Resource Database

Adaptive Monitoring Based on Ecosystem Services

Monitoring consists of repetitive data collection to determine trends in parameters monitored. Unfortunately, too often monitoring consists of “fishing expeditions” where data collection is justified after the fact rather than being based on a priori technically defensible and testable hypotheses. Monitoring conducted following legal (e.g., regulatory) stipulations is not always useful. Ideally, monitoring should be conducted to determine the current status of the parameters monitored, their temporal and spatial trends (to assist in predicting future status), and the possible need for management actions. The most effective and productive scientific monitoring is adaptive, and is based on assessment endpoints that comprise ecosystem services, in other words, the benefits of Nature to human beings.

Afforestation for the Provision of Multiple Ecosystem Services: A Ukrainian Case Study

This paper analyses costs and benefits of planting trees on marginal lands across forestry zones in Ukraine with the purpose of using them for timber production, erosion prevention and climate change mitigation. The research reveals that establishment of new forests to increase timber production and alleviate soil erosion is economically and environmentally justified in some regions. Incorporating the effects of afforestation through on climate change mitigation increases social benefits.

An Assessment on Restoration of Typical Marine Ecosystems in China: Achievements and Lessons

In this paper, three cases in marine ecosystem restoration (i.e. mangrove restoration in Quanzhou bay, bay ecosystem restoration in Wuyuan Bay of Xiamen and eutrophic semi- enclosed bay restoration in Xiamen western waters) were evaluated. The results, together with the brief assessment of practices in other coastal areas, showed that the major barriers for success are: (i) more comprehensive insights into ecological, socio-economic, political factors are necessary for setting-up clear project objectives and targets; (ii) more attention should be paid to ecological functions in order to restore the ecosystem’s values and benefits; (iii) more scientific processes need to be conducted to evaluate the causes for ecosystem degradation and predict the probability for natural recovery; and (iv) degradation causes diagnosis, restoration technologies and methods, monitoring strategies and techniques, assessment and evaluation, adaptive management and results dissemination should be all emphasized during the restoration efforts.

Applied Nucleation as a Forest Restoration Strategy

We review one potential strategy, applied nucleation, which involves planting small patches of trees as focal areas for recovery. Once planted, these patches, or nuclei, attract dispersers and facilitate establishment of new woody recruits, expanding the forested area over time. Applied nucleation is an attractive option in that it mimics natural successional processes to aid woody plant recolonization. These studies suggest that the applied nucleation strategy has the potential to restore deforested habitats into heterogeneous canopies with a diverse community composition, while being cheaper than projects that rely on plantation designs.

Are All Intertidal Wetlands Naturally Created Equal? Bottlenecks, Thresholds and Knowledge Gaps to Mangrove and Saltmarsh Ecosystems

Intertidal wetlands such as saltmarshes and mangroves provide numerous important ecological functions, though they are in rapid and global decline. To better conserve and restore these wetland ecosystems, we need an understanding of the fundamental natural bottlenecks and thresholds to their establishment and long-term ecological maintenance. Despite inhabiting similar intertidal positions, the biological traits of these systems differ markedly in structure, phenology, life history, phylogeny and dispersal, suggesting large differences in biophysical interactions. By providing the first systematic comparison between saltmarshes and mangroves, we unravel how the interplay between species-specific life-history traits, biophysical interactions and biogeomorphological feedback processes determine where, when and what wetland can establish, the thresholds to long-term ecosystem stability, and constraints to genetic connectivity between intertidal wetland populations at the landscape level. To understand these process interactions, research into the constraints to wetland development, and biological adaptations to overcome these critical bottlenecks and thresholds requires a truly interdisciplinary approach.

Improving ecoystem functionality and livelihood: experiences in forest landscape restoration and management

This paper examines how interventions intended to improve functionality and productivity of forested landscapes to improve livelihoods of the poorest populations, might actually yield co-benefits in terms of biodiversity conservation. It argues in favour of a ëlandscapeí approach to achieve these co-benefits. Using case study examples from eight landscapes involved in Livelihoods and Landscapes Strategy (LLS) ñ Doe Mae Salong, Thailand; Sablogo forest, Burkina Faso; Kelka forest, Mali; Mount Elgon, Uganda; Tacaná, Guatemala; Mayun, China; Lao PDR; and Lachua, Guatemala ñ it presents evidence for the benefits of landscape approaches to forest restoration.

Investing in our ecological infrastructure

A new economic approach that prioritizes investment in our ecological infrastructure is gaining increasing attention, giving real substance to that often vague and misleading phrase, the “Green Economy”. A critical first step is the development of legislative and regulatory frameworks as well as innovative governance mechanisms and other incentives to protect and restore our natural capital. This new approach to investment must also consider appropriate scale and time horizons so that the values of, and trade-offs between, ecosystem services are used wisely to inform decision-making in both the public and private sectors.

Nature resilience: organising ecological restoration by partners in business for next generations

The essence of sustainability is about reconnecting man’s relationship to nature. This paper proposes the creation of a practical international mechanism for creating collaborative partnerships between stakeholders such as scientists, NGOs, foundations, local authorities, and the business community. The proposed mechanism Nature Resilience would initiate and organise tailor-made ecological restoration partnerships between companies and stakeholder groups, wherein the explicit goal would be the restoration of millions of hectares of ecosystems in cooperation with local people, farmers and NGOs, in a way that conforms to international established guidelines.

Our Life Insurance, Our Natural Capital: An EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

This strategy is aimed at reversing biodiversity loss and speeding up the EU’s transition towards a resource efficient and green economy. It is an integral part of the Europe 2020 Strategy, and in particular the resource efficient Europe flagship initiative.

Puget Sound: Washington State’s Best Investment

A 21st Century Washington State approach to economic development recognizes that long- term job creation and environmental restoration and investment must go hand-in-hand. When management of flood protection, fish and wildlife habitat, wastewater, drinking water, and other important natural and human functions are treated as whole systems at the scale of their physical boundaries, we gain dramatic improvements in economic efficiency. Healthy ecosystems provide raw materials and core infrastructure functions that simultaneously provide profound and direct positive benefits to Washington’s economy.

Ramsar Convention Principles and Guidelines for Wetland Restoration

The principles presented here provide the underlying ideas that form the foundation of a successful restoration project, and as such they should be integrated into national wetland policy. The guidelines presented here provide a step-by-step process guiding the identification, development and implementation of a restoration project, and as such they can be integrated into administrative guidelines. However, every restoration project is unique, and whilst these principles and guidelines are designed to be useful in many situations, they are neither universally applicable nor definitive.

The global strategy for plant conservation: 2011-2020

This brochure is a resource for those working in plant conservation, in particular to support awareness raising amongst conservation practitioners, policy makers, funding agencies and those who can help strengthen plant conservation capacity and efforts at all levels.

Ecosystem Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction

Recognizing the benefits of the new epoch of 2nd paradigm shift in disaster management, that is ‘ecosystem approach to disaster risk reduction (Ecodrr)’ offers the benefits of community based approach as well due to its emphasis on livelihood, health and food security within the framework of vulnerability reduction. The suggested planning framework at district level, to have an integrated district plan, opens avenue for a much awaited ‘environmental action plan’ mandate at state, district and local levels. This shall help facilitate the DRR infusion with sustainable development agenda in much acceptable sense – in the governance as well as in community actions. It aims at reducing externality in dependence, improving self-reliance and local strengths for disaster mitigation and preparedness.

Integrated conservation of tree species by botanic gardens: a reference manual

The authors bring together pertinent thinking about plant conservation and apply it to the special considerations associated with tree conservation. They present step-by-step guidelines that can be used in launching conservation work with trees.

Lessons Learnt from WWF’s Worldwide Field Initiatives Aiming at Restoring Forest Landscapes

WWF France commissioned this review with the specific intent to: 1) Extract lessons learnt to date, particularly in the last 5-6 year period, from WWF’s work on the restoration of forest landscapes, and 2) Inform future restoration work, both within the WWF Network and beyond. A desk review, interviews and questionnaires all contributed to the production of this report. The ten sites selected and highlighted in this report were chosen based on prior knowledge of the programme. Furthermore, six of these ten ecoregions are biodiversity hotspots as per the commonly agreed definition (rating levels of endemism and extent of threat). These sites by no means cover all of WWF’s efforts on the restoration of forests in landscapes.

Manual de Restauración Ecológica Campesina para la Selva Lacandona

Manual for mangrove monitoring in the Pacific Islands Region

This monitoring protocol adapts internationally accepted mangrove monitoring methods (English et al., 1997) to Pacific Island settings, with three levels of intensity of monitoring. The methods will generate baseline survey data that can be used to monitor changes and make comparisons across mangrove areas in the wider Pacific.

Restore-Adapt-Mitigate: Responding to Climate Change through Coastal Habitat Restoration

The purpose of this report is to educate habitat restoration professionals, policy makers, and the public on the impacts climate change will have on coastal habitats and the possible role habitat restoration could play in mitigating those impacts. This is the first report that clearly demonstrates the opportunity to link the interconnectedness between coastal habitat restoration and adaptation and mitigation strategies related to reducing climate change impacts. They are not exclusive of each other, and if designed and managed correctly, can share mutual benefits. Much of this report is focused on policies and programs based in the United States, but many of the concepts, ideas and recommendations translate easily to other locales.

Transitioning to a Restoration Economy: A Case Study of Oregon’s Forestry Sector

This case study is from a collection of four case studies of wealth creation and rural-urban linkages (Dabson, Jensen et al, 2012). These are part of a broader effort supported by the Ford Foundation, known as the Wealth Creation in Rural Communities initiative. The primary purpose of these case studies is to stimulate learning, discussion and further inquiry about the application of the rural wealth creation framework. The cases were selected to illustrate different facets of this framework in action, and to further clarify the ways in which the framework could prove to be instrumental in achieving sustainable economic prosperity for rural people and places. The subjects of each of these cases represent decades of dedication and hard work by many people and organizations often in extremely challenging economic, social, and political contexts.

Finding the money for tropical forest restoration

This article discusses the economic dimension of ecological restoration, drawing on experiences in the Brazilian Atlantic forest, which is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet
and also one of the richest in endemism.

Grassland Restoration to Conserve Landscape-level Biodiversity: A Synthesis of Early Results from a Large-Scale Project

Grassland restoration was generally successful in accelerating secondary succession towards alkali steppes and loess grasslands. However, further management is necessary to counter the homogenizing effects of litter accumulation, to reduce perennial weeds and to enhance the colonization of target species. Our project provides useful practical insights into grassland restoration and in applying restoration at a number of sites within a larger area to conserve biodiversity at the landscape scale.

Inoculation with a Native Soil Community Advances Succession in a Grassland Restoration

Restoration on post-agricultural land may be hindered by the degradation of the soil community, which has been shown to contribute to structuring plant communities and driving succession. Our experiment tested the effect of inoculation with remnant grassland whole soil with or without nurse plants on the survival and growth of uninoculated early and late successional plant species. In 2007 and 2008, we planted uninoculated early, mid, and late successional plant species 0.25–2 m away from a central point of inoculated nurse plants. We found a negative response to inoculation on early successional plants and a positive response to inoculation on mid to late successional plants. This work suggests that the restoration of the soil community is critical to establishing a late successional plant community and that the benefit of inoculated plants can spread to neighbors.

Integrating Ecology and Economics for Restoration: Using Ecological Indicators in Valuation of Ecosystem Services

Because it can uniquely furnish insights into nonuse values for ecosystem services, survey- based Stated Preference (SP) valuation is widely used to estimate the benefits of ecological restoration. SP surveys ask respondents to select among restoration options yielding different ecological outcomes. This review examines the representation of ecological outcomes in SP studies seeking to quantify values for restoration of aquatic ecosystems. To promote the validity of ecological indicators used in SP valuation, we identified four standards: indicators should be measurable, interpretable, applicable, and comprehensive. We reviewed recent SP studies estimating the value of aquatic ecosystem services to assess whether ecological indicators in current use had these desirable properties.

Interpopulation Variation in Allelopathic Traits Informs Restoration of Invaded Landscapes

Invasive species can show substantial genetic variation in ecologically important traits, across ranges as well within the introduced range. If these traits affect competition with native species, then management may benefit from considering the genetic landscape of the invader. These results suggest that the impact of this invader varies across landscapes and that knowledge of this variation could improve the efficacy and efficiency of restoration activities.

Long-term Experimental Restoration in a Calcareous Grassland: Identifying the Most Effective Restoration Strategies

Calcareous grasslands are among the most diverse habitats, supporting species-rich vegetation. Propagule limitation and availability of microsites for germination represent major constraints to the successful restoration of these grasslands. To date, little information is available on the effectiveness of seed addition and soil disturbance on the restoration success of encroached semi-natural calcareous grasslands. Here, we conducted a 1 year before – 9 year after control- impact (BACI) study aimed at testing the effect of the addition of seeds of native species and livestock grazing on calcareous grasslands. Each restoration measure and their combination differed in their impact on these communities and varied over time. Grazing had a significant, beneficial, impact on these communities, although the impact was species-specific.

Managing Floodplain-Forest Restoration in European River Landscapes Combining Ecological and Flood-protection Issues

We developed an interdisciplinary approach for floodplain-forest restoration identifying sites suitable for reforestations from both an ecological and hydraulic point of view. In the ecological module, habitat-distribution models are developed providing information on ecologically suitable sites. The approach reported here provides a solution for a severe conflict in river-basin management that hampers the reestablishment of the strongly threatened floodplain forests in Europe. Alternative measures to enhance floodplain-forest regeneration feasible under certain preconditions are discussed in the context of the current state of European large rivers.

Mapping Restoration Opportunity for Collaborating with Land Managers in a Carbon Credit- Funded Restoration Program in the Makana Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Spatial prioritization techniques are commonly used in conservation planning, but are relatively new for planning restoration programs. Typically, ecological data, and more recently data on economic costs and vulnerability of sites, are used. However, the effectiveness of restoration action ultimately relies on a combination of the appropriate ecological restoration techniques and the human and social dynamics of social-ecological systems. Surveys were conducted with 29 land managers within the Makana Municipality of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, to identify a range of human and social factors hypothesized to define the potential effectiveness of restoration action. Identifying and incorporating human and social factors that directly influence restoration prioritization should promote efficient and effective implementation of restoration actions by the Working for Woodlands programme, who are looking to funding landscape-scale restoration through carbon trading.

Mechanical Site Preparation for Forest Restoration

In this article, we synthesize the current state-of-knowledge concerning mechanical site preparation for improved tree establishment when carried out in different forest restoration situations, point out critical research gaps and provide some recommendations for future directions. Mechanical site preparation often results in improved seedling survival and growth. However, if not intensive methods with much soil disturbance are used, it is a rather ineffective tool for controlling competing vegetation. Methods such as scarification, mounding and subsoiling also lead to multiple interactions among soil physical and chemical properties that affect plant survival and growth, and it may be difficult to determine the actual cause–effect relationship of any positive seedling responses. Several management objectives such as soil protection and increased biodiversity are many times relevant during forest restoration, and mechanical site preparation methods should be implemented carefully because they can have large impacts on the environment.

Multiple Environmental Services as an Opportunity for Watershed Restoration

This paper highlights the value of bundling payments for environmental services (PES) from watershed restoration, including water quality improvement and carbon sequestration coupled with wood production, and compares the net returns with the existing agricultural land-use, using as an example the 408 000 ha Warren–Tone watershed (WT) in south-western Australia. Payments for activities that lead to improvements in water quality could represent a new, additional source of income for landholders on the proviso that there is sufficient reforestation to reach the potable threshold. Alternatively, costs could be imposed on those whose land-use practices cause the release of salt into waterways.

Multiscale Patterns of Riparian Plant Diversity and Implications for Restoration

To inform restoration planning, we examined the biogeographic patterns of riparian plant diversity at local and regional scales within a major western U.S.A. drainage, California’s Sacramento—San Joaquin Valley. We analyzed patterns of species richness and complementarity (_-diversity) across two scales: the watershed scale and the floodplain scale. At the watershed scale, spatial patterns of native riparian richness were driven by herbaceous species, whereas woody species were largely cosmopolitan across the nearly 38,000 km2 study area. At the floodplain scale, riparian floras reflected species richness and dissimilarity patterns related to hydrological and disturbance-driven successional sequences. These findings reinforce the importance of concurrently evaluating both local and regional processes that promote species diversity and distribution of native riparian flora. Furthermore, as restoration activities become more prevalent across the landscape, strategies for restoration outcomes should emulate the patterns of species diversity and biogeographic distributions found at regional scales.