Download What Functions?

What Functions?
What is the role of restoration in a
resource management agency such as
the Forest Service?
Involved both WO and field.
Involved NFS, S&PF, and Research.
Simple but difficult questions:
Restore to what?
When?
Where?
Strong consensus that ecosystem
restoration is an overarching and
unifying theme for many FS
programs and activities.
Central to our mission.
Need general principles that have
wide application: both terrestrial and
aquatic systems.
Integrated approach to restoration
that includes the social, biological,
and physical sciences.
Need an ecosystem-based (vertical and
horizontal) approach to restoration?
Need to consider multiple spatial
scales (local and landscape).
Always the question: Restore
to what?
Instead of keying on restoring composition
and structure to a previous condition, focus
on restoring ecosystem health.
Advocate moving from backward- to
forward-looking concept.
Restoration becomes a form of climate
adaptation.
Ecosystem based
Multiple spatial scales
Involves social, physical, and biological sciences
Thinking about the future
Will it work in practice?
Is it cost effective?
What are appropriate reference conditions?
How do you measure success?
Ecosystem Function
Ecosystems have characteristic functional properties
that are defined by their process:
Mineral weathering
Organic matter decomposition
Cycling of water and nutrients
Energy flow
Biomass (carbon)
Ecosystem Function
Other properties are more associated with species,
populations, or communities:
Photosynthesis and respiration
Reproduction
Regeneration
Mortality
Succession
Measuring ecosystem health of
the forest. We have much
experience.
Mortality, regeneration,
productivity, structural complexity,
age class distribution, species
diversity, abundance of invasive
species.
Reference condition = Beginning condition
Δ in condition. Is it improving through time?
How much?
Time factor. When to restore?
Most difficult of the basic questions because
resources are always limited.
Few guidelines available.
Touchstones:
ECOMAP Group, USFS.
National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units by Cleland, Avers,
McNab, Jensen, Bailey, King, and Russell. In: Boyce and Haney, eds.
Ecosystem Management Applications… Yale University. 1997.
Ecoregions Map of North America. FS Miscellaneous Pub. 1548. Robert
Bailey. 1998.
Restoring Nature. Perspectives from the Social Sciences and Humanities.
Edited by Gobster and Hull. Island Press. 2000.
Forest Landscape Restoration, Integrating Natural and Social Sciences.
Edited by Stanturf, Lamb and Madsen. Springer. 2012.
Bosworth and Brown. Investing in the Future: Ecological Restoration and
the USDA Forest Service. J. For. 2007.
Functional Restoration.
It’s all about investing in the future.