Natural History of Ecological Restoration
A natural history notebook and joint project of the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Ecological Health Network, and the Restoration Ecology Lab at Virginia Tech
About Us
Through this blog, we aim to share stories about the people, places, organisms, institutions, and interactions involved in ecological restoration projects. Our mission is aligned with the strategy of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to empower, expand, and accelerate the restoration movement and a global transition towards a culture of restoration.
Recent Blog Posts
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From Saline Soil to Working Steppe: Restoring Native Grassland and Livelihoods in Northeast China
WWF China’s restoration project in Qian’an County aims to combat soil salinization in Northeast China’s grasslands while integrating local livelihoods. Through native grass seeding and specific soil preparation, the initiative has successfully promoted biodiversity recovery over three years. It underscores the necessity of combining ecological goals with sustainable agricultural practices for lasting success.
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Invasive plants, restoration, and the soundscapes of urban streams
By Gabrielle Ripa Dr. Gabrielle Ripa is a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University. Imagine: it’s a nice warm and breezy evening and you decide to enjoy your dinner outside. You hear the burbling of a nearby stream mingling with the nightly chorus of frogs and insects. Maybe a Barred Owl is asking “who…
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From green and blue forests to social-ecological restoration: restoration futures in southern Chile
Matías Barceló, an early career researcher in Chile, studies local community engagement in ecosystem restoration at the land-sea interface. His work emphasizes integrating ecological evidence with local knowledge and values to create effective restoration initiatives. The project aims to promote social-ecological restoration by focusing on community priorities and participation in southern Chile.
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News from the Northeast Seed Network: Launching Wild Seed Collection Protocols
By Eve Allen, Geordie Elkins, Heather Liljengren, and Sefra Alexandra Eve Allen is the US Northeast Regional Director at the Ecological Health Network. In this role, she co-coordinates the Northeast Seed Network. She is joined by Geordie Elkins, the Executive Director of the Highstead Foundation, Heather Liljengren, the owner and president of Local Land Consulting, and Sefra Alexandra- The Seed…
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From Hayfield to Meadow: An Herbicide-Free Sod Removal Trial to Restore Native Meadows in Virginia’s Northern Piedmont Region, USA.
Charlotte Lorick, Head of Biodiversity Conservation at Oak Spring Garden Foundation, discusses her initiative to restore a native meadow in Virginia. The project employs sod removal instead of herbicides to enhance biodiversity. Early results show a significant increase in native species richness and a decrease in non-native vegetation, indicating effective restoration.