To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering. Aldo Leopold: Round River 1948
The science of Restoration Ecology
The simplest way to approach ecological rehabilitation on a given site. It's the first step in the process known as Planned Intervention, in which assessment and the systematic prioritising of sites and works is the key. Not only will action in this order preserve the most important ecological processes effectively, but they will create the most cost-effective results A site vegetation quality assessment is necessary to establish which of the below 3 options or combinations of options are appropriate. _ This is a form of ecological triage Site prioritisation and weed prioritisation are the two next steps after working out what kind of intervention is needed |
Go to these pages... EVCs
What's an EVC?
Restoration EcologyNatural Regeneration - Better than planting?Site PrioritisationWeed PrioritisationRestoration planning & implementationThe Bradley MethodDownload restoration ecology manuals |
1. Retention of indigenous vegetation
Remnant indigenous vegetation is much more complex then we will ever be able to document or understand. The array of species within natural vegetation doesn't just include the easily seen plants and animals but of course, many cryptic organisms, such as geophytes, mosses, lichens, fungi, soil flora and fauna etc. The habitat features that wildlife populations require are often present in remnant native vegetation but are usually absent in degraded sites and revegetation efforts. High quality remnants can be encouraged to recruit species outwards into surrounding species-poor degraded areas. These areas will provide indigenous seeds or other propagation materials for complementary plantings. Retention is all about weeding and follow-up weeding. If you pull the weeds out, the bush comes back. Identifying and retaining existing indigenous vegetation must be the highest priority because it is the least expensive and most effective way of preserving indigenous flora and fauna bio-diversity and their habitats.
2. Regeneration of indigenous vegetation
This phrase refers to sites where some or minimal remnants of native vegetation remain. Restoration implies that an initial framework or structure of native vegetation is present to build around
The management responses to restoration objectives will range from encouraging natural regeneration through weed control to selective revegetation
The remnant soil-stored seed should not be underestimated
Each regenerating indigenous seedling can reasonably be costed at the same price as a planted tube. Again, weeding and follow-up weeding is the key. The healthier the vegetation community and the less disturbance that occurs, the less susceptible it will be to weed invasion
3. Revegetation (or remediation) of indigenous vegetation
Replacing lost indigenous habitat sometimes has to be done from scratch but this is the most difficult, expensive and least effective option for restoring indigenous ecosystems and should be the absolute last resort. Typically, for better or worse, this option features herbicide, woody mulch and plant tube stock and is effectively a garden bed approach. To be very clear here, this is horticulture, not restoration. Mulch can prevent many long-lived indigenous seeds surviving in the soil from germinating and has a very low habitat value. Plant stock should be sourced from the local gene pool and this usually requires expert seed collection, propagation and a long lead time. Long term weeding of revegetation sites, avoiding herbicides due to possible off-target effects on soil flora, fungi and fauna, without mulching is a time-expensive commitment. A given vegetation community can consist of scores of plant species alone and propagation and planting cannot hope to create this diversity
A planning triage method such as that above should be part of a detailed and methodical plan
Before considering any planting in remnant vegetation of any quality, see
Looking after the Bush: Natural regeneration is better than planting here
download the 3Rs as a.pdf | |
File Size: | 18 kb |
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planning & implementing ecological restoration & remediation projects.pdf | |
File Size: | 35 kb |
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It is estimated that, in Victoria, private land
supports 30 per cent of the important locations for threatened species
with 60 per cent of native vegetation types on private land currently
threatened with extinction Source
Even those that are in urban areas and don't have land to restore can get into the game, see reconciliation ecology