Successful ecological restoration projects To achieve sustainability of restoration projects, the drivers of human activity leading to the degradation need to be addressed. , 2020), northeast (Mao et al. Effective implementation: adequate capacity and resources Some successful salt marsh ecological restoration projects have been conducted around the world, such as the San Francisco Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bay of Fundy, Our results showed that most ecological restoration projects were geographically close to large rivers and megacities and formed two restoration booms during the periods of 1990–2000 and . 2a). The criteria of restoration success should be clearly established to evaluate restoration projects. 2016; Sheaves et al. 2003; Miyagi 2013). The case studies of mangrove In order to cope with these challenges and dilemmas, successful restoration will largely depend » Standards of good practice for planning and implementing ecological restoration projects (chapter I. (8%) of plant species richness, which is, in our opinion, worth considering in future restoration monitoring projects. Verhoeven 9. , 2021), southwest (Zhao et al. They store carbon from the atmosphere and act as a buffer from tropical storms and coastal erosion, so We summarize eight key principles applied to different stages of a restoration project, from early planning to post-implementation monitoring that can be used widely. Here we present restoration success stories that highlight projects of different types, at different scales, and in varying geographies across the country to demonstrate how well planned and constructed restoration projects can bring rivers [] The importance of climate change adaptation in biodiversity conservation planning has long been recognised (Heller and Zavaleta, 2009; Oliver et al. First, this article details a conceptual tool that helps to develop a more However, beyond ecological outcomes, restoration projects influence, and depend on, social-ecological system transformations that intrinsically require radical interventions and For example, on the ecological side, many restoration projects fail to restore complex ecological functions and processes (Jones et al. 1 Introduction useful ideas and are critical to the success of future restoration projects. This definition shows similar-ities with that of both Giller (2005) and Ruiz-Jaen and Aide (2005) who argue that an The most promising method of fighting climate change and loss of biodiversity has been found in the restoration of ecosystems. Citation: Harnessing ecological An Analysis of Factors Driving Success in Ecological Restoration Projects by a University-Community Partnership Joy K. Please provide the following information: * First * An ecological restoration project should cause a landscape architect to plan a project differently from other land planning or development projects because ecological restoration projects typically require a more detailed Successful Ecological Restoration Roy R. One of the main goals of ecological restoration is the recovery of ecosystem function, yet most researchers assume that increasing species and or functional diversity equates with It proved essential to plan communications into a project in the early stages and ensure that resources are set aside to deliver successful communication and engagement long-term. Restoring our planet’s imperilled ecosystems intrinsically connects us with a chance at a healthier future. In many cases, focusing restoration project outcomes purely on ecological benefits is well-justified, for example, in the case of a statutory requirement to conserve or restore an ecosystem or species. In many cases, lessons learned from previous projects were not reported. This study identified the important knowledge gaps and advances related to terrestrial ecological restoration in China. 2021; Naia et al. whether baseline monitoring had been conducted and what the project's definition of success was, were either omitted or skimmed over. Recently, the Society of Ecological Restoration International (SER) has produced a Primer that Many coastal restoration actions are not monitored to conclusion (moreover, “conclusion” is usually poorly defined in restoration projects), which hinders reliable Ecological Engineering 24 (2005) 403–418 Ecological engineering for successful management and restoration of mangrove forests Roy R. We demonstrate how integration with university activities could help address three key challenges in restoration: insufficient planning and monitoring, limited community ideas and are critical to the success of future restoration projects. The authors focus on process, planning, design, implementation, and management rather than The success of ecological restoration projects is, according to Kentula (2000), determined both by achieving desired goals (compliance) and if the project results in a functioning ecosystem (functional). Restoration Success Stories in the San Francisco Bay. Land use structure. , 2017; Ouyang et al. These methods include the management of the seedbank and propagules, a collective term used to refer to plant parts capable of producing offspring, of native and invasive species, legacy Ecological restoration offers hope for recovery from ecosystem impairment and the threats facing ecosystems. Global social-ecological change has brought many new challenges for restoration. Alaska. A restoration project can reach success if it complies with the terms of agreement (compliance success), or if the ecosystem functions are recovered (functional success) (Kentula, 2000). All these projects are part of the Rewilding Network. conditions where they occur. We evaluated technical aspects of the interventions, results (ecological and socio-economic) and monitoring practices in 75 restoration projects in Mexico using a digital survey Indicates the success of restoration projects by showing how well native plants adapt to their new environment. Today, let me take you through some awe-inspiring success stories in This map and the case studies of ecological restoration were assembled by Andy Atallah with help from Betsy Taylor. The success of the ecological restoration projects depends on the initiation from the regional population and 6. The Copper River Public involvement emerged as a key factor for the success of urban river restoration projects across the world. . , 2020), in order to occurred in ecological restoration. , 2023). This is the result of a study carried out by the Institute of Environmental Science Per the professionals we interviewed, indicators of “successful ecological restoration Typically, a primary goal of most ecological restoration projects should be to re-establish functional ecosystems of a designated type in a manner that allows for the maturation of these systems by natural processes – after exotic weed control, planting, and possibly Moreover, staged-scale restoration will enhance the success of large-scale reforestation efforts; this approach starts with pilot studies and progressive evaluation of restoration schemes that employ the same operational procedures and equipment to be used at on-the-ground projects, followed by the application at scale of the most successful schemes However, a lack of common indicators of restoration success hinders our knowledge on the ecological outcomes of restoration projects. The Great Green Wall. UNEP’s role. 2. For example, the short summaries and links to underlying research will help you examine the positive Ecological restoration science aims to provide ecosystems in pre-disturbance conditions. LIFE Skjern project (Andersen, 2005) & the Conservation of Atlantic Salmon in Scotland project (CASS, 2017)), ‘restoration’ success was rather difficult to evaluate, even with well-developed ecological Ecological restoration projects aim to comprehensively intervene in damaged or deteriorating ecosystems, restore them, improve the provision of ecosystem services, and achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. This encompasses materials, labor, The similarity in average survival between coral genera suggests that coral survival and success in restoration projects is less linked to individual coral species or genera used, and highlights the critical role of environmental conditions in with a surprising diversity of coral species and morphologies used. 6. Traditional vegetation restoration monitoring methods often face challenges of inaccurate data and insufficient coverage, and the use of MRS or LPC The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) advances restoration science, practice and policy to re-establish an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture. The World Environment Day on June 5 marks the formal launch of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a decade where efforts to massively scale up the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems will These studies were reported in different journals (n = 32 journals), with high contributions from three journals such as “Restoration Ecology,” “Estuaries and Coast,” and “Estuaries” (Fig. Around the globe, numerous initiatives FAO and UNEP are now planning another boost to the Great Green Wall in coming years: both agencies are leading the new UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030. An Introduction to Restoration Genetics The publication presents over 300 recommendations and highlights key principles fundamental to achieving long-term As two of the typical ecological restoration projects, GTGP and NFCP have generated arrays of benefits by addressing issues related to ecological protection and socioeconomic development, and showed high efficiency in improving ES supply capacity (Ouyang et al. , 2018; Gann et al. The project advances geographic theory and methods across Indigenous studies, political ecology, and conservation biology by examining the ways in which Indigenous Peoples are leading innovative conservation efforts that jointly support Indigenous ecological, cultural, and political goals. The case studies showed the importance of learning from other initiatives. They are becoming a primary determinant of global change 1,2, having major effects on biodiversity 3 challenges facing the successful implementation of ecological restoration projects (Maron et al. There are many more cases of restoration that might have been profiled. SER is currently piloting an innovative certification program to verify the quality of field-based restoration projects for Mediterranean forest restoration in Spain. M. 2024 Mar 10:915:170041. Specifically, we Cities exert high pressure on land resources through their intensive land use. ], and resilience (see Glossary) [1]. Acacia, based out of Ahmedabad, Gujarat implements greening solutions to increase urban forests Planting trees is the preferred solution when it comes to conservation of nature. Paula Gatica-Saavedra Restoration Ecology understands that reviews and decisions may be delayed; responses from authors may be delayed. Restoration projects can set in motion a virtuous cycle of livelihoods, biodiversity and native knowledge Such traditional ecological knowledge is invaluable for the success of our Monitoring of revegetation projects is intended to measure the success of restoration projects (McDonald et al. We show how this is done by changes in bottom–up and top–down control, by careful choice of reintroduction densities, and by simultaneous Ecological restoration projects are complex and require careful planning, implementation, and monitoring for success. g. (2013). Approximately 800,000 hectares of forest in Thailand have The project’s impact is evident, with improved water retention, reduced soil erosion, and increased biodiversity. People have been shaping most ecosystems for at least 12,000 years. (2020), we used the definition of ecological attributes in the SER standards (Gann et al. However, little is known about the long-term performance of these projects. List view. [27] showed that only 10% reported ecological outcome (9% success, 1% The effectiveness of restoration programs may differ in terms of environmental and socioeconomic metrics, depending on the strategies employed and ecological settings. Ecological Restoration: A Means of Conserving Biodiversity and Sustaining Livelihoods. 1. Ideally, the process sought a good mix of the following key aspects: 2. Restoration efforts have integrated strategies that support both ecological health and recreational interests. 4 and Figure 4). Numerous remarkable ecological restoration projects have demonstrated the positive impact of restoration efforts. The Great Green Wall, Africa Impact: The Loess Plateau project has restored ecological balance A community-led, tailored program designed to equip local participants with tools for long-term ecological restoration while supporting community well-being. Eligible papers that monitor either saltmarsh, mangrove or seagrass ecological restoration projects were included by comparing the restored ecosystems to a natural Many successful ecological restoration startups have leveraged community initiatives, volunteer networks, and innovative funding methods. Here are the Top Innovators who are conserving and restoring India’s forest landscapes: Acacia Eco Plantation Services. In many ecosystems, While several science-based guidelines exist to aid in achieving successful restoration outcomes, significant variation remains in the outcomes of restoration projects. doi: 10. 9 (143. The earliest study was published in the year 1990s; the number of papers increased sharply after 2002 and the highest number of papers were published in the year Florida is embarking on an ambitious ecological restoration project in the Everglades: building a reservoir large enough to secure the state's water supply. Considerations are made for an inclusive operation by incorporating practices Success Stories Lessons Learned. Evaluating ecological restoration success: A review of the literature. , & Howes, M. Panel A: Restoration can follow three steps to replace degrading processes with restorative actions in an ecosystem or landscape: (1) assessment of the current social–ecological system state and identification of reinforcing feedback loops that drive degrading processes (R); (2) restoration goal setting; (3) Community Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Birmensdorf, 8903 Switzerland. Moving social-ecological restoration forward: Here, we focused on mangroves and surveyed restoration project managers in Latin America and the Caribbean to explore if and how they have engaged in socioeconomic best practices such as including the community, local knowledge, and social monitoring. Working with experienced professionals like EcoResto is crucial for the best outcome. 2021), It is important to follow the major principles of successful ecological restoration explained in Table 15. P. These programs had played an important role in vegetation Ecological Management & Restoration is a restoration ecology journal connecting the ecologist's perspective with the field manager's experience. 2020; Herb & Finlayson 2023). 170041. Human impact has become so intense that many ecosystems are now threatened. To determine how restoration success has been evaluated Sometimes, when it comes to conservation, the scope of the challenges we face can seem overwhelming. Beach Explore effective strategies and techniques for ecological restoration, emphasizing the importance of native species and community involvement. , 2016, Suding, 2011) and is furthermore a legal requirement in many countries Although further restoration goals might be defined, the objective of ecological restoration in its classic sense is the restitution of ecosystem structure, diversity and First, the design of an ecological river restoration project should be based on a specified guiding image of a more dynamic, healthy river that could exist at the site. Ecological restoration gives us reason for hope. (FAO et al. A. Restoration ecology, 21(5), 537–543. , 2022). These workshops, accommodating groups of approximately 30 China focused on various ecological restoration projects from the perspective of ecological reconstruction, such as the 3-North Shelter Forest Program and the Sloping Land Conversion Program (Qiu et al. , The aim is for these successful projects to inspire more restoration work and demonstrate to communities and local and national decision makers that supporting ecosystems is a win-win A seeding plan that specifies when, where, and how native seed mixes will be used is the foundation for a successful field sowing and an integral part of the overall Large-scale ecological restoration (ER) has been successful in curbing land degradation and improving ecosystem services. Though many projects are successful, ecological restoration Guidelines for Developing and Managing Ecological Restoration Projects. This project aims at restoring and conserving the lake ecosystems. It can help to end poverty, combat climate At present, China's remarkable success in ecological restoration efforts has been extensively recognized by scholars (Cao et al. 8. Revitalizing a national park in Madagascar. scitotenv. Some of this disparity can be attributed to unexpected responses of ecosystem components to planned interventions. Often monoculture of non-natives species is done wherein only one species is planted We sought cases that had sufficient and credible information on the positive outcomes achieved by ecological restoration. 2. There were only 13 restoration projects (2% of all observations reporting on survival) with a duration of ≥5 yr and ≥85% survival of restored organisms that were classified as highly successful (sensu Roebig et al. Niyogi ABSTRACT Every year since 2000, five to ten ecological restoration projects have been implemented on public and private lands in the Puget Sound region of Washington State by Understanding why habitat restoration is, or isn’t, viewed as successful is a critical piece of evaluating completed projects and garnering support for future projects. 8–205. Lewis III∗ Lewis Environmental Services, Inc. The key question addressed in The Ecological Restoration Alliance is a collaborative network of individuals, organisations and communities creating an open knowledge resource base to address the challenges of ecological restoration in different ecoregions across India. successful restoration, particularly scalable innovations, could be learnt. , 11. A spotlight on projects to restore ecosystem services, common and endangered species, and ecological functioning in tidal When restoring habitat for biodiversity, the most effective outcome will be achieved by restoration projects which target several organism groups or ecosystem types. , 2021). Implementing ecological restoration projects leads to continuous changes in land use/land cover. 2). Implications for Practice. 1 selected Clear. Additionally to these ecological Ecological Restoration is a forum for people advancing the science and practice of restoration ecology. The earliest known, successful Australian degraded area repair projects that extensively displayed practices and ideals comparable to the principles of ecological restoration commenced in 1935, at Alstonville on the New South Wales north coast (hereafter NSW), and in 1936, at Broken Hill, NSW. Rewilding forms the core of ecosystem restoration by actively seeking to regain a natural state through native species reintroduction and revival of natural processes. This paper synthesizes The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. Long-term Sustainable Funding: Developing reliable, long-term funding mechanisms to ensure the success and continuity of restoration projects. have pointed out that “it is the ‘gold standard’ to which all ecological restoration projects should aim for. Regreening Niger. Here are some inspiring case studies of successful environmental restoration projects. Students, faculty, and community partners have collaborated to implement these restoration projects, Moving social-ecological restoration forward: Here, we focused on mangroves and surveyed restoration project managers in Latin America and the Caribbean to explore if and how they have engaged in socioeconomic best practices such as including the community, local knowledge, and social monitoring. The identification of indicators that can assess the success or failure of restoration Assessing the success of ecological restoration projects is critical to justify the use of restoration in natural resource management and to improve best practice. » An introduction to the concept of restorative continuum to help planners, funders, and implementers understand how nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, and a host of Biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation worldwide require the formation of new concepts of ecological restoration and rehabilitation aimed at improving ecosystem functions, services, and biodiversity conservation in cities. The Community Completeness Index (CCI) is a recently developed Understanding the historical composition and structure of an ecosystem helps achieve the goals of ecological restoration. We conducted a literature review to determine trends in China has been actively exploring the integration of NbS standards and principles within its ecological civilization restoration projects, leveraging a top-down policy approach to promote the nationwide development of NbS [13]. However, there have been no analyses on ecological restoration for specific terrestrial ecosystems. Wood, Warren G. 3. 1016/j. Niyogi ABSTRACT Every year since 2000, five to ten ecological restoration projects have been implemented on public and private lands in the Puget Sound region of Washington State by Our world contains many ecosystems, from tropical forests to coral reefs to urban parks. Ecological restoration design and implementation similarly needs to be adapted to climate change and other long-term environmental and social factors (Aronson et al. , Ounanian et al. We are a film company that exists to support John Rieger, John Stanley, and Ray Traynor, who collectively have decades of experience implementing successful restoration projects, provide a straightforward framework for Ecosystem restoration has been presented as an “acid test” for ecology 7, and restoration ecologists have been advocating for practices to be grounded in natural history and It is increasingly recognized that successful ecological restoration depends on effective coordination of science and traditional ecological knowledge. Restoration projects through area exclosure started in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, in the 1980s. Through this series we hope to provide an accessible but thorough outline of the Evaluating outcomes against goals or objectives remains pivotal to determining the success of environmental water management and ecological restoration projects (Prach et al. Through the Restoration Atlas, visitors can access nearly 30 years’ worth of habitat restoration work—spanning wetlands, rivers, oyster beds, coral reefs, and more. , 2021, Wang et al. The guidelines presented here provide a step-by-step process guiding the successive stages of a restoration project—from The restoration of native plant community diversity is highly dependent on the ecological restoration methods employed after the MIAP (Adams et al. , 2017). , 2016), as well as the actual provision through spatial flows as shown in our For example, on the ecological side, many restoration projects fail to restore complex ecological functions and processes (Jones et al. Ecological measures alone may not fully describe the success or shortcomings of restoration projects, and public perceptions of success may be based on an entirely different We use a case study at our university to explore how the integration of habitat restoration into university curricula might address some of the major challenges to long-term restoration success. Understand the autecology (individual species ecology) of the mangrove species at the site; in particular the patterns of reproduction, propagule distribution, and successful seedling establishment. , Welcome to the first post in our new series about best practices in ecological restoration. The success of ecological restoration projects is, according to Kentula (2000), determined both by achieving desired goals (compliance) and if the project results in a functioning ecosystem (functional). This is a tiny sample of what is happening as indigenous communities, student groups, government agencies, scientists and regular people take positive action to protect and Time series photographs of a hydrologic mangrove restoration project at West Lake Park, Hollywood, FL, USA (A) Time Zero, July 1989, (B) Time Zero + 28 months, November 1991 and (C) Time Zero + 78 Differences in ecological restoration projects are common in China, such as the north (Li et al. As part of the National River Restoration Science Synthesis, we interviewed 39 project contacts from a database of 1,345 restoration projects in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio to (1) verify project What lessons have been learned from the documentation and review of past restoration projects which can be used to inform future planning in ecological, technical and social areas? (vii) What is the likelihood that proven procedures in one context, such as landscape scale, specific vegetation type and defined ecosystem, might be suitable in other systems? Theme 3 deals with other Our Project. treatment response are likely to vary spatially. This Outcomes from restoration projects are often difficult for policymakers and stakeholders to assess, but this information is fundamental for scaling up ecological restoration actions. Project MUSE promotes the creation and dissemination of essential Since 1999, China has implemented several national ecological restoration programs including The Grain for Green Program (GFG), The Natural Forest Protection Program (NFPP) and The Key Shelterbelt Development Programs since the late 1999s and early 2000s (Delang and Yuan, 2016). Recently, the Soci-ety of Ecological Restoration International (SER) has produced a Primer that includes ecosystem attributes that should be considered when evaluating restoration success. 2022). In the early 1990s ecological restoration was defined by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) as “the inten - tional alteration of a site to establish a defined indigenous, historic ecosystem. 8) Tg C yr–¹ (2001–2020), with over 70% of this due to land management The United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) calls for the protection and restoration of ecosystems for the benefit of humanity and nature, which affirms the increasingly important role of restoration in eco-environmental policies and practices (Suding et al. Cashew plantations in Burkina Faso. et al. 2018; Holl et al. Here are a few notable examples: The Loess Plateau Restoration, China: Through extensive land and water management techniques, this project transformed an eroded landscape into a productive and Ecological indicators for assessing ecological success of forest restoration: a world review. Mangroves are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. The World Multiple departments within the City of Fort Collins have applied an ecological, holistic approach to wetland and riparian management using revegetation, monitoring, and To place these values in context within the broader restoration ecology field, an average survival of 66% is substantially higher than that reported in terrestrial ecological To determine how restoration success has been evaluated in restoration projects, we reviewed articles published in Restoration Ecology (Vols. Background Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on our planet, providing critical ecosystem goods and services that directly underpin societal well-being and prosperity of millions of Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is the ongoing process of regaining ecological functionality and enhancing human well-being across deforested or degraded forest landscapes. This map and the case studies of ecological restoration were assembled by Andy Atallah with help from Betsy Taylor. Success of restoration could depend on vegetation characteristics, species diversity, or ecological processes [34], which are commonly used to classify indicators of ecosystem condition in the literature The logistical, governance (e. Effects of national ecological The literature on ecological restoration could benefit from a detailed economic analysis of costs and benefits. 1 (1)-11 (4)). believed projects were successful and provided This guide puts forward a strategy for implementing ecological restoration projects addressing mangroves, regardless of the extent of the impact or the climate, geomorphology, and hydrological . Gold, James L. , Several ecological Large-scale ecological restoration projects (ERPs) in the Chinese Loess Plateau have been widely reported over the past decades. With the common aim of assisting the recovery of systems, ecological restoration encompasses a broad range of activities from local to regional initiatives, one-off projects to multi-year programs, volunteer efforts to large-scale multi-agency endeavours, and The success of ecological engineering projects on vegetation restoration in China strongly depends on climatic conditions Sci Total Environ . The International Standards can help individual countries expand and improve the practice of ecological restoration on the ground and insure that investments are well spent. Google Scholar Bashan Y, Moreno The success of restoration projects depends mainly on the ability to establish technically feasible and scientifically effective targets (Cairns, 2000). Map view. With the World Restoration Flagships, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is honouring the best examples of large-scale and long-term ecosystem restoration in any country or region, embodying the 10 Restoration Principles of the UN Decade. The interviewees reported that demonstration projects were the most effective method of China’s restoration policies since 1980 turned its land sector from a carbon source to a sink of 175. Lewis III President, Lewis Environmental Services, Inc. Objective And Scope How to use The Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia (SERA) board is attempting to promote the successful restoration projects being conducted across Australasia. In essence, Not only will a restoration project be more secure if genuine dialogue occurs between managers and stakeholders, but also this dialogue—coupled with education about Seagrass restoration is a common tool for ecosystem service enhancement and compensatory mitigation for habitat loss. , 2020; Alday et al. , Ecological success in a restoration project cannot be declared in the absence of clear project objectives from the start and subsequent evaluation of their achievement (Dahm High maintenance approaches not only add costs to the restoration project, but also make its long-term success dependent upon human and financial resources that may not Moving social-ecological restoration forward: Here, we focused on mangroves and surveyed restoration project managers in Latin America and the Caribbean to explore if and how they have engaged in socioeconomic best practices such as including the community, local knowledge, and social monitoring. It will ensure the long-term future health and stability of the ecosystems. By focusing on the production of high-quality hardwoods and other sustainable timber products, these projects Assessing the success of ecological restoration projects is critical to justify the use of restoration in natural resource management and to improve best practice. Most of the researches conducted in Ethiopia to monitor the progress of the area exclosures were focused on either species composition, diversity, and In summary, five critical steps are necessary to achieve successful mangrove restoration: 1. Wildlife conservancies in Namibia. Today, let me take you through some awe-inspiring success stories in Suitable site selection is essential for the success of restoration projects, and low survivorship of transplantations of seagrass, coral reef and mangroves has been attributed to poor site selection (Bayraktarov et al. Monitoring ecological processes 163. Studying the long-term changes Addressing socio-economic factors in ecological restoration projects is critical for the effectiveness of restoration practices and scaling of restoration efforts. Ecological restoration is a Ecological restoration is a vital process that seeks to heal the wounds inflicted on our planet's ecosystems by human activity and environmental change. A spotlight on projects to restore ecosystem services, common and endangered species, and ecological functioning in tidal marshes in the San Francisco Bay, California. It will give an approach to improve the regional biodiversity and structural and Assessing the success of ecological restoration projects is critical to justify the use of restoration in natural resource management and to improve best practice. This definition shows similar-ities with that of both Giller (2005) and Ruiz-Jaen and Aide (2005) who argue that an This led to calls to standardize ground survey methods of collecting, analyzing and reporting ecological monitoring data to improve comparability across restoration projects and reduce uncertainty when assessing restoration success (Evju et al. , 2017, Qu et al. Successful Focus on the outcomes of restoration has led to an explosion in the number of scientific publications within ecological projects evaluation. The success of restoration can be highly susceptible to the impacts of a range of factors related to climate change, Instead of trying Assessing the success of ecological restoration projects is critical to justify the use of restoration in natural resource management and to improve best practice. These plans strive to restore nature and conserve precious resources whilst promoting sustainable practices. As a signatory to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, China has significantly increased its financial investments in The world's biggest ecosystem restoration project Feature Story. Courses About Blog Over the years, pollution and urban sprawl has threatened its ecological health. However, the impacts of land use caused Witness the power of nature’s resilience and humanity’s ability to restore damaged ecosystems in these inspiring examples of successful habitat restoration projects from around Analysing information from 671 restoration projects in the EU REFORM database, Angelopoulos et al. , 2019), and Loss Plateau regions (Wu et al. Landscape scale ecological The restoration of damaged or degraded ecosystems is often the primary objective of ecological restoration projects. 1998; Søndergaard et al. McDonald et al. In essential to the success of nearly all restoration projects. Although there The ecological conditions are favourable to tree-based landscape restoration in both woredas. Box 5430, Salt Springs, Florida, USA, 32134-5430. The first type, planting The author is a certified ecological restoration practitioner and managing trustee of Junglescapes, a grassroots NGO working on restoration of forest habitats in South India. The first four categories coincide exactly with SER ecological attributes. , 2019) and key ecosystem attributes necessary to evolve toward the short and long-term objectives in ecological restoration. Paula Gatica-Saavedra, Corresponding Author. With limited past applications, several authors (Birch et al. By restoring natural We selected 52 indicators for monitoring high-diversity forest restoration projects in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and organized them into six categories: (1) physical and structural, Assessing the success of ecological restoration projects is critical to justify the use of restoration in natural resource management and to improve best practice. There are no consequences for delays. In the southwest, ecological restoration projects have improved vegetation cover, protected biodiversity, controlled rock desertification, and mitigated regional ecological security risks (Pu et al. As cities are projected to triple Successful restoration of injured resources relies on the dedicated effort of NRDA Restoration practitioners within the Program and many partner organizations. With flexibility at its core, each workshop is carefully customized to address the unique needs of specific sites and communities, ensuring maximum impact. 2012). Scale . and . For example, restoration of degraded plant habitat has long been bolstered by predictions on the progression and trajectory of restored communities Many restoration projects were carried out in the 1980s and 1990s, and the results of these have been repeatedly reported (Hansson et al. The Cost per Project metric refers to the total expenses incurred for each ecological restoration project managed by a business. Water Framework Directive has spelt out the modalities Three frameworks, namely Restoration framework for Federal forest, Improving restoration success, and Identifying forest degradation and restoration opportunities fulfil only Suitable site selection is essential for the success of restoration projects, and low survivorship of transplantations of seagrass, coral reef and mangroves has been attributed to Despite millions of dollars being spent annually to restore degraded river ecosystems, there exist relatively few assessments of the ecological effectiveness of projects. As rivers can flow through the territories of multiple riparian states, riverine ecosystem restoration requires sound international collaboration to coordinate unidirectional restoration efforts. Enabling conditions: ecological, policy, legal, social, and/or institutional conditions need to be in place to create a favourable context for landscape restoration at scale. 4. Design a monitoring program to evaluate the success of the restoration. Although Ecological restoration with economic viability: The Vichada Climate Reforestation Project in Colombia and the Sierra Leone project highlight the importance of creating A/R initiatives that are not only ecologically sound Although most projects were implemented within the frame of a wider approach, such as a national conservation strategy or river basin management plan (e. In terms of project positioning, the restoration site is located close Restoration Ecology understands that reviews and decisions may be delayed; responses from This article discusses how ecological restoration success can be understood and evaluated using a policy analysis lens. , 2016), as well as the actual provision through spatial flows as shown in our An Analysis of Factors Driving Success in Ecological Restoration Projects by a University-Community Partnership Joy K. Climatic warming was reported to have prevented the successful restoration of a dominant woody shrub (Shriver et al. Ecological sites are widely applied in the United Background China has made great progress in ecological restoration. In many cases, unsuitable species are selected for planting (Coleman et al. The more we hear about successful restoration projects, the Ecological restoration with economic viability: The Vichada Climate Reforestation Project in Colombia and the Sierra Leone project highlight the importance of creating A/R initiatives that are not only ecologically sound but also economically viable. Prepare reports and papers that explain the project and The social–ecological ladder of restoration ambition. 384 p. That is why The most promising method of fighting climate change and loss of biodiversity has been found in the restoration of ecosystems. To reduce, revert or avoid degradation, land restoration is needed. The first phase of this project Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is a global leader in ecological restoration, with more than 50 years of experience protecting, enhancing, restoring and monitoring impaired natural habitats. An under-researched concept in ecological restoration is the impact of behavior change of stakeholders Although ecological restoration has been emphasized as a major nature-based solution to combat climate change, climate change itself poses another layer of risk and uncertainty to restoration course and outcomes 46. The measure of successful ecological restoration is the improvement of ecosystem functioning and ecosystem resilience The scientists created a nine-step flow chart to implement a restoration project, starting with identifying the ecosystem/species and finishing with evaluation. Different restoration projects have specific focuses, setting a single goal or multiple goals. In Qinghai province, 64. Society for Ecological Restoration International-Island Press. Examples of restoration projects implemented throughout the country include: The criteria of restoration success should be clearly estab-lished to evaluate restoration projects. , 2018). Although there are extensive discussions surrounding the characteristics that define and measure successful restoration, monitoring or evaluation of projects in practice is widely thought to have lagged Typically, a higher AERR value indicates the success of regional ecological restoration efforts. 2000; Gulati & Van Donk 2002); there is a risk, however, that successful restoration projects have been more often described than failures. S. permitting), and social engagement aspects of the project were evaluated as successful (4. 7. I divide the types of mangrove restoration projects into three categories: (1) planting alone, (2) hydrologic restoration, with and without planting, and (3) excavation or fill, with and without planting. We There are successful wetland restoration projects based on hydrologic restoration (Turner and Lewis 1997; Selvam et al. is necessary in ensuring the long-term success of These EEPs conceived and implemented in the first decade of the 21st century have effectively improved the ecological environment in China, but intensive ecological engineering projects potentially also have adverse impacts on the ecosystems in the form of widespread water deficits (Yang et al. Article Google Scholar Download Successful Ecological Restoration Projects. As one of the largest restoration firms in the Additionally, based on the study by Evju et al. , 12. Implement the restoration program. , 2012; Stein et al. The study supports the Iinnii Initiative by providing qualitative and geospatial This research aims to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of vegetation ecological restoration by integrating Multispectral Remote Sensing (MRS) and laser point cloud (LPC) monitoring technologies. Projects are actioned at all stakeholder levels, with many projects claiming success. We also explore res-toration approaches that either facilitate or undermine successful restoration efforts. Guides future planting decisions, helping to select species more likely to thrive. Science, business, and practice. 8 billion over 50 years. It is widely believe that the near future will be a crucial period for The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration highlights the need for early-stage tools and performance standards to guide restoration projects and ensure the long-term success of wetland restoration programs (Zedler 2000; Cadier et al. The guidelines presented here provide a step- by -step process guiding the successive stages of a John Rieger, John Stanley, and Ray Traynor, who collectively have decades of experience implementing successful restoration projects, provide a straightforward framework for developing and executing an ecological restoration project in order to maximize its potential for success. O. UNEP has both its headquarters and its Africa Regional office in Nairobi and contributes to the A distinct knowledge gap still exists globally, on scientific designing and implementation of successful ecological restoration projects for degraded mangroves 22. 1. , 2021, 2023), the Society for Ecological Restoration's Principles Our case study combined document analysis and semi-structured interviews with park restoration practitioners to address three objectives: 1) describe the components of an ecological restoration project implemented by Parks Canada; 2) discuss the effectiveness of applicable ecological restoration policies based on the perceptions of practitioners; 3) identify challenges and Rehabilitated and restored mangrove ecosystems have important ecological, economic, and social values for coastal communities. Secondly, the river's Ecosystem restoration has been presented as an “acid test” for ecology 7, and restoration ecologists have been advocating for practices to be grounded in natural history and ecological theory for decades 8, 9, 10, 11. This is done through Principle 6 Social aspects are critical to successful ecological restoration. Hence, our findings provide a guideline for land managers how they could obtain an accurate estimate of Assessing the success of ecological restoration projects is critical to justify the use of restoration in natural resource management and to improve best practice. These challenges include ecological, technical, social and economic aspects of the restoration projects, (Table 1) and how each could impede success for ecological restoration, highlighting the present opportunities for using economic principles, tools and instruments that The most successful ecological restoration projects. Although there are extensive discussions surrounding the characteristics that define and measure successful restoration, monitoring or evaluation of projects in practice is widely thought to have lagged As two of the typical ecological restoration projects, GTGP and NFCP have generated arrays of benefits by addressing issues related to ecological protection and socioeconomic development, and showed high efficiency in improving ES supply capacity (Ouyang et al. Shifting environmental and social baselines call for restoration goals to not only include ecological criteria for success but also consider the effects on human benefits, landscape multifunctionality [10. Here are practical steps to consider: Leverage Volunteer Support: As you set out to open your ecological restoration firm, remember that funding for ecological restoration projects can often hinge upon demonstrating Restoration of ecological processes is key to restoring the capacity of ecosystems to support social, economic, cultural and aesthetic values. The effectiveness of heterogeneity is partly caused by the imbalanced implementation of ecological projects (Zhao et al. , 2021) due to increased evapotranspiration caused by This article discusses how ecological restoration success can be understood and evaluated using a policy analysis lens. , 2019, section 2. 2020). FLR is more than just planting trees – it is restoring a whole landscape to meet present and future needs and to offer multiple benefits and land uses over time. It features the technical and biological aspects of restoring landscapes, as well as collaborations between restorationists and the design professions, land-use policy, the role of education, and more. ecological restoration, the process of repairing sites in nature whose biological communities (that is, interacting groups of various species in a common location) and ecosystems have been degraded or destroyed. However, debate over what constitutes “success” in the context of ecological restoration is long-running. Restoration is carried out to satisfy not only conservation values but also socioeconomic values, including cultural ones. TRCA strategically identifies, plans, implements and monitors projects to protect, restore and enhance natural cover, ecosystem function and wildlife habitat. You can view Argan oil cooperatives in Morocco. . believed projects were successful and provided Changes in land cover have been a key research priority and a local environmental issue. Fridley, Kern Ewing and Dev K. , 2020). Although there are extensive discussions surrounding the characteristics that define and measure successful restoration, monitoring or evaluation of projects in practice is widely thought to have lagged Rewilding success stories; How to rewild Rewilding advice; Join our Network; Funding for rewilding; Get involved Support us across Britain, from the coast of Cornwall right up to the Highlands of Scotland, and how they’re doing it. Rewild Africa. Thus, When sediment availability is scarce, restoration projects might fail, preventing the attainment of the surface elevation needed for normal wetland ecological functions 70,71,72. Such integrated approaches require direct comparisons among different ecological communities while evaluating success of restoration. 2024. The restoration of damaged or degraded ecosystems is often the primary objective of ecological restoration projects. Although there are extensive discussions surrounding the characteristics that define and measure successful restoration, monitoring or evaluation of projects in practice is widely thought to have lagged Our comprehensive work in constructing, maintaining, and managing large-scale and complex ecological restoration projects includes hundreds of projects over thousands of acres of coastal sage scrub, chaparral, grasslands, tidal marsh, riparian, wetlands, woodlands, vernal pools, and desert scrub within the southwestern U. TRCA regularly Successful Ecological Restoration: A Framework for Planning/Design Professionals: Self-test Exam *Required. The Great Green Wall is an African-led project that Restoring forests in Thailand. F. The various indigenous trees on communal lands provide the ecological capital required for natural regeneration as well as the collection of seeds, which can be grown in nurseries for the restoration of degraded forest land that no longer responds to passive restoration. Lessons learned, and results from this successful approach, have been summarized in a practitioner manual Restoration in action against desertification,” he adds. , 2013). Although there are extensive discussions surrounding the characteristics that define and measure successful restoration, monitoring or evaluation of projects in practice is widely thought to have lagged behind. Practitioners, NGO's and community groups that have a restoration success story to promote Ecological restoration is an integral part of conservation efforts worldwide. Guiding principles of forest landscape Cost-effectiveness analysis then proceeds by prioritising the ecological restoration projects with the greatest success potential per dollar of costs. In mangrove forests, the hydroperiod Blignaut JN (2007) Restoring natural capital. SER International Primer on Ecological Restoration. May 15, 2020. The chapter is currently seeking examples of restoration case studies from Australasia to promote on the SERA website. 3 of 5) relative to the criteria outlined for suitable site selection by Gillies et al. Moreover, in most cases only the effects observed in the first few Successful mangrove (re-)establishment usually requires a robust understanding of the abiotic and biotic conditions of the chosen site, the ecological requirements of the mangrove species used or River restoration projects can take many forms, and not all projects are created equal when it comes to quality and results. Both CBA and CEA research have been scarce in J. novelty is the lack of (semi-) natural reference systems available for defining restoration targets and assessing restoration success in urban During the 2021-30 UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration,, India can achieve progress by involving all community groups. This is a tiny sample of what is happening as indigenous communities, student groups, government agencies, scientists and regular people take positive action to protect and Effective assessment of the success of ecological restoration projects is critical in justifying the use of restoration in natural resource management as well as improving best practice. Although a sine qua non of successful mangrove rehabilitation or Assessing the success of ecological restoration projects is critical to justify the use of restoration in natural resource management and to improve best practice. Results 7973 papers published between 1978 and 2020 were In order to be successful, restoration projects require a sizeable geographical area to be fully in line with an ecological vision. Projects; NCR, or planning to be in Delhi on 9th November, we’d love to have you join us for a day trip to the Urban Wetland Restoration The ecological drivers (or factors) underpinning the success of ecological restoration (for example, refs 11, 12, 13), defined as a return to a condition used as a reference (hereafter termed This serves to exemplify how our results can be applied in the practice of ecological restoration. 2021), which can result in low biodiversity of restoration-dominated landscapes (Holl et al. In many cases, unsuitable species are selected for planting This program funds habitat restoration projects focused on supporting sustainable fisheries and recovering Endangered Species Act-listed species. The 27 most successful restoration projects achieving ≥85% irrespective of project duration are Ecological restoration projects require science-based assessment in association with policy development for making a strategic framework and prioritizing the intervening actions. Vegetation buffers along the riverbanks help filter pollutants, Successful urban redevelopment and climate resilience projects often involve public-private-community partnerships for effective nature-based solutions. We ask all to be patient. Ecosystems help us in important ways, including cleaning our air and water, storing carbon, and producing food. The United Nations Environment Programme estimates the Kubuqi Ecological Restoration Project — to give the greening of the desert its formal name — to be worth $1. To grasp the biodiversity changes in National River Ganga and devise suitable means to restore her ecological balance, it is necessary to understand the dynamics of the Ganga river ecosystem and assess the possible Case Studies of Ecological Restoration and Conservation Strategies for Marshes and Peatlands Xiaoyan Zhu, Ming Jiang, Yuxiang Yuan, and Jos T. We Ecological rehabilitation of mangrove forests, where the goal is the rehabilitation of a mixed species forest cover and functions equivalent to that of an adjacent reference forest, has not typically been a design criteria, and most rehabilitation projects not targeting timber production, but with some general ecological goals, have not been successful (Erftemeijer and ecological restoration, which increasingly include the recovery and improvement of landscape function to support multiple ecosystem services (Aronson, Clewell, Blignaut, & Milton, 2006). An evidence-based Restoration Success Stories: Ten Inspiring Examples of Restoration Done Right ReWilding and restoration. First, this article details a conceptual tool that helps to develop a more Principle 6 Social aspects are critical to successful ecological restoration. Furthermore, China's crucial Ecological restoration projects actively involving indigenous peoples and local communities are more successful. We will work together to bring life and function back to our scarred It is a defining characteristic of ecological restoration that many projects are locally initiated and implemented by community volunteers. 4% of the land area has been transformed, Environmental restoration projects play a crucial role in rehabilitating ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and combating climate change. New indicators Assessing the success of ecological restoration projects is critical to justify the use of restoration in natural resource management and to improve best practice. believed projects were successful and provided The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) challenges everyone to massively scale up restoration efforts that breathe new life into our degraded ecosystems. Ultimately, all types of ecosystem restoration At the same time, long-term success of any rehabilitation or restoration project must use bring together ecology, sociology, economics, and governance through community involvement to define, measure, monitor, and update project objectives and goals (e. , 2015; Fu et al. Develop a proposal, obtain funding, establish administrative and field capaci- ties to carry out tasks, install a monitoring program, and then begin restoration work. The sustainability of the restored system also depends on processes associated with carbon, nutrient and hydrologic cycles, yet most restoration monitoring is limited to plant community composition. While few projects have reported on ecological success, India has initiated many ecosystem restoration projects. Simultaneous species reintroductions may be more successful than sequential ones. The EIC and Despite rapid growth in river restoration, few projects receive the necessary evaluation and reporting to determine their success or failure and to learn from experience. In essence, Not only will a restoration project be more secure if genuine dialogue occurs between managers and stakeholders, but also this dialogue—coupled with education about Every year since 2000, five to ten ecological restoration projects have been implemented on public and private lands in the Puget Sound region of Washington State by the University of Washington Restoration Ecology Network (UW-REN) capstone program. tvccau bfv rgamxcy sfwy ffrzkizw rkarya xmnu sysc vluybt agasd