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 RESTORE is a weekly e-bulletin, published by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), 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 members. Please send your news stories and articles to the RESTORE editor at info@ser.org. |
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Get Involved / Community-Based Restoration
The National Estuarine Research Reserves and the NOAA Restoration Center are assessing training needs for habitat restoration practitioners who work in coastal areas around the nation.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ecologicalrestorationNA
NOAA Gulf Spill Restoration Projects: Share Your Ideas
Do you have ideas for a specific restoration project in your area? You can use the online form below to give us the details and your information will be entered into our database. http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/restoration/give-us-your-ideas/suggest-a-restoration-project/
Ecosystem Services: Integrating Science and Practice: The Netherlands - October 4-7, 2011
http://www.fsd.nl/esp/77938/5/0/30
SER Southeast Chapter 2011 Annual Symposium "New Trajectories and References for Ecological Recovery": October 17-21, 2011
http://www.ser.org/cpc/events.asp
Selecting Wetland Mitigation Sites Using a Watershed Approach - October 18, 2011
http://www.coastaltraining-wa.org/Course-Catalog/Shoreline-And-Environmental-Laws-And-Administrativ/Selecting-Wetland-Mitigation-Sites-Using-a-Watersh/53.aspx
Understanding Washington State's Stream Habitat Restoration Guidelines - November 16-17, 2011
http://www.coastaltraining-wa.org/Course-Catalog/Shoreline-And-Environmental-Laws-And-Administrativ/Understanding-Washington-State's-Stream-Habitat-Re/32.aspx
Special Issue "Urban Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration" - Deadline Dec 1, 2011
http://www.mdpi.com/journal/diversity/special_issues/urban_bcr/
SER Members receive 25% off Island Press purchases. Contact Caroline Bronaugh at caroline@ser.org for details! |
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People in the News
Atlanta Tree Keeper Plants Roots at Arabia Mountain
It's no surprise that Environmental Educator and Naturalist, Robby Astrove has chosen Arabia's forests and streams as the place to plant his own roots. Known locally as Atlanta's Fruit Tree Expert, Robby "Appleseed" Astrove has always focused his energy on conservation education, environmental restoration and urban agriculture- from his original home in the Everglades watershed to our own Atlanta metro area.
http://www.examiner.com/environmental-education-in-atlanta/atlanta-tree-keeper-plants-roots-at-arabia-mountain
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| New Books & Articles
Ongoing global biodiversity loss unstoppable with protected areas alone
Biodiversity loss is underestimated as the ability of protected areas to address the problem is overestimated. Continued reliance on a strategy of setting aside land and marine territories as "protected areas" is insufficient to stem global biodiversity loss, according to a comprehensive assessment published today in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-07/unu-ngb072211.php
Forest Restoration in a Fog Oasis: Evidence Indicates Need for Cultural Awareness in Constructing the Reference
In the Peruvian Coastal Desert, an archipelago of fog oases, locally called lomas, are centers of biodiversity and of past human activity. Fog interception by a tree canopy, dominated by the legume tree tara (Caesalpinia spinosa), enables the occurrence in the Atiquipa lomas (southern Peru) of an environmental island with a diverse flora and high productivity. Although this forest provides essential services to the local population, it has suffered 90% anthropogenic reduction in area. Restoration efforts are now getting under way, including discussion as to the most appropriate reference ecosystem to use.
http://science.journalfeeds.com/general-science/plos-one/forest-restoration-in-a-fog-oasis-evidence-indicates-need-for-cultural-awareness-in-constructing-the-reference/20110802/
Should Forest Restoration with Natural Hybrids Be Allowed?
One of the greatest challenges of forest restoration is the choice of appropriate plant material that is adapted to local environments, provides the desired ecological services, and does not compromise the local biodiversity. Plant restoration programs use native seeds, a mixture of local and introduced seeds of the same species or allopatric species. However, restoration programs rarely use local hybrid individuals if a local species exhibits natural hybridization.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.15260in.2011.00804.x/full
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| Restoring Natural Capital (RNC)
Investing in Nature for Economic Growth
In response, governments, UN agencies, NGOs and businesses such as Syngenta, Dow, Mondi, and Akzo Nobel, have begun to factor in ecosystem service risks and opportunities. At a recent event, hosted by the World Resources Institute, on corporate ecosystem valuation, Kyung-Ah Park, Managing Director of Goldman Sachs Center for Environmental Markets, underscored the business relevance of a world of depleting resources. "Almost all financial institutions are now concerned with this issue," she said.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/07/26/investing-in-nature-for-economic-growth-part-i-of-ii/ |
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
Oxford to study religious forests in India
Scientists from the University of Oxford are preparing a map of the world's religious forests, including those in India, identifying them as containing some of the richest biodiversity with some of the highest numbers of endangered species.
http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/oxford-to-study-religious-forests-in-india_722488.html
Canada: First Nations Tribe Combines Science with Legacy of Conservation
For the Heiltsuk First Nation, science is proving to be one of the most powerful tools at their disposal as far as asserting their tradition of safeguarding natural resources for, as their elders put it, their "children yet to come." "Our people have been stewarding these lands for 10,000 years and our people already know what it takes to manage our resources...but nowadays you need to have that science side of things," explains William Housty, Coastwatch director.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=first-nations-tribe
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Tanzania: Success stories of restoration of badly degraded natural forests
The villagers have vividly proved that apart from money, commitment, sacrifice, determination coupled with little knowledge on environmental conservation can offset the pernicious effects of deforestation. Ten years ago, the areas surrounding Katumba village were massively covered by natural forests which, apart from protecting water sources, formed a buffer zone that prevented high winds from blowing off roofs at the village and mitigated wind erosion.
http://thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/-/13521-special-reportsuccess-stories-of-restoration-of-badly-degraded-natural-forests
DR Congo entrusts forest management to Canada's ERA
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has entrusted a Canadian company with managing a vast section of its forest, including containing deforestation, the environment ministry has announced. Ecosystem Restoration Associates (ERA) will handle a project covering nearly 300,000 hectares (740,000 acres) of woodlands in the Mai-Ndombe forest, in western Bandundu province, the statement said.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gglW4gu5iW6kf0IlCPBBiIxWRaTA?docId=CNG.0dcc70d787af82f2b283aeb2af9d940e.3e1 |
| Wetland Restoration
New Jersey: Loan Closes To Finance Environmental Restoration
The first loan that uses private capital to finance environmental restoration closed last week - it will provide funds to restore wetlands in New Jersey. GreenVest LLC, a wetlands mitigation banker, received the loan, which they'll use to perform advanced wetland restoration. The NJ Turnpike Authority is required to offset wetland damages from an infrastructure project.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22748
Nicaragua: President proposes wetland restoration initiative
The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, announced to propose to his Costa Rican counterpart, Laura Chinchilla, organize a global environmental brigade to protect the wetlands of Calero Island whose ownership is being disputed by both countries in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2011/08/05/nicaragua-president-proposes-calero-island-wetlands-restoration/
US EPA head: Wetlands to be focus of gulf restoration
Addressing wetlands loss will be a major component of an upcoming report on Gulf Coast oil spill recovery, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Friday. Administrator Lisa Jackson is chairing the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, which she said is taking a broader view of restoration. The panel is putting emphasis on longer-term issues that include wetlands loss, "one of the most urgent ecosystem challenges we are facing," she said.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/05/2346887/epa-head-wetlands-to-be-focus.html#ixzz1USdUrGYs
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River & Watershed Restoration
Utah: Wasatch Canyons among 5 pilot projects in nation for watershed protection
Multiple groups have been working for decades to safeguard the Wasatch Mountains' watershed, but a new, nationally created, pilot project aims to turn the tap on those efforts to make them function in tandem. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest was selected as one of five areas in the country to explore the creation of public/private partnerships for watershed protection. http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/news_display/1468681577.html |
| Lake Restoration
Philippines: 1,400 trees planted near Lake Lumot
Manifesting a shared responsibility in environmental restoration to bring back the original forests of the Philippines and restore habitats for indigenous wildlife, Mead Johnson Nutrition Philippines renewed recently its partnership with Haribon Foundation on its strategic ROAD 2020 program.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/opinion/10980-1400-trees-planted-near-lake-lumot |
| Coastal & Marine Restoration
ERS Delivers Restorative Planting for Louisiana Coastal Restoration Projects
Ecological Restoration Services, L.L.C., (ERS), a subsidiary of Resource Environmental Solutions, L.L.C. , has successfully completed restorative planting projects along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. ERS won competitive bids from the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources to grow, store, deliver and install native Louisiana vegetation species to enable and ensure coastal protection following construction of protective berms along the coast at East Grand Terre and at Chaland Headlands.
http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/08/b1825550/ers-delivers-restorative-planting-for-louisiana-coastal-restoration-pro#ixzz1USg8btjf
Design Guidelines for Tidal Wetland Restoration in San Francisco Bay
The San Francisco Bay restoration community wanted proven experience -based on rigorous science and observation -to help them in creating design guidelines for wetland restoration. These guidelines would be used by practitioners and decision makers throughout the Bay and beyond to guide restoration design and management.
http://www.esassoc.com/projects/design-guidelines-tidal-wetland-restoration-san-francisco-bay
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Wildlife Restoration
Hawaii, federal government formally agree to restore Kawainui marsh in windward Oahu
The state and federal governments have formally signed an agreement to restore Kawainui marsh on windward Oahu. The project, estimated to cost between $4 million and $6 million, will restore habitat for 4 endangered waterbirds: the Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian stilt, Hawaiian moorhen and Hawaiian coot. It's also expected to reduce runoff to coastal reefs and remove invasive weeds.
http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/609cf641fb7641d1928aabbe66eb96ab/HI--Marsh-Restoration/
U.S. Government Allowing Genetically Engineered Crops on Wildlife Refuges
The U.S. government has been allowing the planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops on over 50 National Wildlife refuges throughout the country, allegedly to help promote the exporting of GE crops, according to an investigation of emails obtained by an environmental 'watchdog' group.
http://planetsave.com/2011/07/30/u-s-government-allowing-genetically-engineered-crops-on-wild-life-refuges/
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| Extractive Industries
Colorado State University Receives $2 Million from Shell Oil Company for Endowment in Restoration Ecology
Shell Oil Company has endowed a $2 million chair in Colorado State University's Warner College of Natural Resources. Mark Paschke, associate professor of restoration ecology in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, has been designated the Shell Endowed Chair in Restoration Ecology. Paschke will continue his research on mitigating ecological impacts associated with energy development in the Rocky Mountain region.
http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/5828
Clean-up of Ogoni land to take 30 years, UN report says
The restoration of Ogoniland may end up being the world's largest and longest clean up exercise, as it may take as long as 30 years, a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the level of despoliation in the area, Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland, has stated.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/aug/09/niger-delta-shell-oil-spills
Nigerian Govt. Invites UN for Environmental Restoration in Ogoni
Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has called on the United Nations (UN) to come to the aid of Nigeria in the environmental restoration of Ogoni Land.
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/9884025-nigerian-govt-invites-un-for-environmental-restoration-in-ogoni
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| Invasive Species
California: Kalispel Tribe sets milestone, restores wild cutthroat stream
The project has been 15 years in the making, starting with proposals, studies and permit gathering. The past three years were devoted to treating the stream with rotenone to kill an introduced population of non-native brook trout.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110727/SPORTS/110729887/1004 |
| Recreation & Tourism
Thailand: Flight of the Gibbon - Treetop Adventure Earns TripAdvisor "Certificate of Excellence"
Flight of the Gibbon - Treetop Adventure, a canopy zip line tour and rain forest restoration initiative in Chiang Mai, Thailand, announced that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, which honors top-rated lodging businesses as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor.com, a popular review forum for travelers.
http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/08/p1838113/flight-of-the-gibbon-treetop-adventure-earns-tripadvisor-certificate-of#ixzz1USakAxkV |
| Funding Opportunities
Pennsylvania: Watershed protection, restoration grant applications - Closes August 26, 2011
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is accepting grant applications for watershed protection and restoration and Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) projects under the Growing Greener Plus program. The Growing Greener Plus program allows applicants to seek funding for a variety of projects through a single application process.
http://citrix.waterworld.com/index/display/article-display/3311202846/articles/waterworld/environmental0/watersheds/2011/07/Watershed-grant-applications-sought-by-PA-DEP.html
Australia: Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation grant - Closes September 2, 2011
The NSW Environmental Trust is now inviting applications from community organisations, non-profits and local governments for its Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation Program.
http://www.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au/Council-services/Grants/943-exp050911.htm
The Gulf of Mexico Foundation's Community-based Restoration Partnership has reached a milestone by providing grants for now more than 75 different projects in coastal areas throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Restoring a total of about 15,000 acres over the past decade, these CRP projects have improved a wide variety of habitat types, including coastal dunes, coral reefs, oyster reefs, marshes, seagrass beds, mangrove forests and artificial reefs. Funding from NOAA and EPA make it possible for the GMF to provided more than $3 million to projects. Other partners have contributed an additional $5.5 million in funding. The GMF is offering a new round of CRP funding for 2012.
http://www.gulfmex.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/GCRP2012RFP.pdf
The North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is requesting proposals under the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) for review during 2011. Preliminary proposals are due 22 August 2011; projects will start 1 January 2012.
http://www.cec.org/Storage/126/15128_NAPECA_Call_for_proposals_en.pdf
Terra Viva Grants develops and manages information about grants for agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources in the world's developing countries.
http://www.terravivagrants.org/Home/view-grant-makers
California: Ecosystem Restoration on Agricultural Lands (ERAL)
Grant funding applications are accepted on a year-round basis. The WCB meets four times each year, normally in February, May, August, and November to consider approval of funding for projects.
http://www.wcb.ca.gov/ERAL/grants.html
Tamarisk Related Grant Opportunities
The Tamarisk Coalition has developed a list of available Grant Opportunities to address tamarisk issues and riparian restoration. This list was revised as part of the Colorado River Basin Tamarisk and Russian Olive Assessment.
http://www.tamariskcoalition.org/FundingResources.html
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