Resource Database

Restoration of riparian areas following the removal of cattle in the northwestern Great Basin

This study assessed the effects of the elimination of livestock in riparian systems at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in southeastern Oregon, 23 years after the removal of cattle grazing, using 64 photos taken before grazing was removed compared with later retake photos.

Restoring forests: What constitutes success in the twenty-first century?

Forest loss and degradation is occurring at high rates but humankind is
experiencing historical momentum that favors forest restoration. Approaches to restoration
may follow various paradigms depending on stakeholder objectives, regional climate, or
the degree of site degradation. The vast amount of land requiring restoration implies the
need for spatial prioritization of restoration efforts according to cost-benefit analyses that
include ecological risks.

Effective strategies for the reclamation of large mines

This paper describes the methods employed in establishing natural processes on drastically disturbed sites. Examples from Western Canada are used to illustrate specific points and results.

Ecological restoration, Ecosystems Services and Land Use

This special feature provides an overview on how the ecosystem service concept has been and can be incorporated into
the science, practice, and policies of ecological restoration (ER) and evidence-based land-use. It includes an edited selection of eleven
invited and peer-reviewed papers based on presentations given during the 9th European Conference on Ecological Restoration in 2014.
The focus is on Europe, but many contributors also make appraisals and recommendations at the global scale.

Forest and Landscape Restoration

Forest and landscape restoration is a key issue in the ongoing discussions at the Paris Climate Change Conference, convened to broker a game-changing agreement on climate change. On a planet where the mark of human activity is almost ubiquitous, restoration is by necessity a concept that has to take into account human well-being and ongoing change. In addition, in order to succeed in the long term, forest and landscape restoration initiatives will need to successfully engage a range of stakeholders, from policy-makers to local communities and from governments to private actors. This issue of Unasylva maps out some of the progress that has already been made, and the challenges that lie ahead.

Forest and Landscape Restoration Issue

This issue of Unasylva maps out some of the progress that has already been made in forest landscape restoration , and the challenges that lie ahead. Articles cover a wide range of regions and concepts important to forest landscape restoration.

Governing forest restoration: Social, environmental and institutional dimensions

This is a special issue containing articles on current challenges and perspectives for governing forest restoration.

A critique of the ‘novel ecosystem’ concept

The ‘novel ecosystem’ concept has captured the attention of scientists, managers and science journalists, and more recently of policymakers, before it has been subjected to the scrutiny and empirical validation inherent to science. Lack of rigorous scrutiny can lead to undesirable outcomes in ecosystem management, environmental law and policy. Contrary to the contentions of its proponents, no explicit, irreversible ecological thresholds allow distinctions between ‘novel ecosystems’ and ‘hybrid’ or ‘historic’ ones.

Current challenges and perspectives for governing forest restoration

Negotiation, reconciliation of multiple scales through both ecological and social dimensions and minimization of power imbalances are considered critical challenges to overcome for effective governance of forest restoration. Finding the right mix of “command and control” in forest restoration vs. “environmental governance”, which includes non-state actors, regulatory flexibility, and market based instruments is at the heart of these challenges.

Demographic outcomes and ecosystem implications of giant tortoise reintroduction to Espanola Island, Galapagos

Restoration of extirpated species via captive breeding has typically relied on population viability as the primary criterion for evaluating success. This criterion is inadequate when species reintroduction is undertaken to restore ecological functions and interactions. Herein we report on the demographic and ecological outcomes of a five-decade-long population restoration program for a critically endangered species of ‘‘ecosystem engineer’’: the endemic Espan _ola giant Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis hoodensis).

Do PES improve the governance of forest restoration?

Payments for Environmental Services (PES) are praised as innovative policy instruments and they influence the governance of forest restoration efforts in two major ways. The first is the establishment of multi-stakeholder agencies as intermediary bodies between funders and planters to manage the funds and to distribute incentives to planters. The second implication is that specific contracts assign objectives to land users in the form of conditions for payments that are believed to increase the chances for sustained impacts on the ground.

Leveraging public programmes with socio-economic and development objectives to support conservation and restoration of ecosystems: lessons learned from the Republic of Korea’s National Reforestation Programme

This case study first examines the drivers of forest
degradation within the historical, economic,
social, and administrative contexts of the ROK. It
then describes the background, methodology,
and implementation processes which led to the
success of the National Reforestation Programme
in the ROK. An analysis of the key factors which
contributed to this success story may be useful
to other nations with similar objectives, who can
learn from the Korean model and adapt it to their
own needs.

The state of the world’s forest genetic resources – Genetic considerations in ecosystem restoration using native tree species

This report reviews the evidence that genetic diversity plays a critical role in seedling survival and adaptation of forests to environmental change and discusses the advantage of using native tree species over exotic species for meeting conservation and sustainable development goals. The report provides fundamental information for the achievement of knowledge-based ecosystem restoration using native tree species. It draws attention to the importance of embedding genetic considerations in restoration activities, an aspect which is often overlooked both by restoration scientists and practitioners.

Relevance for the Short Term Action Plan for Ecosystem Restoration:
This resource is particularly relevant for the implementation of Activity C1, under which appropriate measures for conducting ecosystem restoration should be identified taking into account ecological appropriateness and the use of native species.

Recovery strategies for industrial development in native prairie in the Mixedgrass natural subregion of Alberta

Alberta’s Grassland Natural Region is significantly modified by land use practices.  The soils and climate of the Mixedgrass Natural Sub-region (MG) promote the spread of invasive plants when soil is disturbed. Minimizing soil disturbance and natural recovery are often the most effective strategies for restoring MG plant communities. This document identifies strategies designed to retain and restore native plant communities following industrial disturbance in the MG.

This manual describes tools for planning native grassland retention and restoration, including pre-disturbance planning and recovery strategies, such as minimal disturbance, buffers, natural recovery and native seed mix design. Implementing a strategy is explained including site preparation, soil amendments and procuring native seed, then maintaining the pathway using invasive plant and grazing management, and long-term monitoring. Appendices include a summary of regional reclamation studies and suitable seed mixes to develop target plant communities for ecological range sites common in the MG.

The Ecological Restoration Alliance of Botanic Gardens: A new initiative takes root

An international consortium of botanic gardens and arboreta is launching a collaborative Ecological Restora- tion Alliance under the auspices of BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International). We describe the Alliance and the ways in which it serves worldwide restoration efforts.

The economics of restoration: looking back and leaping forward

In many countries, new legislation now requires some form of restoration and/or a form of offset investment. All of this will require major increases in financial allocations toward restoration science, technology, and implementation, and much more detailed valuation techniques. The economics of restoration is a new field emerging to support these needs. Our paper here starts with an analysis of the articles and reviews published on this broad subject from 1928 to 2012, as captured in the Scopus academic search platform. Our goal is to present and summarize what has been said and done in this area to date. Next, we map out one possible way forward, illustrated by examples and based on a coherent bundle of decision parameters related to the economics of ER and, more broadly, to the restoration of natural capital.

The historical reference in restoration ecology: Re-defining a cornerstone concept

Ecological restoration aims to revitalize ecosystem integrity and functionality following severe damage or degradation. Often, however, efforts are hampered by an incomplete or flawed concept of historical ‘reference’ used when choosing or constructing a target ecosystem or landscape to restore ‘to’. While strongly confirming the importance of the reference concept in restoration ecology, we argue for the need to refine it, and to broaden the ways it can be conceived, developed, and applied. We use case studies from Spain and Peru to illustrate how this approach can provide better goalposts and benchmarks, and therefore better guide the planning, implementation, and evaluation of effective restoration projects.

What is the impact of active management on biodiversity in forests set aside for conservation or restoration? A systematic review protocol

The review will examine primary field studies of how various forms of active management have affected biodiversity in boreal or temperate forests set aside for conservation or restoration. 

A guide to the Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM) : Assessing forest landscape restoration opportunities at the national or sub-national level : working paper

This handbook presents the Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM), which provides a flexible and affordable framework for countries to rapidly identify and analyse FLR potential and locate special areas of opportunity at a national or sub-national level. The handbook offers practical advice and options to bear in mind when considering or conducting an FLR assessment using ROAM, as well as real-life examples of the kinds of outputs you can expect, and will enable you to commission or design a tailor-made process to meet your specific needs.

Relevance for the Short Term Action Plan for Ecosystem Restoration:
One important component of the application of the ROAM is the mapping of areas of potential for restoration. This is typically done through GIS analysis of relevant datasets, including datasets on levels of degradation (in accordance with activity A1). Drawing on further map datasets and expert knowledge, opportunity areas can then be categorized, for instance by general type of restoration (wide- scale, mosaic, protective) or by priority (high, medium, low), in accordance with activity A2. It also describes some of the concepts and basic steps required for the modelling of costs and benefits of restoration (A4) The methodology also describes how to engage stakeholders throughout the assessment process, in line with activity A3 and provides examples of criteria and indicators for the assessment of the legal, institutional, policy context, in line with activity A5. In 2018, IUCN released the Biodiversity Guidelines for Restoration Opportunities Assessments, which provide more context, more resources, and fresh perspectives relevant to the ongoing global interaction between forest landscape restoration and national biodiversity target, making it particularly relevant in the implementation of activity A2. While most relevant for group of activities A, the methodology can also assist in the implementation of further steps such as the development of plans for resources mobilization (B9) and the identification of appropriate measures for ecosystem restoration (C1).

Boreal Peatland LIFE: Restoring Boreal Peatlands in Natura 2000 Areas in Finland

The largest LIFE Nature project in Finland started in January 2010. The project led by the Natural Heritage Services of Metsa_hallitus aims at restoring nearly 4,300 hectares of various kind of peatlands. This five year project includes 54 Natura 2000 sites around Finland. The main aim of the project is to restore the natural hydrology of the mires by filling in and blocking the ditches and by clearing trees to recreate the landscape as it was prior to the ditching.

Landscape Conservation Design: A Landscape Vision to Guide Restoration and Conservation: IERQC Webinar

Topic: Landscape Conservation Design: A landscape vision to guide restoration and conservation

Presenter: Brad Potter, Upper Midwest & Great Lakes LCC

Lessons Learned in Restoring Lake Ontario Coastal Wetlands through Habitat Creation: IERQC Webinar:

Topic: Lessons Learned in Restoring Lake Ontario Coastal Wetlands through Habitat Creation

Presenter: Greg Sargis and Stevie Adams, The Nature Conservancy, and Sarah Fleming, Ducks Unlimited

Adaptive Management On the Ground in the National Wildlife Refuge System: What We’ve Learned: IERQC Webinar

Topic: Adaptive Management On the Ground in the National Wildlife Refuge System: What We’ve Learned

Presenters: Melinda Knutson, Cami Dixon, Sara Vacek, Vicky Hunt, and Pat Heglund, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge System

Cost Effective Monitoring of Fish Passage Following Dam Removal: IERQC Webinar

Topic: Cost Effective Monitoring of Fish Passage Following Dam Removal

Presenter: Marty Boote, Greg Gaulke, and John O’Meara

Navigating Change in a Long-Term Monitoring Program: IERQC Webinar

Topic: Navigating Change in a Long-Term Monitoring Program

Presenter: Landon, Amos, Schofield, Murphy, and Blume, CSC and USEPA

eDNA Surveillance for Asian Carp and the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) IERQC Webinar

Topic: eDNA Surveillance for Asian Carp and the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)

Presenter: Emmy Monroe, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Using Monitoring Data to Guide Management Decisions at Spring Peeper Meadow Wetland Restoration: IERQC Webinar

Topic:  Using Monitoring Data to Guide Management Decisions at Spring Peeper Meadow Wetland Restoration

Presenters:  Julia L Bohnen and Susan M. Galatowitsch, University of Minnesota

A Brief Overview of the Data Collection Quality Assurance System: IERQC Webinar

Topic: A Brief Overview of the Data Collection Quality Assurance System

Presenter: Jason Morrison, US Forest Service

Fish Passage Barriers and their Removal: IERQC Webinar

Topic: Fish passage barriers and their removal
Presenter:  Steve Lanigan

Northeast Illinois Ravine Restoration, Monitoring, Rapid Assessments: IERQC Webinar

Topic: Northeast Illinois Ravine Restoration, Monitoring, Rapid Assessments

Presenter: Angela Larson, Alliance for the Great Lakes