September 17, 2008 
Restoration Volunteers RESTORE header 

Society for Ecological Restoration International

In This Issue
Get Involved
People in the News
New Books & Articles
Restoring Natural Capital
Agro-Ecology
Biodiversity & Climate
Forest Restoration
Wetland Restoration
River Restoration
Lake Restoration
Coastal Restoration
Wildlife Restoration
Extractive Industries
Invasive Species
Urban Restoration
Recreation & Tourism
Funding Opportunities
Sponsors
Biohabitats Logo
Biohabitats, Inc.
Membership

RESTORE is distributed to current SER members. Make sure you don't miss a single issue!
 
Renew Online
Quick Links


GRN Logo

 
 
 
 
serlogoRESTORE is a weekly e-bulletin, published by SER International, linking you to the latest, breaking news stories from around the world keeping you up-to-date on a wide variety of topics related to ecological restoration including the latest funding opportunities. RESTORE is free to SER International members and can be subscribed to for only $20/year by visiting: www.ser.org/content/restoration_network.asp.
 

Tony Bradshaw: Evolutionary Biologist at the Cutting Edge of Land Restoration

In 2006, the Environment Agency published a poll of its top 100 eco-heroes of all time. Next to Charles Darwin was the name of Tony Bradshaw, a pioneer of restoration ecology, who has died aged 82. That juxtaposition was stunningly appropriate, for Tony made his name as an evolutionary biologist. His work on the evolution of tolerance to heavy metals in plants growing in contaminated soils remains the clearest and best example of evolution in action, and Darwin would have applauded it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/sep/11/evolution

Get Involved / Community-Based Restoration

 

Aspen Restoration Comments Sought

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comment on a proposal to restore aspen stands in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The Aspen Community Restoration Project would restore about 1,115 acres of aspen stands over the next 10 years. Aspen stands provide important habitat for many plant and animal species, yet they comprise only two percent of the landscape on public land at Lake Tahoe. The project would target aspen stands that are at moderate or higher risk of loss and are not included in another project. Fire suppression efforts have increased fuel loading in aspen stands, which can lead to increased burn severity and duration, resulting in the loss the aspen stand.

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20080911/NEWS/809119995/-1/SPORTS&parentprofile=-1

 

Pioneer Bluffs Talk will Focus on Restoring Ecology

Jonathan Todd, president of Todd Ecological Design, will lead a discussion later this month in Chase County on ecological technologies for environmental restoration. The discussion, "Ecology Site Restoration" will begin at 2 p.m. Sept. 20 at Pioneer Bluffs near Matfield Green.

The gathering, part of the Prairie Talk series, will explore ecological design, a science based on applying the principles that govern the natural world to human systems.

http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2008/sep/08/pioneer_bluffs_talk_will_focus_restoring_ecology/

 

Los Angeles River Restoration Events: October 2 & 4

Los Angeles welcomes a delegation from Munich that successfully shepherded the restoration of its own industrialized river, the Isar, into a "re-naturized" resource that provides both flood control and recreation. Highlights of the visit will include a free public forum to study how the lessons of the Isar might be applied to the Los Angeles River, and FoLAR's RioFiest, which will celebrate the Isar River and local heroes with live music, food and a Bavarian beer garden on the Sixth Street Bridge.

http://rare-earth-news.blogspot.com/2008/09/october-2-4-l.html

People in the News

 

Notes from Our Summer Intern

This summer we were very fortunate to have Eric Van Arsdale, a sophomore in environmental studies from Brown University, as an intern in the Natural Areas. Eric came to us with interests in ecology and environmental policy, and a strong back. Here at the Garden, he was very involved in invasive species removal from the Natural Areas, propagation of native plants, learning to identify native species, and planning restoration activities. He writes about his experiences in restoration ecology in this Preserve Blog.

http://preserveblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/notes-from-our-summer-intern.html

 

Israel Awards "Lifetime Achievement Award for Environmental Protection"

The award ceremony for the presentation of the "Lifetime Achievement Award for Environmental Protection" will take place on September 16, 2008, in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, the Minister of Environmental Protection Gideon Ezra and the Minister of Tourism Ruhama Avraham Balila, who is also responsible for Israel's 60th year anniversary celebrations. The award presentation ceremony is meant to salute the recipients of the prize, in particular, and the environment itself, in general. The award itself was specially designed by Israeli sculptor David Gerstein.

http://www.environment.gov.il/bin/en.jsp?enPage=e_BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=Object&enDispWho=News^l4329&enZone=e_news

 

Rata Returns To The Gorge

Chris Thomasen from Feilding has won a 2008 Conservation Award for her outstanding commitment to conservation in the community. She received the award at a packed Forest and Bird Manawatu meeting this week in Palmerston North. In presenting the award, Jason Roxburgh, Area Manager for the Department of Conservation (DOC), described the variety of ways Chris has contributed to conservation over many years. She is best known in the community for her skill in propagating and growing on native trees, and in particular Rata, "Chris's particular dedication to Northern Rata, and her enthusiasm for a vision of the Manawatu Gorge again ablaze with Rata red, continues to inspire everyone involved in restoring the Gorge ecosystem" said Mr Roxburgh.

http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/rata-returns-gorge/5/2770

 

Conservation Requires Community Involvement, says Ramsar Laureate
Assoc Prof Sansanee is recognised by the Ramsar Committee for her lengthy dedication to wetland conservation work both at policy-making and grassroots levels. She is also an ardent networker, and has been widely involved with communities and their representatives, placing value on traditional knowledge and culture related to wetlands. She has been credited with numerous publications on the issue. One of the most remarkable items is Classification and Inventory of Wetlands and Aquatic Ecosystems in the Mekong Basin in Thailand, which was submitted to the Mekong River Commission Secretariat in 2003.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/110908_Outlook/11Sep2008_out45.php

New Books & Articles
 

Ecological Restoration in Southeastern British Columbia: Grasslands to Mountaintops

The British Columbia Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER-BC) and the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI) co-hosted this regional conference. Southeastern British Columbia is a hotbed for ecological restoration. Themes covered at this conference included: Restoration of grasslands and forests at different elevations; Rehabilitation of mine spoils; Restoration of wetland and aquatic features.

http://www.cmiae.org/pdf/Ecosystem_restoration_2007_conf_summary.pdf

Restoring Natural Capital (RNC)
 

Earth's Life Support System Failing Us

South Africa cannot develop a robust economy while our ecosystems "fail around us" and the government, the private sector and civil society must work together to sort this out, speakers have said at the WWF Sanlam Living Waters Partnership Symposium at Kirstenbosch. "It really is time for action. Now," said Deon Nel, the partnership's manager. "The life support systems of the Earth are failing around us. About 75 percent of fish stocks are fully or overexploited. And about 4,3-billion people are living in water-stressed catchment areas."

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=143&art_id=vn20080911062252622C706361

Agro-Ecology
 

UK: Warwickshire Farm Teams Up with RSPB

The earth has moved at one Warwickshire farm in an attempt to encourage threatened birds back to the area. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Natural England, and farmer Stuart Russell have started a groundbreaking project to boost dwindling numbers of wetland birds and wildlife. Work began yesterday on building a network of pools and scrapes at Mr Russell's farm in Kites Hardwick, between Leamington and Rugby.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/south-warwickshire-news/2008/09/10/warwickshire-farm-teams-up-with-rspb-92746-21717593/

 

Kansas: Nature Does the Work at this Farm

With the remaining 60 acres, the Dhooghes during the past decade have nurtured a wetlands habitat restoration project called Fern Creek Wetlands, in partnership with the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service's Wetlands Reserve Program and the Oregon Institute for Applied Ecology. The land runs a quarter-mile by a half-mile, he said. Their organic sensibilities extend to the wetlands ground, as well. They plant and propagate native plants such as Nelson's checker mallow (a flowering plant on the endangered species list since 1993) using only organic methods, and manage to control undesirable or invasive plants without the use of chemicals.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080914/NEWS/809140322/1001/NEWS

Biodiversity & Climate Change
 

Old Growth Forests Are Valuable Carbon Sinks

Contrary to 40 years of conventional wisdom, a new analysis published in the journal Nature suggests that old growth forests are usually "carbon sinks" - they continue to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change for centuries. However, these old growth forests around the world are not protected by international treaties and have been considered of no significance in the national "carbon budgets" as outlined in the Kyoto Protocol. That perspective was largely based on findings of a single study from the late 1960s which had become accepted theory, and scientists now say it needs to be changed.

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/38179

 

Cities Commit to Defend Biodiversity
Political representatives from 21 cities around the world have signed a declaration to protect and re-develop urban biodiversity in their towns. Each city committed to identifying five vital initiatives to conserve plants, animals and natural resources and put those plans into practice within the next 18 months. From Africa, the Namibian town of Walvis Bay and four South African municipalities -- Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni -- are part of the Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB) project, which was kicked off in 2006 at the Sustainability World Congress by the International council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43863

 

EU Facing 'Tough Choices' on Policies to Boost Conservation

Climate change is forcing a radical rethink on EU conservation policy, a conference in Belgium attended by 500 experts from 40 countries, including Ireland, has been told. "There will be tough choices and thorny questions ahead," Dr James Harris, of Cranfield University, London, told the Society for Ecological Restoration International's 6th European Conference in Ghent. "Some of the debate will be very fierce and revolve around property rights. We will need new powers to deal with the coming crisis." Conservation in the EU is currently based on the protection of individual species in particular habitats. The large network of protected sites known as Natura 2000, established under the habitats directive, is widely regarded as an international template for science-guided environmental policy.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0913/1221235780226.html

 

Regrowing the Amazon Rainforest will Require Help from Bats and Birds

As large tracts of Amazon rainforest are degraded by industrial logging and cleared for cattle pasture and agriculture, other deforested areas are abandoned and being reclaimed by forest. Understanding this recolonization of degraded forest lands by pioneer species will critical to efforts to rehabilitate restore forests around the world.

http://news.mongabay.com/2008/0915-bentos_tcs.html

 

Nevada Wilderness Group Wins National Award

A Nevada environmental organization has won the U.S. Forest Service's highest wilderness stewardship award for a group. The Friends of Nevada Wilderness will receive this year's Bob Marshall Award for Group Champion of Wilderness Stewardship at an Oct. 15 ceremony in Washington, D.C. In 2007, about 250 volunteers completed 33 wilderness restoration and monitoring projects, donated over 6,000 hours of labor and saved the government more than $112,000 in costs, Forest Service officials said.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10463207?nclick_check=1

Wetland Restoration
 

Minnesota: Stevens County Wetlands Part of $2 Million Restoration Project

Stevens County will be one beneficiary of $2 million in funding to restore wetlands and migratory bird habitat. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission recently approved $2 million in federal funding to enhance and restore wetlands and critical migratory bird habitat in Minnesota.

http://www.morrissuntribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=14892§ion=News&freebie_check&CFID=87933465&CFTOKEN=72991215&jsessionid=88302903d80382241344

 

Canada: EnCana Donation to Help Expand Natural Wetlands

While one Calgary-based oil company is cleaning up a well leak that led to the deaths of 500 birds, another is pledging $1 million for wetland conservation. EnCana is partnering with Ducks Unlimited to restore wetlands around operating areas in BC and Alberta. "The money will be used for habitat restoration, conservation and education on the importance of conservation," says Mike Forgo of EnCana.

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/Local/article/110564

River & Watershed Restoration

 

The Corsica River: A Template for Restoration?

Two years ago, the Our Bay section in The Capital featured the Corsica River and posed the question: "Can This River be Saved?" While a science-based answer will take more time to formulate, the people living here believe more than ever that it can be done. Much has been accomplished and much has been learned. Perhaps the greatest lesson is that it takes a watershed to save a river. Communities and their local governments must be fully engaged and cooperating with state and federal programs in order to make it happen. As our new millennium began, the Corsica River was in an increasingly degraded condition. Like many of the Chesapeake Bay's tributaries, the river looked wonderful, but it had become a surface beauty with severe underlying problems.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1556112/this_weeks_take_the_corsica_river_a_template_for_restoration/

 

American Rivers and NOAA Award $310,000 to Restore Rivers and Improve Fish Passage
Rivers and fisheries nationwide are getting a boost, thanks to a partnership between American Rivers, the nation's leading river conservation organization, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center. $310,000 in Community-based Habitat Restoration Program Partnership grants were awarded this year to improve fish passage on rivers in five states.

http://www.americanrivers.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11901

 

Vermont: Stretch of Batten Kill Restored

Another half mile of the Batten Kill's banks and wildlife habitats were restored over the last few weeks as the Batten Kill Watershed Alliance and other agencies work to restore the river's trout population. Workers from the Green Mountain National Forest, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources' Fish & Wildlife Department and Dorset private contractors Dydo & Company and Bruce Waite Logging have been working on the "Twin Rivers Extension" project since the beginning of the month using the lands of Dr. William Lesko as a staging area.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080913/NEWS02/809130335/1003/NEWS02

Lake Restoration 

 

Obama Proposes $5-billion Fund to Restore Great Lakes

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama promised on Tuesday to make restoring the Great Lakes a top priority of his administration and said he would push for a $5-billion trust fund to help get it done. Obama released a five-point Great Lakes plan, noting that he and his family have lived near the shores of Lake Michigan for two decades. Under the plan, he would create a Great Lakes czar within the Environmental Protection Agency, clean up polluted hot spots around the lakes and have a zero-tolerance policy toward invasive species by targeting the ballast water in ships. The plan also calls for funding expensive repairs to end sewer overflows throughout the region, which send harmful bacteria into the lakes.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080917/NEWS15/809170386

Coastal & Marine Restoration
 

Florida: Beach Restoration Projects Cost Millions and Could Put Coral Reefs at Risk

"I don't know if they are ever going to solve these problems because storms are going to keep coming and sand is going to keep moving," Brown said. Those changes along the coastline are no accident. Efforts to save Palm Beach County's beaches involve complex projects that cost taxpayers millions of dollars and cause environmentalists to worry about damage to coral reefs. Two projects are getting particular attention from environmental groups. One off Boynton Beach is being evaluated by the state to see whether it is being monitored properly to protect coral reefs. The other, a plan by the town of Palm Beach to restore the south end of its shore, has been the focus of public hearings during the past few weeks.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpsand0910pnsep12,0,6864310.story

 

California: Spill Fine will Aid Lagoon Projects

The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board levied the penalty yesterday, but it agreed that instead of sending $600,000 to a state fund that pays for enforcing pollution laws, as proposed, it would send only $200,000 to Sacramento. The remaining $900,000 will go toward projects in the Buena Vista Lagoon and its watershed: $500,000 for studies aimed at restoring the lagoon, and $400,000 to restore 4 acres in the Buena Vista Creek Ecological Reserve.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20080911-9999-1mc11spill.html

 

Florida: Fines Do Little to Stop Cutting of Mangroves

Whatever the reason - to increase usable land, ignorance of the law or willful disregard of it - people are illegally cutting mangroves, among Florida's most valuable resources, and usually getting away with what some see as inadequate fines in a process that can take years. The state, however, defends the penalties it hands out, noting punishments often go well beyond fines. "We take illegal mangrove cutting very seriously," said Tim Rach, an environmental administrator in the state's Office of Submerged Lands and Environmental Resource Permitting. "Mangroves are a dwindling resource. We do what we can."

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?&Dato=20080913&Kategori=GREEN&Lopenr=80913026&Ref=AR

Wildlife Restoration

 

UK: Scotland Urged to Speed up Reintroduction of Lynx

A leading wildlife expert has called for Scotland to accelerate plans to re-introduce extinct species. Speaking ahead of a major conference today, Roy Dennis said he thinks the Highlands could support the reintroduction of the lynx and the wolf. But Mr Dennis, who was instrumental in bringing the white-tailed sea eagle back to Scotland, said he worries Scotland is too "conservative" when it comes to reintroductions.

http://bigcatnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/scotland-urged-to-speed-up.html

 

Fish Passage Program Restores Habitat in Alaska

This year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services National Fish Passage Program provided nearly $8.3 million to remove or bypass more than 168 barriers to fish passage. Along with nearly $18 million in partnership funds, the Fish Passage Program will help reopen 1,716 miles of streams and rivers and 9,471 acres to improve habitats for recreational fish and imperiled aquatic species.

While many waterways in Alaska dont face the level of fish-passage challenges common in more intensively developed areas of the United States, the National Fish Passage Program continues to open new habitat to valuable fish species here, as well.

http://outdoornewsdaily.com/index.php/archives/5112

 

West Virginia: Restoring Hackers Creek
The US Fish & Wildlife Service is restoring Hackers Creek to save an endangered species. "We're very interested in restoring Hackers Creek and its watershed because of an endangered mussel, the clubshell mussel, which resides in the watershed," says John Schmidt, with the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Schmidt says cows are one of the reasons the mussels are endangered.

"Livestock grazing in and along stream banks can break the stream banks down and cause the sediment to wash into the stream," says Schmidt.

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=43954

Extractive Industries
 

Canada: Oilsands Firms Balk at Wetlands Policy

Two major industry associations representing oilsands producers are refusing to support key tenets of a long-awaited plan to protect Alberta's wetlands, citing concerns about rigid rules and restoration costs that could stretch to $1 billion and beyond. Environmental groups say they have been blindsided by the decision. "I don't think a lot of people realize how critical wetlands are," said Danielle Droitsch, executive director of Water Matters, a Canmore-based environmental group.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=a9b65900-d5ed-4869-b84a-5ecec8c9ccf4

 

California: Wiyot Tribes Begins Clean-up on Indian Island

The Wiyot Tribe has begun the first steps toward restoring Indian Island to a place where the tribe can celebrate its past and continue its traditions. Encased in hazardous material suits, tribal employees started removing contaminated soil from the area Aug. 28 and filling up barrels that will later be taken from the island and disposed of properly. Environmental director Jon Mooney said the work will focus on the most contaminated area first, which will take about 5 total work days to complete.

http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_10455189

Invasive Species
 

Connecticut: Invasive Plant Getting Treated for Good at Silver Sands

A troublesome invasive plant that has been taking over native flora in the marshland at Silver Sands is finally being treated for good, thanks to the efforts by one resident's pest management business. Kurt Ehrhart, Milford resident and owner of Innovative Mosquito Management, Inc., based out of Madison, began treating the non-native invasive plant species phragmitis in the Silver Sands park area last week. He and his crew use an impressive piece of machinery called the "Marsh Master," operated by two men, which sprays a special herbicide that will eventually kill the plant and keep it from spreading.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20122948&BRD=1660&PAG=461&dept_id=8812&rfi=6

 

Pine Island Preserve's Restoration Under Way

Thanks to a $1.5 million Florida Communities Trust grant, Lee County will soon remove exotic plant species and replant with native species. Cathy Olson, senior supervisor for the Lee County Conservation 20/20 Land Program, said the state grant process was highly competitive this year.

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080914/NEWS0101/809140359/1003/ACC

 

California: Eucalyptus Tree Removal Riles Tamalpais Valley

Worried they'll be left with a barren landscape, Tamalpais Valley residents have put the brakes on government efforts to rid the area of fire-prone eucalyptus trees. When word spread months ago of a plan to wipe out hundreds of the towering non-native trees - familiar to motorists traveling along a stretch of Highway 1 - some residents of the Mount Tamalpais hillside launched a campaign to halt plans by the National Park Service and Marin County Fire Department.

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_10459500

 

Nebraska: River Restoration Project Begins Next Week

The Platte River Restoration Project is expected to get under way, weather permitting, early the week of Sept. 15. This project will utilize the services of North Star Helicopters, Inc. to treat highly invasive river vegetation with an aquatic-safe herbicide to help open the river channel and reduce flooding potential. The project is made possible with funding allocated by the Nebraska Legislature through LB701 to improve river flows in the Platte and Republican River basins.

http://www.nptelegraph.com/articles/2008/09/13/news/60000928.txt

Urban Restoration
 

Planners Say Healthy Urban Shorelines Are Possible

For more than a century, urban shorelines throughout the Northwest got no respect. But today a growing number of urban planners are coming to realize that ecological functions can be restored to nearshore areas - even in the heart of a big city. Planners and consultants are sharing their ideas about shoreline restoration during a three-day conference that got under way today in downtown Bremerton. Participants have arrived from large and small cities throughout the Northwest, some as far away as British Columbia and California.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/sep/10/conference-offers-hope-for-urban-waterfronts/

Recreation & Tourism
 

Hawaii Resort Project Calls for Investing in Trees

Visitors to the Big Island will have a chance to buy and plant a tree and then reap part of the profit when it's cut down in 30 years or so. They'll also be able to monitor the tree's progress on the Internet, including how much carbon dioxide it absorbs and whether it ends up as a skateboard, koa canoe or part of a wind-power generator. The Mauna Lani Resort and True Offsets, which is already developing a mill to process the wood, are partnering in the new ecological restoration project.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/15/ap5424733.html

 

Canada: Wetland Revival Project at E.C. Brown Conservation Area

E.C. Brown Conservation Area has been revived and will be unveiled in a ceremony next Monday. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the conservation area, which is at 400 River Rd. in Pelham, situated along the main channel of the Welland River. Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority acquired the property in 2005 and identified the site as a high priority area for wetland restoration. With the help of project partners, restoration of the site increased wetland and habitat coverage by 9.3 hectares. The project included work such as excavation of wetland area, trail development and planting of native wildflowers and grasses.

http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1192131

 

Oklahoma: Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area

The Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area has been widely recognized nationwide as one of the most successful wetland restoration efforts ever attempted, Hickman said. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, which owns and manages Hackberry Flat, has built a 4,600 square-foot center on the area. The facility will serve as a wetland outreach center, meeting place and wetland laboratory.

http://www.normantranscript.com/outdoors/local_story_255002254

Funding Opportunities
 

Connecticut: Clean and Clear Offers Ecosystem Restoration Grants - Closes October 10, 2008

Governor Jim Douglas announced that the Center for Clean and Clear at the Agency of Natural Resources is making up to $500,000 in grants available for its Ecosystem Restoration Program. Governor Douglas said the newly expanded program broadens the range of eligible projects to more fully encompass the multitude of strategies and techniques available for improving water quality in the state, with special emphasis on reducing phosphorus and sediment pollution associated with wet weather runoff.

http://www.vermont.gov/portal/government/article.php?news=564

 

US: New Forest-Health Grant Cycle Begins - Closes October 10, 2008

With $1 million federal funding boost, the Colorado State Forest Service has up to $2 million available for forest restoration proposals that protect critical water supplies and address related forest health challenges such as wildfire risk reduction, community protection, ecological restoration and woody biomass utilization. Grant applications are due by 4 p.m., Oct. 10 and awards will be announced in early November.

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080810/NEWS/372732661/1078&ParentProfile=1055

 

Seed Grants from the Organization for Tropical Studies - Closes October 15, 2008

To promote further research at LCBS and surrounding areas, there is a post-workshop call for seed grants (for graduate students at US and Costa Rican institutions) to conduct interdisciplinary pilot studies on themes related to the workshop.  Preference will be given to graduate students who attended the workshop and research proposals are restricted to projects that would be undertaken at LCBS and the surrounding vicinity.  The application deadline is October 15, 2008.  For further information on LCBS or the call for seed grants visit the OTS website (www.ots.ac.cr) and click on the link for Las Cruces. 

 

Washington: Nearshore Restoration Projects - Closes October 17, 2008

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is accepting proposals from organizations seeking state funds for projects that would protect and restore natural shorelines and estuaries in Puget Sound. Applications and additional information about submitting proposals are available at http://www.pugetsoundnearshore.org/esrp.htm or by contacting Jenna Norman at 360-902-2658 or [email protected]. http://outdoornewsdaily.com/index.php/archives/5075

 

Oregon: Grants Available for Watershed Restoration - October 20, 2008
The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board is accepting grant proposals for what it calls "on-the-ground restoration projects that approach natural resources management from a whole-watershed perspective." The organization will continue to accept proposals until Oct. 20. Interested landowners can contact the Umatilla County Soil and Water Conservation District at 276-8131. Project examples include weed control, native plant reseeding, streambank planting to slow erosion, off-stream livestock watering facilities or fencing stream areas to restore riparian function, restoring or enhancing natural wetlands, improving fish habitat and culvert removal or replacement.

http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=82634&TM=72801.63

 

Oregon: Watershed Restoration Funding Announcement - Closes October 24, 2008

NOAA Restoration Center funding is available to support community-based habitat restoration through our funding partner, Ecotrust, and the Whole Watershed Restoration Initiative (WWRI). In partnership with NOAA, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), and the Pacific Northwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service, Ecotrust is currently accepting proposals for funding through the 2009 cycle of the WWRI.

http://jcmrc.blogspot.com/2008/09/watershed-restoration-funding.html

 

If you're interested in sponsoring RESTORE and receiving recognition and a link to your website, please contact us at [email protected]  RESTORE is distributed to more than 2,000 subscribers in the field of ecological restoration.

 

This issue of RESTORE is sponsored by:

 
Biohabitats Logo
 
Biohabitats, Inc., a company that provides ecological restoration, conservation planning and regenerative design services to clients throughout the world. Biohabitats' mission is to "Restore the Earth and Inspire Ecological Stewardship." Visit them at www.biohabitats.com.