©Danilo Lima, Agripalm Ambiental
The RRC database contains a wide variety of resources and publications related to ecological restoration, and we are actively working to expand this collection. It is our aim to serve as the principal clearinghouse for information and tools to support the work of researchers, practitioners, land managers, educators, students, and anyone else interested in restoration. Use the filter tool below to search the database by title, author, resource type, keyword, or any combination of these factors.
Although SER does review all entries in the database for relevance and quality, these resources have not been rigorously reviewed or extensively vetted in every case, and SER therefore makes no claim as to their accuracy or accordance with generally accepted principles in the field. The database is provided as a resource for visitors to the SER website, and it is ultimately left to the individual user to make their own determinations about the quality and veracity of a given publication or resource.
If there is a resource we missed, please let us know! We are interested in current books, articles, technical documents, videos, and other resources that are directly relevant to ecological restoration science, practice or policy, as well as resources treating the social, cultural and economic dimensions of restoration.
Biodiversity and Conservation of Tropical Peat Swamp Forests
Abstract:Tropical peat swamp forest is a unique ecosystem that is most extensive in Southeast Asia, where it is under enormous threat from logging, fire, and land conversion. Recent research has shown this ecosystem’s significance as a global carbon store, but its value for biodiversity remains poorly understood. We review the current status and biological knowledge of tropical peat swamp forests, as well as the impacts of human disturbances. We demonstrate that these forests have distinct floral compositions, provide habitat for a considerable proportion of the region’s fauna, and are important for the conservation of threatened taxa, particularly specialized freshwater fishes. However, we estimate that only 36% of the historical peat swamp forest area remains, with only 9% currently in designated protected areas. Given that peat swamp forests are more vulnerable to synergies between human disturbances than other forest ecosystems, their protection and restoration are conservation priorities that require urgent action.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Biogeography and Environmental Restoration: An Opportunity in Applied Research
Abstract:Environmental restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. This is a broadly defined endeavor, where directed manipulation of the environment, the effects of anthropogenic disturbance, and processes interconnecting communities, species, and populations with each other and their physical environment fall within the conceptual boundaries. Restoration requires a broad perspective and range of expertise, and biogeographers provide the interdisciplinary background inherent to geographic training that squarely situates us to make significant contributions. The avenues for involvement include pre- and post-restoration monitoring, reference-site selection, data collection and analysis for sound project planning, development and testing of foundational theory, social perceptions and public involvement, and others. This article illustrates the areas where biogeographers from the ecological biogeography, historical biogeography, and cultural biogeography sub-fields can apply their expertise for the benefit of restoration science, student training, and research application and funding.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Bioremediation of Mangroves Impacted by Petroleum
Abstract:This review will present the state of the art of bioremediation in oil-contaminated mangroves, new data about the use of different mangrove microcosms with and without tide simulation, the main factors that influence the success of bioremediation in mangroves and new prospects for the use of molecular tools to monitor the bioremediation process. We believe that in some environments, such as mangroves, bioremediation may be the most appropriate approach for cleanup. Because of the peculiarities and heterogeneity of these environments, which hinder the use of other physical and chemical analyses, we suggest that measuring plant recuperation should be considered with reduction in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This is a crucial discussion because these key marine environments are threatened with worldwide disappearance. We highlight the need for and suggest new ways to conserve, protect and restore these environments.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Bridging the Marine–Terrestrial Disconnect to Improve Marine Coastal Zone Science and Management
Abstract:Management efforts have been hampered by disconnects both between management and scientific research and across linked marine–terrestrial systems. Management jurisdictions often start or end at the shoreline, and multiple agencies at different levels of government often have overlapping or conflicting management goals or priorities, or suffer from a lack of knowledge or interest. Scientists also often fail to consider connections among linked marine– terrestrial systems, and communication among agencies, among scientists in different disciplines, and between scientists and managers is often inadequate. However, despite the institutional and scientific challenges inherent in improving coastal zone management, there are examples of increased coordination and cooperation among different organizations. We discuss a number of examples— including where the marine–terrestrial and science– management disconnects persist and where better integration has led to successes in coastal zone management—and provide recommendations to scientists and managers on how to better link their efforts in science and management across marine and terrestrial systems.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Comparisons of Mayan Forest Management, Restoration, and Conservation
Abstract:Mayan agroforestry systems in geographically and ecologically distinct areas of Mesoamerica were evaluated to better understand traditional agroforestry system components and how indigenous Mayan agroforestry could be a part of regional forest conservation and restoration. Systems were within Mexican land grant areas (ejidos) or on contested land. Although these systems rely upon different woody species and management techniques, common among them are: (1) the use of multi-stage and successional pathways with forest as a part of the larger system, (2) species that are believed by traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to accelerate forest regeneration – more than 30 tree species are recognized and managed as potential facilitators of forest regeneration and (3) direct human consumption of forest products at all stages of regeneration.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Conjugate Ecological Restoration Approach with a Case Study in Mentougou District, Beijing
Abstract:Ecological restoration is a comprehensive engineering field that involves multidisciplinary and multisectoral efforts. More and more research works have been focused on ecological restoration since the 1980s. However, until now, most studies pay attention mainly on ecological technology, ecological policy, restoration of some certain ecosystem, and so on. There are few studies regarding the restoration plan of regional or the entire ecosystem. The objects of present research studies are mainly natural ecosystem; however, ecosystem is a complex system that encompasses natural, economic, and social sectors. Human society has great intimidation on nature, and if the degenerate social and economical systems do not get restored, the vicious cycle of degeneration will continue and the effects of natural ecosystem restoration cannot possibly be guaranteed.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Creating a Catchment Scale Perspective for River Restoration
Abstract:One of the major challenges in river restoration is to identify the natural fluvial landscape in catchments with a long history of river control. Intensive land use on valley floors often predates the earliest remote sensing: levees, dikes, dams, and other structures alter valley-floor morphology, river channels and flow regimes. Consequently, morphological patterns indicative of the fluvial landscape including multiple channels, extensive floodplains, wetlands, and fluvial- riparian and tributary-confluence dynamics can be obscured, and information to develop appropriate and cost effective river restoration strategies can be unavailable. This is the case in the Pas River catchment in northern Spain (650 km2), in which land use and development have obscured the natural fluvial landscape in many parts of the basin.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Determining Appropriate Goals for Restoration of Imperilled Communities and Species
Abstract:In this review, we draw on our experiences working with land-managers to restore native ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest (USA) to discuss some of the challenges in using pre- settlement conditions as a restoration target. We suggest that rather than focusing on historic benchmarks, restoration goals should be based on ecological principles that will lead to resilient, functioning ecosystems. We provide real-world examples for how scientists and managers can work together to define and test appropriate and effective restoration methods and targets.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Direct Seeding of Late-Successional Trees to Restore Tropical Montane Forest
Abstract:Natural regeneration of large-seeded, late-successional trees in fragmented tropical landscapes can be strongly limited by a lack of seed dispersal resulting in the need for more intensive restoration approaches, such as enrichment planting, to include these species in future forests. Direct seeding may be an alternative low-cost approach to planting nursery-raised tree seedlings, but there is minimal information on its efficacy or when in the successional process this technique will be most successful. We tested directly seeding five native tree species into habitats representing passive and active restoration approaches: (1) recently abandoned pasture; (2) naturally establishing, young secondary forests; and (3) young, mixed-species (fast- growing N-fixers and commercially valuable species) tree plantations established to facilitate montane forest recovery in southern Costa Rica.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Diversity-Function Relationships Changed in a Long-term Restoration Experiment
Abstract:The central tenet of biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) theory, that species richness increases function, could motivate restoration practitioners to incorporate a greater number of species into their projects. But it is not yet clear how well BEF theory predicts outcomes of restoration, because it has been developed through tests involving short-run and tightly controlled (e.g., weeded) experiments. Thus, we resampled our 1997 BEF experiment in a restored salt marsh to test for long-term effects of species richness (plantings with 1, 3, and 6 species per 2 x 2 m plot), with multiple ecosystem functions as response variables. Where species-rich plantings are unlikely to ensure long-term restoration of functions, as in our salt marsh, we recommend dual efforts to establish (1) dominant species that provide high levels of target functions, and (2) subordinate species, which might provide additional functions under current or future conditions.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Dryland Tree Management for Improved Household Livelihoods: Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in Niger
Abstract:Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), a set of practices farmers use to foster the growth of indigenous trees on agricultural land, has drawn substantial attention as a contributing factor to a trend of increasing vegetation greenness in the Republic of Niger. This paper identifies drivers of FMNR adoption and assesses its impacts on rural households in the Region of Maradi, Niger, an area covering 42,000 square kilometers. It is estimated that FMNR raises the annual gross income of the region by between 17 and 21 million USD and has contributed an additional 900,000 to 1,000,000 trees to the local environment. These findings support the value of continued promotion of FMNR as an inexpensive means of enhancing rural livelihoods and an attractive alternative to reforestation efforts relying on tree planting.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Ecological Rehabilitation and Public Participation: General Considerations and Empirical Evidence from a Creek Rehabilitation Scheme near Cologne, Germany
Abstract:Ecological rehabilitation of rivers and streams has become a common practice in environmental planning and water management throughout Europe. With regard to rehabilitation projects public participation and bottom-up planning processes are favoured by state and local regulations alike. However, there are mixed experiences about public support of rehabilitation schemes. Whereas people support environmental improvements on a general level, acceptance is dwindling when conflicts of use arise or access to certain areas is going to be restricted. This study focuses on the assessment of public attitudes to rehabilitation and on improving the understanding of people’s preferences. The results of a representative questionnaire survey conducted in three villages along a rehabilitated creek in a densely populated suburban area near Cologne show that local support for rehabilitation is generally high.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Ecological Restoration of Central European Mining Sites: A Summary of a Multi-site Analysis
Abstract:Sites disturbed by mining were surveyed in the Czech Republic, central Europe. The sites included spoil heaps from coal mining, sand and gravel pits, extracted peatlands and stone quarries. The following main conclusions emerged: i) potential for spontaneous succession to be used in restoration projects is between 95 and 100% of the total area disturbed; ii) mining sites, if mining is properly designed and then the sites are left to spontaneous succession, often act as refugia for endangered and retreating organisms, and may contribute substantially to local biodiversity.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Ecological Restoration of Novel Lake Districts: New Approaches for New Landscapes
Abstract:Mine void pit lakes often contain water of poor quality with potential for environmental harm that may dwarf other mine closure environmental issues in terms of severity, scope, and longevity. This is particularly so when many pit lakes occur close together and thus form a new “lake district” landscape. Pit lakes that can be developed into healthy lake or wetland ecosystems as a beneficial end use provide opportunities for the mining industry to fulfil commitments to sustainability. Clearly articulated restoration goals and a strategic closure plan are necessary to ensure pit lake restoration toward a new, yet regionally-relevant, aquatic ecosystem, which can achieve sustainability as an out-of-kind environmental offset. Such an approach must also consider obstacles to development of a self-sustaining aquatic ecosystem, such as water quality and ecological requirements. We recommend integration of pit lakes into their catchments as a landscape restoration planning exercise with clearly-identified roles and objectives for each new lake habitat and its surrounds.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Ecology and Functional Roles of Biological Soil Crusts in Semi-arid Ecosystems of Spain
Abstract:Biological soil crusts (BSCs), composed of lichens, cyanobacteria, mosses, liverworts and microorganisms, are key biotic components of arid and semi-arid ecosystems worldwide. Despite they are widespread in Spain, these organisms have been historically understudied in this country. This trend is beginning to change as a recent wave of research has been identifying BSCs as a model ecological system. Many studies and research projects carried out in Spain have explored the role of BSCs on water, carbon and nitrogen fluxes, the interactions between BSCs and vascular plants, their dynamics after disturbances, and their response to global change, among other topics. In this article we review the growing body of research on BSCs available from semi-arid areas of Spain, highlighting its importance for increasing our knowledge on this group of organisms. We also discuss how it is breaking new ground in emerging research areas on the ecology of BSCs, and how it can be use to guide management and restoration efforts. Finally, we provide directions for future research on the ecology of BSCs in Spain and abroad.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Economic Development, Rural Livelihoods, and Ecological Restoration: Evidence from China
Abstract:This article uses a case study in Southeast China to demonstrate how the substantial changes in rural livelihoods have been driven by a combination of ‘‘pull’’ forces from external economic development, and ‘‘push’’ forces from local areas, leading to a shift in rural household economic activities: household outmigration and de-population of the countryside, changes in energy consumption, and most importantly, changes in land uses and eventually, ecological restoration. Such dramatic changes are becoming common across the Chinese countryside. It is pointed out that economic development has generally caused a deterioration of the environment at least at the early period of economic growth, but the positive impacts, especially in some ecosystem in rural areas, have become more apparent.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change: What Scope for Payments for Environmental Services?
Abstract:This paper addresses this gap by analyzing the opportunities and constraints of PES as an instrument for EBA. Specifically, we examine the potential for PES to address key elements for adaptation by focusing on three pathways: the user side, the provider side, and institutional and societal change. In addition, we assess whether PES fulfils key requirements for adaptation policy instruments, notably effectiveness, efficiency, and equity and legitimacy. We find that PES are not a panacea for all environmental services and country contexts, but can be promising adaptation policy instruments where certain preconditions are met and synergies prevail.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Effect of Substrate Treatments on Survival and Growth of Mediterranean Shrubs in a Revegetated Quarry: An Eight-year Study
Abstract:In 1998, a field experiment was performed in a limestone quarry at Outa_o (Serra da Arra_bida, SW Portugal) to test different types of substrate improvement: NPK fertilizer, water-holding polymer, mycorrhizal inoculum, and combinations of these. Two-year old plants of three native woody species were planted – carob (Ceratonia siliqua), wild-olive tree (Olea europaea var. sylvestris) and mastic (Pistacia lentiscus). Reports concerning the short-term results showed some differential effects of the assayed treatments on plant growth and physiology. The monitoring program was maintained, and here we report on the survival and growth of the introduced plants over eight years after planting. This prolonged study showed that, with the limited exception of fertilization, none of the assayed treatments added major advantages for plant survival or growth. Regardless of the tested substrate treatment, mortality was low and these native species became established in the revegetated area.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Effects of Alien Plants on Ecosystem Structure and Functioning and Implications for Restoration: Insights from Three Degraded Sites in South African Fynbos
Abstract:We investigated the type and extent of degradation at three sites on the Agulhas Plain, South Africa: an old field dominated by the alien grass Pennisetum clandestinum Pers. (kikuyu), an abandoned Eucalyptus plantation, and a natural fynbos community invaded by nitrogen fixing— Australian Acacia species. These forms of degradation are representative of many areas in the region. By identifying the nature and degree of ecosystem degradation we aimed to determine appropriate strategies for restoration in this biodiversity hotspot.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Emerging Threats and Opportunities for Large-Scale Ecological Restoration in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil
Abstract:The AFRP aims to restore 15 million hectares of degraded lands in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome by 2050 and increase the current forest cover of the biome from 17% to at least 30%. We argue that not only should Brazilian lawmakers refrain from revising the existing Forest Law, but also greatly step up investments in the science, business, and practice of ecological restoration throughout the country, including the Atlantic Forest. The AFRP provides a template that could be adapted to other forest biomes in Brazil and to other megadiversity countries around the world.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Engage the Hodgepodge: Management Factors are Essential when Prioritizing Areas for Restoration and Conservation Action
Abstract:Restoration and conservation initiatives, such as the eradication of invasive alien plants, should be guided by scientific evidence. Typically, ecological data alone is used to inform the decision- making of these initiatives. Recent advances in the mapping of conservation opportunity include a diverse range of scientifically identified factors that determine the feasibility and likely effectiveness of conservation initiatives, and include, for example, data on the willingness and capacity of land managers to be effectively involved. Social research techniques such as interview surveys, phenomenology, and social network analysis are important approaches for securing useful human and social data. These approaches are yet to be widely adopted in restoration initiatives, but could be usefully applied to improve the effective implementation of these initiatives. Restoration and conservation planners will deliver spatial prioritisations which provide more effective and cost-efficient decision-making if they include not simply ecological data, but also data on economic, human, management, social and vulnerability factors that determine implementation effectiveness.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Enrichment Planting of African Mahoganies in Fire-Degraded Dry Semi-Deciduous Forests in Ghana
Abstract:Dry forest ecosystems in Ghana are among the most threatened forest types in the country. With the increasing need to rehabilitate degraded dry semi-deciduous forest reserves in Ghana, the use of native species in enrichment planting have been emphasized.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Establishment and Growth of Living Fence Species: An Overlooked Tool for the Restoration of Degraded Areas in the Tropics
Abstract:The use of living fence species as a restoration tool has been overlooked. Aside from the advantages of planting tree species vegetatively, species can act as seed recruitment foci by attracting seed dispersers and provide shade to improve microclimatic conditions for seedling establishment. The technique described is simple and could have broad application throughout tropical regions.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Evaluating Restoration Success in Urban Forest Plantings in Hamilton, New Zealand
Abstract:To evaluate the success of restoration efforts in young urban plantings, we assessed 66 experimental plots in gully systems in Hamilton City, New Zealand, and adjacent areas. We compared vegetation change in restored patches planted with native species to vegetation in naturally regenerating patches and mature native forest. A range of variables was used to assess ecosystem functional, structural, and compositional attributes. Different planting and maintenance regimes and environmental factors likely to affect the success of plantings were also evaluated. Vegetation change towards the mature forest reference state was found to be rapid in twenty plots. However, twelve plots showed limited progress towards this state, with low numbers of lianas and epiphytes and low native species recruitment, regeneration, and species diversity.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Evaluating the Efficacy of Adaptive Management Approaches: Is There a Formula for Success?
Abstract:We evaluated peer-reviewed literature focused on incorporation of adaptive management to identify components of successful adaptive management plans. Our evaluation included adaptive management elements such as stakeholder involvement, definitions of management objectives and actions, use and complexity of predictive models, and the sequence in which these elements were applied. We also defined a scale of degrees of success to make comparisons between the two adaptive management schools of thought.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Excessive Reliance on Afforestation in China’s Arid and Semi-arid Regions: Lessons in Ecological Restoration
Abstract:Although afforestation is potentially an important approach for environmental restoration, current Chinese policy has not been tailored to local environmental conditions, leading to the use of inappropriate species and an overemphasis on tree and shrub planting, thereby compromising the ability to achieve environmental policy goals. China’s huge investment to increase forest cover seems likely to exacerbate environmental degradation in environmentally fragile areas because it has ignored climate, pedological, hydrological, and landscape factors that would make a site unsuitable for afforestation. This has, in many cases, led to the deterioration of soil ecosystems and decreased vegetation cover, and has exacerbated water shortages. Large-scale and long-term research is urgently needed to provide information that supports a more effective and flexible environmental restoration policy.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Experimental Restoration of a Salt Marsh with Some Comments on Ecological Restoration of Coastal Vegetated Ecosystems in Korea
Abstract:Since the 1980s, the coastal wetlands in Korea have been rapidly degraded and destroyed mainly due to reclamation and landfills for coastal development. In order to recover damaged coastal environments and to develop wetland restoration technologies, a 4-year study on ecological the restoration of coastal vegetated ecosystems was started in 1998. As one of a series of studies, a small-scale experiment on salt marsh restoration was carried out from April 2000 to August 2001. From these results, we suggested that designs for the restoration of salt marsh ecosystems must consider the inclusion of a tidal height exceeding CTL, as this may allow reconstruction of the previous natural ecosystem without artificial transplanting.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Farming for Restoration: Building Bridges for Native Seeds
Abstract:In both Europe and the United States, certification of native seed and plants across biogeographic regions, developing new market niches for growers, and providing increased stability in demand are all critical issues to increasing the availability and expanding the use of native materials. Tools to aid in selection of appropriate plant materials for restoration in light of climate change, issues of ex situ and in situ conservation of species and communities and discussions surrounding assisted migration are all critical to the future of ecological restoration on both continents.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2011
Biomanipulation: A Tool in Marine Ecosystem Management and Restoration?
Abstract:Widespread losses of production and conservation values make large-scale ecosystem restoration increasingly urgent. Ecological restoration by means of biomanipulation, i.e., by fishing out planktivores to reduce the predation pressure on herbivorous zooplankton, has proved to be an effective tool in restoring degraded lakes and coastal ecosystems. Whether biomanipulation may prove a useful restoration method in open and structurally complex marine ecosystems is, however, still unknown. To promote a recovery of the collapsed stock of Eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua), large-scale biomanipulation of sprat (Sprattus sprattus), the main planktivore in the Baltic Sea, has been suggested as a possible management approach.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2010
Biotechnological Approach for Ecosystem Restoration of Mine Spoil Dump in India
Abstract:Mine-degraded land (mine spoil dumps) has been restored through plantation in India by eco- friendly and cost-effective approach. This technology involves selection of suitable native plant species, isolation and inoculation of site-specific nitrogen-fixing microbial strains and nutrient mobilising vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal species in combination with organic amendments to control the limiting factors associated with mine degraded land and to build up functional ecosystem. The approach improved the survival rate of the plants over 83-99% and attained the level of restoration to that in a productive soil. Results also indicated that the biodiversity of degraded land could be achieved within a short period of time through amendment and microbial intervention.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2010