©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.
Dugong and Marine Turtle Project Final Report
Abstract:The Australian Government’s Performance Story evaluation of the NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle Project (DMTP) concluded the project was a “standout success” that had “outstripped the original expectations”. The project has created innovative communication and management tools and established on-ground monitoring and research activities that address many dugong and marine turtle management issues including sustainable catch management. The networks established by the project bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in effective partnerships across the range of these iconic migratory species.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Ecological Mangrove Rehabilitation, Sustainable Livelihoods, Adaptive Collaborative Management and Carbon Finance in Critical Mangrove Systems in Indonesia
Abstract:To build the social, economic and ecological resilience of mangrove biodiversity “hotspots,” by restoring substantial critical mangrove habitats, developing sustainable mangrove resource based cooperative businesses, and strengthening existing adaptive collaborative management policies and practices. Development of Carbon Financing Scheme – Based on minimal 500 hectares restored forest valued at Voluntary Carbon Standards and minimum 1000 hectares of mangrove conservation valued at Voluntary REDD standards.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Ecological Revitalization: Turning Contaminated Properties into Community Assets
Abstract:This document (1) provides an overview of EPA’s cleanup programs and resources available to support ecological revitalization; (2) addresses technical considerations to help cleanup project managers and other stakeholders carry out ecological revitalization at contaminated properties; and (3) presents general planning and process considerations for ecological revitalization of wetlands, streams, and terrestrial ecosystems as well as successful long-term stewardship. Appendix A at the end of the document presents additional case studies on ecological revitalization.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Ecosystem Restoration Provincial Strategic Plan
Abstract:The Ministry of Forests and Range (MFR) will provide leadership through its ER program to facilitate a multi-sectoral ER initiative that achieves the mission and goals related in this strategy, and creates synergies with other related programs and initiatives. From 2009 to 2012, a provincial ER initiative will be implemented that initially focuses on the fire-maintained ecosystems. This will be accomplished by addressing three core goals through a set of strategic priorities.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Ecosystem-based Adaptation: A Natural Response to Climate Change
Abstract:This report presents 10 examples of Ecosystem-based Adaptation taking place in both developing and developed countries, at national, regional, and local scales, and in marine, terrestrial, and freshwater environments. The case studies demonstrate how Ecosystem-based Adaptation is being implemented at project and programmatic levels
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Forest Degradation in Nepal: Review of Data and Methods
Abstract:This paper aims to review the past forest resource assessments, methodologies and findings on forest degradation. The study observed that differentiation on forest quality was recognized since the first forest resources assessment in the early 1960s. Similarly, all forest resource assessments have identified criteria and indicators for capturing forest degradation. Forest degradation has been understood as reduction in production capacity of commercial timber volume. Change in tree canopy cover was used as a key criterion in assessments. Degradation was assessed through canopy closure, tree density, regeneration capacity, stand maturity, lopping, species dominancy, grazing, and soil surface erosion. The assessment methodologies include field survey, satellite images, aerial photography, ground checks or a combination of these. Finally the paper concludes by offering potential methods for assessing forest degradation in Nepal.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Forest Resilience, Biodiversity, and Climate Change: A Synthesis of the Biodiversity/Resilience/Stability Relationship in Forest Ecosystems
Abstract:Protecting primary forests and restoring managed or degraded forest ecosystems make a vital contribution to both reducing anthropogenic emissions and aiding societal adaptation to unavoidable climate change. It is the resilience inherent to intact forest ecosystems – fully functional units of plants, animals, micro-organisms, and fungi – that provides the best insurance against climate change and prospects for ensuring forests meet the needs of present and future generations.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Forest Resources Degradation Accounting in Mongolia
Abstract:The results of this study show that forest degradation has increased from year to year during the entire study period. This is due to expansion of economic activity and increased global climate change impact for the forest ecosystem. The changes of forest degradation have been integrated with macroeconomic indicators of socio-economic development of the country. This study shows how degradation of resources can be analyzed in terms of future loss of goods and services in terms of indicators of monetary value. This may link physical degradation with economic indicators for sustainable development.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Global Mapping and Monitoring the Extent of Forest Alteration: The Intact Forest Landscapes Method
Abstract:This paper presents the IFL Method—a novel approach for mapping and monitoring the extent of forest alteration. High spatial resolution satellite images are used to identify and map large undegraded areas called Intact Forest Landscapes (IFL), defined as unbroken expanses of natural ecosystems in the zone of current forest landscapes extent without signs of significant human activity and at least 50,000 hectares in size. The method produces an IFL map which shows the boundary between unaltered forest landscapes (where most components, including species and site diversity, dynamics and ecological functions remain intact) and altered or fragmented forests (where some level of timber extraction, species composition change, anthropogenic fragmentation and/or alteration of ecosystem dynamics has taken place).
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Investing in Ecological Infrastructure
Abstract:Investing in ‘ecological infrastructure’ makes economic sense in terms of cost effectiveness and rates of return, once the whole range of benefits provided by maintained, restored or increased ecological services are taken into account. Well-documented examples include investing in mangroves or other wetland ecosystems as well as watersheds, instead of man-made infrastructure like dykes or waste water treatment plants, in order to sustain or enhance the provision of ecosystem services. It is usually much cheaper to avoid degradation than to pay for ecological restoration. This is particularly true for biodiversity: species that go extinct cannot be brought back. Nonetheless, there are many cases where the expected benefits from restoration far exceed the costs. If transformation of ecosystems is severe, true restoration of pre-existing species assemblages, ecological processes and the delivery rates of services may well be impossible. However, some ecosystem services may often be recovered by restoring simplified but well-functioning ecosystems modeled on the pre-existing local system.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Investing in Sustainability: Restoring Degraded Thicket, Creating Jobs, Capturing Carbon and Earning Green Credit
Abstract:The collection of case studies presented in this document attempts to explore opportunities to promote the participation of local communities in various countries with a range of socio- economic settings and institutional challenges. They fall into two groups. The first considers cases of communities that are already involved in community-based forest management in a variety of settings and have been trained to make assessment of the changes in carbon stock in these forests over time. The second group concerns small-scale AR CDM projects.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Land Restoration to Combat Desertification: Innovative Approaches, Quality Control and Project Evaluation
Abstract:This book addresses key issues in land restoration that emerge from restoration science and practice in the Mediterranean Basin. On the grounds of the long-standing and well-developed afforestation experience in Mediterranean countries, we shall suggest ways to incorporate lessons learned from past experiences into new restoration approaches, to face new and old threats, and new challenges and opportunities, using new and not-so-new approaches and techniques. The first part of the book deals with missing elements in the restoration practice that are critical steps for rationalizing the incorporation of restoration activities in the economy, namely quality control, monitoring and evaluation. The second part tackles specific, innovative developments of restoration techniques. These include plant selection of species and provenances, and nursery and field techniques to overcome water stress as the major limitation in drylands – now and in the perspective of projected climate change.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Lessons Learned and Good Practices in the Management of Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas
Abstract:The objective of this project is to formalize the experiences, outcomes and lessons learned from previous GEF projects, as well as major non-GEF initiatives involving marine protected areas (MPAs) in coral reefs and associated ecosystems. The project aims to comprehensively identify, analyze, and translate lessons into good practices and information resources, and then disseminate this information globally for use in future project design and development. Based on its history of supporting coral reef biodiversity, management and sustainable development, this project will help the GEF fulfill a major mandate to identify what has worked and what could be improved upon in supporting biodiversity conservation. In combination with other GEF projects, this effort will also help the GEF and other major non-GEF projects achieve a markedly improved return on investment for future projects involving coral reefs MPAs.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Making Payments for Ecosystem Services Work
Abstract:For over fifty years economists have developed instruments to address the market failures behind the collapse of ecosystem services reported by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA). These instruments include taxes, subsidies, user-charges, access-fees, penalties for non- compliance, and more recently, payments for ecosystem services (PES). PES schemes offer financial incentives for local actors to provide a wide range of ecosystem services untouched by normal market transactions. This Policy Brief explores the factors that make PES schemes work.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland and Savanna Ecosystems
Abstract:This manual describes how to monitor three rangeland attributes: soil and site stability, watershed function and biotic integrity. Nearly everything we value about rangelands depends on these attributes. Monitoring these three attributes is like monitoring the foundation of our rangeland ecosystems. The measurements used to monitor these attributes also can be used to generate indicators relevant to specific management objectives, such as maintaining wildlife habitat, biodiversity conservation or producing forage.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Native Oyster Restoration in Maryland and Virginia: An Evaluation of Lessons Learned 1990- 2007
Abstract:The team’s activities have highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of oyster restoration efforts over the past 18 years and the utility of the data collected to monitor them. While this examination has been informative, its greatest value is to define future oyster restoration activities — specifically, to construct guidelines that will help maximize return on the large investment of effort and funding that will be made in the coming years. Perhaps the greatest lesson of the Oyster Restoration Evaluation Team effort is the recognition that the techniques, sampling protocols and stock assessment methods used to date are inadequate to assess real changes in oyster populations, locally or regionally, and that wholesale change is necessary to design and implement sound stock assessment and monitoring protocols and procedures in order to fully assess the health and growth of a recovering oyster population.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Payments for Ecosystem Services: Legal and Institutional Frameworks
Abstract:The overall goal of this publication is to ‘close’ this gap of legal and institutional analysis. It has the objective to give recommendations for the future development of legal and institutional frameworks which support water-related PES schemes and their implementation.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Progress of River Restoration in China
Abstract:The progress of river restoration in China is briefly introduced herein in the aspects of national policies and regulations, critical actions of different ministries, fundamental research, monitoring and assessment, special planning as well as demonstration project. Stress mechanism of hydraulic engineering on river ecosystem, holistic model of river ecosystem structure and function as well as the principle of design method following negative feedback are briefly introduced.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Rainforestation Farming: A Farmers’ Guide to Biodiversity Management
Abstract:This book describes a peoples based reforestation concept that aims at restoring the tropical forest ecosystem with all its species. A must-read for foresters and ecologist working in the tropics.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Restoration of Alberta’s Boreal Wetlands Affected By Oil, Gas and In Situ Oil Sands Development
Abstract:Within the last ten years the energy sector has developed best management practices (BMPs) to lessen its impact on wetlands. Seismic lines, for example, have reduced their width from 6 m to 1.7 m. New technologies allow several wells to be placed on the same pad, greatly reducing infrastructure and resulting fragmentation. This literature review outlines a multitude of other BMPs that could greatly reduce the energy sector’s impact on these fragile ecosystems. Unfortunately, provincial regulations do not require BMPs to be carried out; this means that stewardship relies on the good-will of oil and gas companies.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Restoration of Seagrass Habitat in Tampa Bay Using Manatee Grass (Syringodium filiforme) Sod Units
Abstract:The final project monitoring results show that the manatee grass transplanting effort was completed successfully. First, the donor site monitoring indicated that disturbances caused by harvesting were fully mitigated within the two year study period. Second, about 1300m2 of manatee grass were established in an area previously devoid of this species. Third, at the end of the study period the per unit area above ground biomass of the restored manatee grass in several of the planting plots was similar to, or may have exceeded the biomass of the donor grass at the time of harvest. Finally, several of the restored meadows have been actively expanding in area coverage at a rate similar to natural growing manatee grass meadows.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Restoring Natural Capital in Arid and Semiarid Regions: Combining Ecosystem Health with Human Well-being
Abstract:This document presents the major features of the ‘restoring natural capital’ (RNC) concept applied to arid and semiarid regions for the purposes of facilitating communication, information sharing and discussion. The goal is primarily: 1) to participate in promoting this approach to societies and communities most affected by degradation of the environments and resources they manage, and 2) to persuade governments and public and private assistance decision- makers to adopt this approach for their projects.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Restoring Peatlands in Alberta: A Case Study of Evansburg North
Abstract:In western Canada peatlands are being disturbed by the energy, forestry and peat industrial sectors. However, no comprehensive studies have been undertaken to develop restoration techniques for western peatlands. Although extensive work has been carried out in eastern Canada, it is unknown if these techniques will be applicable in the sub -humid climate of western Canada. This project will be one of the first monitored peatland restorations in western Canada. The aim of this report is to establish baseline information on the Evansburg North peatland to provide a reference before a large -scale restoration is carried out. The vegetation, hydrology as well as carbon and methane dynamics were studied. Additionally, a field-scale experiment was carried out to test various reintroduction techniques.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Sustainable Forest Management, Biodiversity and Livelihoods: A Good Practice Guide
Abstract:This booklet is part of a series of Good Practice Guides produced by the CBD. It provides a range of case studies and other materials to make the forest sector more biodiversity-friendly, and socially beneficial. It addresses the linkages between forestry, biodiversity, and development / poverty reduction. The summaries and examples included in this booklet show how biodiversity and sustainable economic development can go hand in hand. The primary target audiences for the guide are government officers and decision-makers in the various government agencies related to forestry (at global, regional, national and local levels), as well as development practitioners. The materials presented can also be useful to corporate and NGO planners.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
The Natural Fix? The Role of Ecosystems in Climate Mitigation
Abstract:Implementation of widespread ecosystem carbon management policies presents great challenges, raising significant institutional and regulatory issues and complex political and socio- economic dilemmas. In particular, an effective policy will need to achieve a balance between rural livelihoods and carbon management policies that may threaten those livelihoods. It is often difficult to ensure that the rewards for good carbon management reach the communities involved. It is crucial that the voices of the rural poor and indigenous people are not lost in a rush to secure carbon gains.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Water Security and Ecosystem Services: The Critical Connection
Abstract:These case study summaries illustrate how ecosystem services were valued in specific cases, and demonstrate that it is possible to restore degraded ecosystems and the diversity of services they provide, within the context of sustainable management of water resources. The examples range from largely technical and technological approaches to socioeconomic approaches, and encompass both developed and developing nations.
Resource Type:Technical DocumentPublication Date: 2009
Floodplain Restoration along the Lower Danube: A Climate Change Adaptation Case Study
Abstract:In assessing ongoing floodplain restoration work that commenced in 1993, this paper finds the following. (a) Along the lower Danube River, restoration of floodplains by decommissioning under-performing flood protection infrastructure has provided many benefits. The benefits of these adaptation measures include improved natural capacity to retain and release floodwaters and remove pollutants, enhanced biodiversity, and strengthened local economies through diversification of livelihoods based on natural resources. (b) The drivers for more successful adaptation measures in the Danube included EU expansion, legal mechanisms, and local desire to improve livelihoods.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2009
Forestland Degradation and Potential Rehabilitation in Southwest Saudi Arabia
Abstract:Unfortunately, the forestland in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia is suffering from degradation represented by poor regeneration among the main tree species, spreading of die-back on juniper trees, and abandonment of the agricultural terrace systems. This degradation may be attributed to different factors including over grazing, expansion of urbanization at the expense of forest land, climatic change, and the migration of rural people to towns for higher education and/or work opportunities. Rehabilitation of the degraded forestland needs collaborative efforts and support from the different related governmental sectors as well as the locals. Protection, silvicultural practices, and sustainable management must be adopted as tools of rehabilitation.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2009
Functional Trait Assembly through Ecological and Evolutionary Time
Abstract:A classic community assembly hypothesis is that all guilds must be represented before additional species from any given guild enter the community. We conceptually extend this hypothesis to continuous functional traits, refine the hypothesis with an eco-evolutionary model of interaction network community assembly, and compare the resultant continuous trait assembly rule to empirical data. A “revised” assembly rule did, however, emerge from the eco- evolutionary model: as communities assemble, the range in trait values will increase to a maximum and then remain relatively constant irrespective of further changes in species richness. This rule makes the corollary prediction that the trait range will, on average, be a saturating function of species richness.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2009
Guidelines for Seagrass Restoration: Importance of Habitat Selection and Donor Population, Spreading of Risks, and Ecosystem Engineering Effects
Abstract:Large-scale losses of seagrass beds have been reported for decades and lead to numerous restoration programs. From worldwide scientific literature and 20 years of seagrass restoration research in the Wadden Sea, we review and evaluate the traditional guidelines and propose new guidelines for seagrass restoration.
Resource Type:Peer-reviewed ArticlePublication Date: 2009