoration is conceived. Objectives This study aimed to describe the composition of attendees, analyze the contents of keynote speaker presentations and work sessions, and describe the most frequently used words in oral and poster presentations at the events scheduled for the third Argentine Ecological Restoration Network meeting in 2023. Methods Participation was evaluated using data provided by the organizers, including registration information, recordings of keynote speeches, and conference proceedings. These source data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti , automated procedures of generative artificial intelligence, and text mining techniques. Results A total of 400 participants represented 19 of Argentina's 23 provinces. Fifty‐two percent of them came from academia, while the remainder came from Non‐Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the private sector, government agencies, educational institutions, and protected areas. Keynote speeches demonstrated concern from the organizers about the inclusion of philosophical, social, and humanistic topics. The relationship between society and nature, as well as restoration‐based education, was expressed in a ratio almost 10 times lower than that of practical and ecological issues. Economic and rewilding references were scarce.