Ecological Restoration
The goal of ecological restoration is to establish resilient ecosystems which reflects the historic flora and fauna relationships of a given locale.
The goal of ecological restoration is not to recreate a carbon-copy of the historic ecosystem, but rather to recover a selection of lost species or functions, to develop resilient local flora & fauna associations, and to design ecosystem management regimes in perpetuity.
Our process:
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Observe active site dynamics and research records of presettlement ecosystem conditions.
2
Develop a restoration plan.
3
Apply the appropriate techniques and technologies.
4
Integrate feedback over time.
Management prescriptions may include, but are not limited to: the re-introduction of lost plant species, the reestablishment of disturbance regimes, the manipulation of landform & hydrology, and more.
Restoration Modalities
After considering the historic ecological context, we may derive a series of restoration modalities, which determine the overall approach to restoration. These are defined most generally by canopy coverage and soil moisture content.
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The spectrum of canopy coverage includes: prairie, savanna, woodland, and forest. Each of these cover types are associated with unique species compositions, wildlife habitats, and natural disturbance regimes.
In addition to the spectrum of canopy coverage, we will consider the spectrum of soil moisture: dry, dry-mesic, mesic, mesic-wet, and wet. The seasonal moisture content of the soil will also affect the species composition, wildlife habitat, and natural disturbance regime of the site. It is determined by soil texture, climate conditions, underlying geology, and historical events.
Restoration-based Forestry
Old-growth forests accounted for a vast majority of North American forest lands before modern settlement. These forests take at least 200 years to develop naturally, and may take longer in many circumstances. Most forests today are in relatively young stages of development, approximately 100 years or less in maturity. Further, most forests have been selectively cultivated for highly productive timber species, or they have been completely severed from their native seed banks and historical disturbance regimes.
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When considering a restorative management approach, it is necessary to encourage the characteristic features of old-growth forests in order for the establishment of rare and sensitive forest species to occur. The primary characteristics include large rotting logs, standing dead snags, diverse tree species and age classes, complex canopy gap dynamics, and microclimates. Based on the context, management may be approached more or less intensively in order to achieve similar results across different timeframes.
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The terms “Passive” & “Active” management offer us a spectrum of intensiveness regarding human intervention. It is recommended that in pursuing any form of active management, that an experienced forester is involved onsite in order to accurately measure and evaluate site conditions.
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Passive management involves minimal human intervention and may take upwards of a century to develop the characteristic structure of an old-growth forest. Activities may include planning, surveying, monitoring, designating and protecting legacy trees, and responding to natural disturbances such as tornadoes, floods, and fires.
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Active management engages human intervention regularly and seeks to accelerate the successional development of old-growth characteristics. Activities may include planning, surveying, monitoring, thinning, girdling, felling, tree planting, timber extraction, designating and protecting legacy trees, prescribed burning or grazing, fertilization, mulching, and more.