Utilization of earthworms and termites for the restoration of ecosystem functioning

• Earthworms and termites are key organisms in soil functioning.
• They play a significant role in the regulation of ecosystem services.
• Their utilization for ecosystem restoration is neglected in comparison to plants.
• Direct methods to promote soil engineer activity are field inoculations.
• Indirect methods are the application of organic matter and vermicompost.
• More research is needed on the interactions between the functions and services influenced by soil engineers.

Soil engineers, such as earthworms and termites, are key organisms in soil functioning. They are involved in many ecological processes and play a central role in numerous ecosystem services. This review discusses the management of earthworm and termite activity for the restoration of ecosystems. We review methods to promote soil engineer activity either directly through field inoculation or stimulation or indirectly through the utilization of vermicompost. Examples of their use for the restoration of acid, compacted or crusted, polluted, and eroded soils are also discussed. Finally, we summarize the major obstacles hampering the utilization of soil engineer activity for the restoration of ecosystems, consider new research topics that need further development and highlight the need to consider the interactions between the functions and services influenced by soil engineers.