Planning restoration projects requires review of disturbance conditions and reference areas, development of a reference model, and consideration of specific objectives, timeframes, budgets, available personnel, stakeholders, equipment, plant materials, supplies, and other resources (Figs. 1a and 1b, Gann et al. 2019). General and more specific guidelines for planning and conducting restoration are provided by Society for Ecological Restoration standards, guidelines, and principles for and their restoration standards tools.

Planning priorities at baseline restoration stage
Figure 1a. Evaluation of baseline site conditions for initial planning (left) and for follow-up 10 years post-treatment. Green areas indicate condition level for each factor (1=low, 5=high). See Gann et al. (2019) for details.
Planning priorities at the 10-year post-restoration stage
Figure 1b. Evaluation of baseline site conditions for initial planning (left) and for follow-up 10 years post-treatment. Green areas indicate condition level for each factor (1=low, 5=high). See Gann et al. (2019) for details.

Application

Preparation for implementation of restoration may require months or years if factors such as amelioration of disturbances causes, extensive site repair, or seed collection and increase (Fig. 2) are required. The selection of target species requires a review of disturbance conditions and reference areas, development of a reference model, and consideration of specific objectives, timeframes, budgets, available personnel, stakeholders, equipment, and other resources.

Seed supply chain: planning, seed sourcing, collecting, production, cleaning, storage, testing, and seeding
Figure 2. The seed supply chain includes all factors that must be considered and scheduled in order to obtain high quality, genetically diverse, locally adapted material for a specific restoration site. Material may be immediately available or require 2 or more years for collection and increase of appropriate seed sources.

References

Armstrong, A.; Christians, R.; Erickson, V. 2017. Roadside revegetation: An integrated approach to establishing native plants and pollinator habitat. Version1.2 U.D. Washington, DC: Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. 493 p.

Erickson, V.J.; Halford, A. 2020. Seed planning, sourcing, and procurement. Restoration Ecology. 28(S3): S219-S227.

Gann, G.D.; McDonald, T.; Walder, B.; Aronson, J.; Nelson, C.R.; Jonson, J; and others. 2019. International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Second edition. Restoration Ecology. 27: S1-S46.

Kuska, C. 1980. Minimizing vegetation and soil disturbance in pipeline construction. In: 34th Annual Report of the Vegetative Rehabilitation and Equipment Workshop (VREW); 1980 February 10-11; San Diego, CA: 19-21.

Kuska, C.; Brown, R. 1990. Minimizing vegetation and soil disturbance in pipeline construction. In: 43rd Annual Report of the Vegetative Rehabilitation and Equipment Workshop (VREW); 1989 February 19-20; Billings, MT. Missoula, MT: USDA Forest Service Technology and Development Center: 24.

Vogel, W.G. Ecological considerations in designing and selecting reclamation equipment. In: VREW 37th Annual Report; 1983 February 13-14; Albuquerque, NM: 59-63.