©Stephen Glass
The RRC provides a searchable database of restoration projects from around the world intended to serve as a resource for practitioners, researchers, educators, students, and the general public. Projects have been freely contributed by users of the SER website, or have been compiled from publicly available information by SER staff or other designees of SER. Expand the filter tool below to search for projects by country, region, biome, ecosystem, cause of degradation, or any combination of these factors.
Although SER does review all submissions for relevance, quality, and completeness before approving them for inclusion in the database, they are not subjected to peer review nor has project information been independently verified in the field. SER therefore makes no claim as to the accuracy of the information presented here or the degree to which the methods, techniques, and strategies used for a particular project adhere to generally accepted standards for ecological restoration practice. Anyone interested in learning more about a particular project is encouraged to contact the project lead or the responsible organization directly for further information.
If you have field experiences you’d like to share, we encourage you to submit your own project to the database!
The Project Database is generously supported by Stantec
USA: Kahuku Point Ecological and Cultural Restoration, Hawai’i
Country: Hawaii
Abstract: Kahuku Point or Kalaeokaunaʻoa, the northern most point on Oʻahu, is composed of rare coastal habitat that is disappearing throughout the state of Hawaiʻi. North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT) in partnership with Turtle Bay Resort (TBR), US Fish and Wildlife’s (USFW) Coastal Program, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and the community seek to advance conservation efforts at Kahuku Point. Kahuku Point is one of the few remaining coastal dune ecosystems on the...USA: Rhode Island: Narrow River Estuary Resiliency Restoration
Country: United States of America
Abstract: In October 2012, the one hundred-year storm Hurricane Sandy hit New England causing severe ecological and infrastructural damage to coastal communities. In accordance with the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, the U.S. Department of the Interior granted the state of Rhode Island $6,849,591 for projects to restore and improve coastal and estuarine resilience to storms. $1,400,000 was allocated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy to restore...Australia: Restoration in a global biodiversity hotspot in Western Australia
Country: Australia
Abstract: The south-west of Western Australia is a global biodiversity hotspot where its high biodiversity suffers many threats. One of those threats is fragmentation of habitat owing to the large scale land clearing that was carried out in the 1950s and 1960s. This connectivity project aims to address this, and other threats, by restoring connections across a 70km swathe of farmland. Bush Heritage Australia has developed a Conservation Action Plan (using the Open Standards) in this area, where we are...USA: Maidford River Saltmarsh Restoration: Middletown, Rhode Island
Country: United States of America
Abstract: Saltmarshes are arguably one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet, as these areas provide nurseries for birds, invertebrates and a diversity of fish species. Almost 70% of commercially fished species in Rhode Island rely on saltmarshes for at least a portion of their lives.9 Marshes have a natural ability to both vertically and horizontally accrete over time by collecting sediments, minerals and plant matter.10 Unfortunately, sea levels are rising faster than marshes can accrete....USA: Drakes Island Salt Marsh Restoration in the Gulf of Maine, Wells, Maine
Country: United States of America
Abstract: Situated on the southern coast of Maine is the town of Wells. Within 1600 acres of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve is Drakes Island tidal marsh. Presently, a road runs through the marsh leading to houses comprising a small community and Drakes Island Beach. Due to development in the area and the historical restrictions of the road and culvert originally installed in 1848, the marsh’s health greatly deteriorated. Vegetation composition, surface elevation, water levels and...USA: Tidmarsh Farms Restoration Project, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Country: United States of America
Abstract: Prior to restoration activities, Tidmarsh Farms was a commercial cranberry farm in Plymouth Massachusetts. In 2010, approximately 200-acres of farmland was taken out of production on the east side of the property (Tidmarsh East) and placed under a conservation easement through the USDA NRCS Wetland Reserve Program. The owners, with the help of the Massachusetts Department of Ecological Restoration and other partners, completed assessment, design, and implementation phases over the next six...USA: Restoration of Diamondback Terrapin Nesting Habitat along the Potowomut River; East Greenwich, RI
Country: United States of America
Abstract: The goal for restoration of the marsh located on the campus of the Rocky Hill School along the Potowomut River in East Greenwich, RI is to improve habitat for a recently discovered population of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin). This brackish water turtle species is state-listed in Rhode Island. The terrapins have been observed using the site for nesting and the focus of the project is to increase nesting areas in order to sustain a thriving population. The project is in its second...Portugal: TerraSeixe: environmental stewardship in southwestern Portugal
Country: Portugal
Abstract: This is a landscape-based project, using the Seixe River basin (watershed/catchment) as the unit for analysis. Nature Conservation Instruments, a protected area, 2 Natura 2000 network sites and an Important Bird and Biodiversity area overlap to provide protection for 93% of the project area. Ecologically this is an area of high biodiversity, which has legal protection but little, to no, actual protection in place. Socially, around 50% of the area is used for eucalyptus plantations (pulp and...USA: Restoration of Leachate-Impacted Wetlands and Associated Mitigation at the University of Connecticut Landfill
Country: United States of America
Abstract: On June 26, 1998, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP) issued a Consent Order to the University of Connecticut (UConn) requiring that a remedial action plan (RAP) be formulated to abate pollution emanating from the university’s landfill and former chemical pits, which operated between 1966 and 1993. The disposal areas became sources of contamination of wetland sediments, surface water, and domestic wells through the migration and discharge of leachate-contaminated...USA: Two Dam Removals, One Bypass and One Fish Ladder at The Great Penobscot River Restoration, Penobscot River Watershed, Maine
Country: United States of America
Abstract: In an effort to restore eleven species of sea-run fish while resuming energy production levels, a coalition bonded together to restore the second largest river in New England. State and federal agencies, businesses and non-profits banded together to restore the Penobscot River watershed. Two dam removals and the construction of one fish by-pass, and one modernized fish ladder resulted in over 2,000 km of connected migratory fish passage concluding a massive restoration project. The ongoing...USA: Ala Mahamoe Restoration Project
Country: United States of America
Abstract: Increasing efficacy in water usage and recharge at Ala Mahamoe, O'ahu, through native plant restoration and the establishment of Hawaiian Cultural Garden. The objectives of the Ala Mahamoe Restoration Projects are three-fold: Control invasive species in the project area to improve the integrity and ecological services of the watershed through increased recharge capacity Provide opportunities for students and community members to be involved in forest stewardship and conservation work...Brazil: Reconnecting 300 Years of Isolation: Using the permanent protected area as corridor
Country: Brazil
Abstract: The South Paraíba Valley, Brazil, is one of the more degraded areas of the Atlantic forest regions. It’s probable that the occupation of the valley by sugar cane farms, coffee plantations and cattle fields promoted isolation between the Sea Mountains and the Mantiqueira Mountains over the last 300 years. The more recent industrialization and urban occupation of the valley has exacerbated this isolation. The company Eletrobrás FURNAS S.A, a regional public utility, has made investments in...USA: California: Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project/ Marbled Murrelet Land Acquisition and Enhancement Project, Central California Coast, USA
Country: United States of America
Abstract: On the evening of September 26th, 1998, the marine vessel, M/V Command, illegally spilled an estimated 3,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil while in transit from San Francisco to Panama. The relatively small spill occurred at a time when high numbers of seabirds were in the vicinity with their young, resulting in significant injury of seabirds and other aquatic life. The spill affected the shoreline throughout San Mateo County with tarballs washing up as far south as the Salinas River. Approximately...USA: New York: Bar Beach Salt Marsh Restoration, Hempstead Harbor
Country: United States of America
Abstract: In 2003, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), New York Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Town of North Hempstead restored a 0.8-acre salt marsh in Bar Beach Lagoon, North Hempstead, New York, as part of a natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) settlement addressing natural resource injury damages that had occurred as a result of the release of contaminants into Hempstead Harbor. Restoration activities included the removal...USA: Rhode Island: North Cape Bird Restoration, Block Island Sound
Country: United States of America
Abstract: In January of 1996 the tank barge, North Cape, struck ground off the coast of Rhode Island spilling approximately 828,000 gallons of No. 2 heating oil into Block Island Sound. The results of over 30 studies of potential resource injuries caused by the spill were reviewed and a variety of experts in relevant scientific and technical disciplines were consulted. Based on this work, it was believed that the spill caused significant injuries to biota in the offshore and salt pond environments and to...USA: Rhode Island: North Cape Shellfish Restoration, Block Island Sound
Country: United States of America
Abstract: In January of 1996 the tank barge, North Cape, struck ground off the coast of Rhode Island spilling approximately 828,000 gallons of No. 2 heating oil into Block Island Sound. The results of over 30 studies of potential resource injuries caused by the spill were reviewed and a variety of experts in relevant scientific and technical disciplines were consulted. Based on this work, it is believed that the spill caused significant injuries to biota in the offshore and salt pond environments and to...USA: Maryland: Anacostia Riparian Meadow Restoration
Country: United States of America
Abstract: In 2007 the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) initiated an experimental research project with the help of an interdisciplinary team of experts to look for alternative methods to riparian buffer restoration where reforestation is not permitted because of stream channel engineering constraints. AWS has been working at a short section of the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River, immediately downstream of the 38th Avenue Bridge in Hyattsville, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. In...USA: Massachusetts: Fowl Meadow Purple Loosestrife Biological Control Project
Country: United States of America
Abstract: The Fowl Meadow Purple Loosestrife Biological Control Project is a five-year collaborative wetland restoration project, begun in 2008, and based in freshwater wetlands of the Neponset River Watershed in Massachusetts, USA. The project uses Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla beetles and larvae as a biological control agent to control and reduce the presence of exotic, invasive Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in the Fowl Meadow wetlands and surrounding area. The project is implemented...USA: Texas: Lavaca Bay Restoration, Point Comfort, Calhoun County
Country: United States of America
Abstract: From the late 1960s to early 1970s Alcoa (Alcoa, Inc and Alcoa World Alumina, LLC) operated a chlorine-alkali processing unit at its Point Comfort, Texas, plant that discharged mercury into Lavaca Bay. Coal tar processing contaminated other areas around the facility with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In 1988, a portion of Lavaca Bay was closed for the taking of finfish and crabs for consumption after mercury levels in these resources were found to exceed levels considered safe for...USA: Rhode Island: The North Cape American Lobster (Homarus americanus) Restoration Project, Block Island Sound
Country: United States of America
Abstract: The North Cape American Lobster Restoration Project was an effort to restore the Southern New England lobster population following injuries caused by the North Cape oil spill. In January of 1996 the tank barge, North Cape, struck ground off the coast of Rhode Island spilling approximately 828,000 gallons of No. 2 heating oil into Block Island Sound. The spill caused more than 2.9 million lobsters to wash ashore and the natural resources damage assessment estimated a total of 9 million lobsters...USA: Indiana: Maumee River Riparian Zone Restoration, Allen County
Country: United States of America
Abstract: The Maumee River Riparian Zone Restoration is a reforestation effort on 75 acres of farm land with a goal of restoring riparian bottomland habitat. The restoration plan, developed by the state of Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), provides compensation for natural resource injuries along the Maumee River resulting from hazardous substance releases from the Fort Wayne Reduction Site....Australia: The Regent Honeyeater Habitat Restoration Project
Country: Australia
Abstract: The Regent Honeyeater Habitat Restoration Project is a landscape-scale community effort to protect and restore all significant remnants of native woodland habitat in the agricultural district of the Lurg Hills, near Benalla, Victoria. Relying heavily on volunteer labour, the project conducts planting activities to revegetate old agricultural fields, enhance the understorey in existing stands of forest, and reconnect isolated forest fragments. While focus is placed on restoring and improving...Spain: El Corredor Verde del Río Guadiamar
Country: Spain
Abstract: Ha transcurrido una década desde que la cuenca del río Guadiamar sufriera una de las mayores catástrofes medioambientales del último siglo: el vertido de lodos y aguas ácidas tras la rotura de los muros de la balsa minera en Aznalcóllar, Andalucía. El accidente tuvo trascendencia internacional por su proximidad a uno de los espacios naturales más importantes de Europa, la Marisma Doñana, y la gravedad de la situación exigió que se tomaran decisiones inmediatas y se aplicaran medidas...South Africa: Coastal Restoration and Job Creation in Kommetjie
Country: South Africa
Abstract: This project south of Cape Town, South Africa aims to improve the condition of selected public natural coastal spaces and contribute to existing efforts to improve, extend and maintain public access to coastal areas. The project also provides employment and training to local people from poor communities, while ensuring that the benefits of their work are experienced by a broad range of people. People were hired to remove alien plants, plant indigenous gardens, stabilize sand dunes and build...Mauritius: Forest Habitat Restoration in the Ile Aux Aigrettes Nature Reserve
Country: Mauritius
Abstract: Managed and leased by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF), Ile aux Aigrettes is a 25-hectare island just off the southeast coast of mainland Mauritius that contains the last remnant of Mauritian coastal ebony forest. Exotic plant and animal species had driven the ecosystem to the brink of extinction by the 1980s, and it was then that MWF began its ongoing restoration program. Initial interventions included the removal of non-native plant species, revegetation with nursery-reared seedlings,...USA: North Carolina: Atlantic White Cedar Restoration at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Country: United States of America
Abstract: In the 1980s, the Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecypa risthyoides)-bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) bog at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge was cleared and drained as part of a commercial enterprise that was later abandoned. The resultant decomposition of the bog's peat deposits caused a dramatic influx of mercury and nitrogen levels in runoff from the site and adversely affected the entire Albemarle/Palmico estuary system. In response to increasing anoxia and eutrophication in the estuary,...USA: California: Common Murre Restoration Project, Central California Coast, USA
Country: United States of America
Abstract: Between January 28 and February 4, 1986, the oil transportation barge, APEX HOUSTON, discharged about 26,000 gallons of crude oil while in transit from San Francisco Bay to the Long Beach Harbor. The oil spill injured seabirds and other aquatic life from Point Reyes to the Big Sur coast (Map, File 1). Approximately 9,000 seabirds were killed, including 6,300 common murres (Uria aalge; Carter et al. 2003). Restoration funds were recovered from the responsible party under the federal Clean Water...Chile: Forest habitat restoration on the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile
Country: Chile
Abstract: The Juan Fernández Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis) is a critically endangered hummingbird found only on Robinson Crusoe Island of the Juan Fernández Archipelago, Chile. Investigation of the factors associated with the decline of this hummingbird revealed that nesting Juan Fernández Firecrowns prefer native forest without invasive plant cover. In response, a forest habitat restoration program was undertaken which includes (1) investigation of effective methods of control of invasive...USA: California: Forest Restoration in Campgrounds at Kings Canyon National Park
Country: United States of America
Abstract: Intensive campground use at the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park, California, has compacted the soil and left areas without understory vegetation or tree recruitment. To better inform the restoration of these sites after closure, natural regeneration potential was tested against planting and soil restoration methods. The tested methods included planting with container stock and direct seeding, fencing, and soil treatments of tilling, mulching, and gypsum and humus additions....United Kingdom: Scotland: Wet Woods LIFE Project to Restore Bog Woodland and Residual Alluvial Forest
Country: United Kingdom
Abstract: The Wet Woods LIFE Project was funded through the European Union's LIFE Nature Programme as a series of conservation initiatives on two priority habitats known collectively as 'wet woods'. The broad aim of the project is to restore and enhance some of the most important areas of bog woodland and floodplain woodland in the United Kingdom, being located on or adjacent to four candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC) designated for these habitats under the EU Habitats Directive: Monadh Mor...