Written by Monica Nova, Restoration Ecologist
It’s about time to spotlight our Restoration Program! Often seen as the folks at SSI that are either out in the field or in a potentially mysterious state of scientific inquiry, partner collaboration, and project implementation, it’s easy for this keystone program to fly under the radar. When taking this up close look, it’s important to first consider SSI’s restoration philosophy.
Employing a tailored approach adapted to the unique nature of each restoration project, SSI forms stewardship-based relationships to address ecosystems’ inherent complexity. With a goal of fostering self-sustaining, balanced ecosystems with benefits lasting for decades to come, SSI applies restoration methods and monitoring designed to:
- Enhance native biodiversity and ecosystem function
- Recover ecosystem degradation, damage, and destruction
- Proactively address climate change impacts
- Maximize ecosystem benefits
- Uphold human connection to the natural world
What is Restoration, Anyway?
Ecological restoration aims to initiate, recreate, or accelerate a disturbed ecosystems’ recovery. Ecosystems are complex groups of organisms, landscapes (including soil and other nonliving elements), and processes; the “structure” of an ecosystem refers to how these components interact with each other, while the “function” of an ecosystem refers to the resulting properties of that system.
For example, animals, one fundamental component of an ecosystem, impact ecosystem function and stability by influencing plant propagation, as well as other ways, too! The life activities of animals feeding, excreting, and moving, influences their surrounding environment. Animals cycle nutrients when they consume plants, and then excrete nutrient-rich waste, which in turn helps promote and feed plant growth. Additionally, animals disperse seeds from the plants they consume, which impacts the plant communities by promoting plant regeneration and biodiversity.
Ecosystem function considers the big picture, combining all of the processes, including biological and physical interactions within an ecosystem, and considering how these aspects work together. System function is fundamental, and critically important, to the health of an ecosystem. An ecosystem’s structure and function become altered when disturbance results in environmental change. This disturbance and damage comes in many forms, including damming rivers, intensive resource extraction, overgrazing, and through natural disasters such as floods and fire.
Restoration actions and activities involve careful human intervention designed to address the impact of these disturbances and move natural systems toward improved health and function. Methods of restoration often focus on habitat enhancement designed to increase suitability for target species, or mitigation of future damage. Perhaps most importantly, restoration is not “one size fits all.” Additionally, it doesn’t always work!
Restoration activities are based on understanding the history of the site’s structure and function, and it’s important to exercise humility with respect to what we think we know and what we don’t know! This makes tracking restoration results and outcomes through long term monitoring exceptionally important. Through careful observation we can continue to build understanding about restoration method efficacy.
Restoration Ecology and Community Science
Restoration ecology is the scientific study of repairing disturbed ecosystems. Leveraging 30 years of monitoring experience and expertise, SSI’s Restoration Program includes careful observation and tracking of changes over time to assess system function, determine project success, evaluate ecological effectiveness, and provide science-based answers to advance the practice of restoration both on site and beyond.
Community science is a natural fit for restoration, as many projects are locally initiated, involve community volunteers, and include collaborations among a diverse group of interested parties. Each restoration project SSI initiates provides an opportunity to restore human relationship with nature, whether it’s through volunteering with SSI, working at a restoration site, or enjoying a book by the creek. Restoration truly puts the “community” in community science!
Be on the lookout for Part 2 in the next newsletter to learn more about SSI’s current restoration projects, as well as take a deeper dive into restoration practice’s past, present and future!
