Plan N + : An incremental and adaptive Restoration–Regeneration–Management framework for abandoned island quarries

The regeneration of abandoned quarries is a comprehensive challenge involving eco-technical remediation, cultural reinterpretation, and functional transformation. However, the conventional “restoration first, reuse later” model remains basically static and provides limited capacity to address post-completion problems, including ecological regression, operational discontinuity, and governance absence. These limitations call for a more integrated approach that connects restoration, spatial regeneration, and ongoing governance within a continuous process. To address these limitations, this study proposes a “Restoration–Regeneration–Management” (RRM) framework that reconceptualizes quarry regeneration as a continuous, adaptive process rather than a sequential model of restoration and reuse. By conducting a diachronic analysis of quarry regeneration practices with a case-based application at Getou Quarry in Dongtou (Wenzhou, China), the RRM framework is operationalized through Plan N + , an incremental design approach that coordinates ecological restoration, spatial reuse and long-term management through phased and low-intervention actions. Plan N + comprises three interdependent strategies: (1) establishing a resilient spatial framework that accommodates environmental change by distinguishing relatively stable structures from adjustable intervention spaces according to quarry topography and natural forces; (2) activating the landscape incrementally through phased, low-intervention pilot projects that coordinate ecological restoration, spatial reuse, and community participation; and (3) developing adaptive landscape stewardship and regional synergy through monitoring and multi-stakeholder collaboration, embedding the regeneration process into regional economic-ecological networks. These three strategies replace fixed project phasing with a condition-based process in which interventions may expand, change, pause, or be withdrawn as new evidence emerges. The approach is particularly relevant to insular territories where climate exposure, resource constraints and community dependence on vulnerable ecosystems increase the need for adaptive and self-sustaining regeneration. The study contributes a process-oriented framework that extends quarry regeneration beyond physical remediation and one-time design toward continuous regenerative adaptation, spatial activation and adaptive management. Rather than presenting Plan N + as a proven, universal model, it provides a case-informed analysis and design reference for further testing in dynamic and resource-constrained quarry contexts.