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RESTORE is a free weekly e-bulletin provided to current members of SER. RESTORE links you to the latest breaking news stories keeping you up-to-date on a wide variety of topics related to ecological restoration. To contact the editors, please email info@ser.org.
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SER in the News
SER Joins the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation (GPPC)
The partnership aims to provide a framework to facilitate harmony between existing plant conservation initiatives, identify gaps where new initiatives are required, and promote mobilization of the necessary resources.
Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the Ramsar Secretariat and SER
SER recently signing a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with The Ramsar Secretariat.
SER Letter of Support to NRDA Trustee Phase 1 Early Restoration Plan
On February 14th SER submitted a letter of support to the NRDA Trustees for the Phase 1 Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. |
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Get Involved
SER-Midwest-Great Lakes 4th Annual Meeting-Call for Abstracts- Due March 9, 2012
Nominations for 2012 Thiess International Riverprize -Closes March 16, 2012
7th SER Mid-Atlantic & New England Chapter Conference- March 23-24-Call for Abstracts
The 7th annual SER MA/NE chapter conference will be holding a pre-conference training workshop conducted by NOAA at Brooklyn College on Thursday March 22, 2012. To participate, click here.
Restoration 2012: Beyond Borders- 2nd Call for Papers-Due April 1, 2012
SER NW, SER BC and AFS recently launched their new conference website for Restoration 2012 to be held May 15-18 in Victoria, Canada.
ER Special Issue on Corridor Restoration - Call for Papers- April 1, 2012
Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award- Nominations due April 1, 2012
The families of Peter and Howard Buffett founded the Ecotrust leadership award to honor outstanding individual leaders in the indigenous communities of Oregon, Washington, California, Western Montana, Nevada, Idaho, Alaska, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.
Urban Wetland Restoration Course- Halifax, Nova Scotia: April 30-May 2, 2012
Atlantic White Cedar Symposium- Call for Oral and Poster Presentations -Due April 1, 2012
The 8th Conference of the Society for Ecological Restoration - Europe-Sept. 9-14, 2012
EcoSummit 2012-Ecological Sustainability- Sept. 30- Oct. 5, 2012
6th Annual Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration- Oct. 20-24, 2012
2012 Conference Listing on the Global Restoration Network (GRN)
Check out our 2012 conference listing for a full year view of upcoming conferences and events
SER Members receive 25% off Island Press book purchases. Contact caroline@ser.org for details! |
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People in the News
Philippines: Make illegal logging heinous crime, Paje urges Congress
Because of the gruesome crimes committed against defenders of the environment, particularly forest protection workers, by "environmental criminals," Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje has strongly urged Congress to reclassify illegal logging as a heinous crime.
Global alliance to study planetary changes revealed
The 'Future Earth' alliance aims to deliver scientific and social science research in a way that policymakers and grassroots groups would understand to help them meet their sustainable development goals in the coming decades. It will also seek to co-ordinate and focus international scientific research in a wide range of disciplines including ocean acidification, climate change, land use and population growth, and the social impact of these changes
Florida Keys coral expert named CNN Hero for helping restore coral reef beds
A Florida Keys coral restoration expert has been named a CNN Hero for his pioneering efforts to develop techniques to preserve coral reefs and motivate public support for a cause that attracts environmentally conscious vacationers. Ken Nedimyer, founder and president of Key Largo-based Coral Restoration Foundation, was featured on a CNN segment broadcast Friday morning.
In Praise of Restoration Ecology
While Aldo Leopold may well have been the first within the context of Western culture to practice restoration ecology in America, he was certainly not the first to enhance habitat in the New World. Restoration ecology in conjunction with cultural restoration and re-sacrilization of homeland must be enshrined as fundamental to our greater human culture of practice. Leopold took this a giant step further by putting the land first and involving his family in its ecological restoration. |
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New Books & Articles
Plant Re-introduction in a Changing Climate
This new addition to the SER Science & Practice of Ecological Restoration book series presents a comprehensive review of reintroduction projects and practices, the circumstances of their successes or failures, lessons learned, and the potential role for reintroductions in preserving species threatened by climate change.
Ramsar Technical Report: Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People
Ramsar Technical Report No. 6, Healthy wetlands, healthy people: a review of wetlands and human health interactions, is now published. The new report, published jointly with the World Health Organization (WHO), focuses on providing advice to wetland managers and decision-makers on the range of often complex issues concerning wetlands and human health and well-being.
Dwindling Resources Trigger Global Land Rush
A global scramble for land and mineral resources fuelled by billions of investment dollars is threatening the last remaining wilderness and critical ecosystems, destroying communities and contaminating huge volumes of fresh water, warned environmental groups in London Wednesday. No national park, delicate ecosystem or community is off limits in the voracious hunt for valuable metals, minerals and fossil fuels, said the Gaia Foundation's report, "Opening Pandora's Box".
African renewables potential mapped
The report aims to help African governments set up renewable energy plans, and has called for the urgent transfer of relevant knowledge to research and technology partners in Africa.
Gulf Coast: Report outlines recommendations for anticipating sea level rise impacts
The Louisiana Applied Coastal Engineering and Science Division (LACES) recently released a technical report, "Recommendations for Anticipating Sea-Level Rise Impacts on Louisiana Coastal Resources during Project Planning and Design." The report's findings recommend that coastal managers and planners anticipate an average increase in sea level of 3.3-feet by 2100. |
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Restoring Natural Capital (RNC)
US: Beyond Cap and Trade, A New Path to Clean Energy
Putting a price and a binding cap on carbon is not the panacea that many thought it to be. The real road to cutting U.S. emissions, two iconoclastic environmentalists argue, is for the government to help fund the development of cleaner alternatives that are better and cheaper than natural gas.
US: Payments For Watershed Services: Pilot Projects For Watershed Protection(PWS)
Through a PWS program, landowners receive financial incentives to conserve, sustainably manage, and/or restore watersheds to yield benefits. The World Resources Institute's new issue brief, Insights from the Field: Forests for Water, looks at 3 potential PWS programs in the Upper Neuse Watershed in North Carolina, the Sebago Lake Watershed in Maine, and throughout the city of Raleigh, North Carolina.
New York: Green groups approve of $2B power line plan
Environmental groups have signed off on a proposed $2 billion project that would bury hundreds of miles of high-voltage power line underneath the Hudson River, supplying New York City with 1,000 MW of power. As part of the agreement, Transmission Developers Inc., promised to establish a $117 million "habitat restoration fund" over the course of 35 years. The underwater cable will deliver mostly hydro-electric power and possibly wind power generated in Quebec.
US: House, Senate budget negotiators agree on $30 million for Everglades
A year after slashing Everglades funding, Florida lawmakers appear poised to give some back. House and Senate budget negotiators this week agreed to set aside about $30 million for restoration projects. That's still $10 million short of Gov. Rick Scott's request but a major leap from the zero the Senate had initially penciled in. |
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Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
VIDEO: Science, Fire and People in Fish River Station, Australia
For centuries, traditional land management practices in Northern Australia have included burning the landscape to replenish the land and reduce the chance of devastating wildfire. See how The Nature Conservancy and partners are helping indigenous groups revitalize these practices - which also substantially reduce carbon emissions.
A Synthesis of Literature on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Climate Change
This knowledge synthesis intends to summarize some of the ways in which TEK has historically been used in resource management and highlight the potential role of TEK in climate change assessment and adaptation initiatives. |
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Biodiversity & Climate Change
More Americans Believe Climate Change is Happening
A Brookings Institution report on the latest National Survey of American Public Opinion on Climate Change (NSAPOCC) survey conducted in December of 2011 shows the number of Americans who believe in global warming is rising due to personal experience. 2011 brought 14 record climate and weather-related events in 2011, each causing at least $1 billion in damage. Hurricane Irene alone caused more than $7 billion in damages.
Climate adaptation: firming up uncertainty
Jordan West, from the US EPA, and colleagues analyzed the discussions of six management bodies - the US National Forests, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Estuaries and Marine Protected Areas - regarding seven adaptation approaches taken from the "Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources", prepared for the US Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) in 2008. The EPA team assessed the management bodies' findings on two factors - the amount of evidence available and the agreement among experts.
UN scientists warn of increased groundwater demands due to climate change
New research finds climate change will put increased strain on groundwater, an important yet volatile worldwide source of agricultural, industrial and drinking water. A UN-sponsored group of scientists guided by a SF State University hydrologist has put out an urgent call for policymakers to increase conservation measures on groundwater. |
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Forest Restoration
Italy: World's First Vertical Forest Under Construction in Milan
In Milan, a forest will soon be planted in the sky. Building works for a pair of skyscrapers that will become home to the world's first vertical forest is underway. The brainchild of architect Stefano Boeri, the €65 million 'Bosco Verticale' is already under construction. When complete, the skyscrapers will contain luxury apartments, each one equipped with a copious balcony specially designed to hold around 900 small trees and other plants. If planted on the ground the total vegetation would cover an area of 10,000 square meters.
Thailand: Setting out to replant forests
His Majesty the King's message is clear: Revive the forests. Protect the rain-catchment forest. Restore forest ecology. And punish corrupt officials. In a prompt policy response, the government announced it would allocate 3 billion baht to reforest and rehabilitate forest ecology across 7 million rai of land.
Peru: Program seeks to safeguard Peruvian Amazon from impacts of Inter-Oceanic Highway
Arbio was begun by Michel Saini and Tatiana Espinosa Q. in the Peruvian Amazon region of Madre de Dios. The project focuses on a protective response to the increased encroachment and destructive land use driven by development. The recent construction of the Inter-Oceanic Highway in the Madre de Dios area presents an enormous threat to forest biodiversity. Arbio provides opportunities to help establish a buffer zone near the road to limit intrusive agricultural and deforestation activities.
Montana: Agencies, wildlife groups join together to back logging-restoration project
A proposed project that includes logging, roadwork and weed spraying on national forest land north of Seeley Lake is pitting a wide-ranging array of organizations against four environmental groups that filed a lawsuit opposing the work. Organizations filed legal briefs supporting the five-year project on 4,330 acres of the Lolo National Forest. |
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Wetland Restoration
Florida: Preserving paradise
Friday officials announced the addition of almost 30,000 acres to the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area. Like a puzzle piece, the land fits between two previously separated parts of the management area, bringing together about 140,000 acres of now-protected land. It binds the largest contiguous tract of wetland forest remaining in the lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley
Massachusetts: $1 Million Received for Saugus, MA, Marsh Restoration
Massachusetts received $1 million in funding to restore the Rumney Marsh in Saugus from the Obama Administration's U.S Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant Program (NCWCG). "It is rare that we have the opportunity to protect and restore critical piece of wildlife habitat right in Boston's backyard," said Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr.
Colorado: BLM expands wetlands conservation efforts
The Bureau of Land Management has found the Blanca Wetlands to be an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and is moving forward with an Environmental Assessment (EA) to define necessary and appropriate wetland conservation work on the 10,000-acre parcel.
New York: Restoration Project in Jamaica Bay Moves Ahead (USA)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District is leading an ambitious effort to restore the Yellow Bar Hassock Marsh Islands, in Jamaica Bay, N.Y. The project addresses the vanishing marsh islands by beneficially using clean sand from the New York-New Jersey Harbor deepening project to restore marsh habitat in the Bay. |
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River & Watershed Restoration
New Jersey: Quarry operator Stavola, donate 212 acres & $154K to settle wetlands damage suit
Another 212 acres in the Barnegat Bay watershed will be permanently preserved under the terms of a settlement between the state Department of Environmental Protection and a Bridgewater quarry owner to settle a 7-year-old dispute over alleged disturbance of more than six acres of wetlands and buffer areas in Somerset County. Stavola must pay a penalty of $154,860.
New Zealand: 'Abuse' killing Opihi
A watershed ecologist says farming and industrial practices near the Opihi River have led to the "death by a thousand cuts" of the river, and that new ways must be explored to restore it."We have dying rivers, and the pattern is especially conspicuous in the South Island. What we are seeing now is the result of years of poor farming practices and land degradation. It is not the fault of one group, but rather the death by a thousand cuts."
Washington: Time is right to move Yakima water program forward
Gov. Chris Gregoire is urging Congressional and state support for a plan that bolsters water supplies in the Yakima basin and implements one of the most significant ecological restoration projects undertaken in the West. The plan calls for improving water supplies for the Yakima Basin Irrigation Project and providing fish passage at 100-year-old reservoirs in addition to other fish and habitat enhancements.
Oregon: Klamath Agreement Parties Stall Restoration
Today the Interior Department announced that it would fail to meet the March 31, 2012 deadline for a decision on whether to remove the four obsolete Klamath Hydroelectric dams. The DOI press release makes clear that many obstacles stand in the way of dam removal under the Klamath Agreements. |
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Coastal & Marine Restoration
California: Science documents for California's Bay-Delta restoration released
The California Natural Resources Agency released preliminary administrative drafts of all its Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) planning documents. These administrative draft documents analyze the movement of 5.9 million acre feet of water a year on average and the creation of over 110,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat. |
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Wildlife Restoration
US: New Conservation Reserve Program Initiative to Restore Grasslands, Wetlands and Wildlife
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the opportunity for producers to enroll a total of 1 million acres of land in a new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiative to preserve grasslands and wetlands. Producers whose land meet eligibility criteria can enroll directly in this "continuous" category at any time.
US/Mexico: Cemex & Noble Strengthen Biodiversity Efforts at El Carmen Nature Reserve
CEMEX announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Noble Group to collaborate in biodiversity and conservation efforts at El Carmen, a private trans-boundary nature reserve along the border between Mexico and the United States considered one of the five great wilderness ecosystems of the world.
Florida: In land's future, Old Florida returns
A large environmental restoration project near Ruskin will restore the area to its state hundreds of years ago. The native habitat in the 148-acre project will be restored to the way it looked hundreds of years ago before farming and development upset the ecological balance.
Texas: Desert bighorn sheep- "The comeback kids"
The desert bighorn sheep is the comeback kid among Texas big game animals. In its fight to maintain a precarious foothold in its native mountain ranges in arid West Texas, the magnificent beast has taken some critical body blows over the past century. |
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Extractive Industries
Gulf Coast: Gulf oil spill settlement is first round for BP
The $7.8 billion settlement addresses businesses and private individuals. Still to be resolved are claims filed by local, state and federal government entities concerning Clean Water Act violations or damages to natural resources.
California: Final Restoration Plan Completed for Cosco Busan Oil Spill
State and federal trustee agencies have released the Cosco Busan Oil Spill Final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan. The document summarizes the injuries to wildlife, habitat, and recreational uses from the oil spill that occurred on Nov. 7, 2007. It also describes a number of restoration projects that will be implemented to compensate for injuries from the spill.
Utah: Activists refuse funds from Chevron oil spill settlement
Two environmental groups refused money from Chevron over damage from an oil spill into Red Butte Creek. Utah's Division of Water Quality and Salt Lake City officials negotiated last year with Chevron, which agreed to pay the city $3 million for mitigation projects to help clean up issues caused when more than 33,000 gallons of crude oil flowed into Salt Lake's native waters on June 12, 2010. |
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Invasive Species
New York: Monster weed threatens Finger Lakes
Advocates are warning the Finger Lakes and other upstate water bodies lakes could be overrun by a hyper-aggressive invasive plant unless more money is found for a major eradication effort. The plant, hydrilla, was found late last summer in two creeks at the south end of Cayuga Lake at Ithaca.
Minnesota: Fargo man convicted of introducing mussels to Rose Lake
George Wynn, 54, pleaded guilty in Otter Tail County District Court on Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of introducing an invasive species. Wynn was ordered to pay $500 restitution plus $500 in fines and fees. The Department of Natural Resources estimates it will cost more than $18,000 to treat Rose Lake. There is no guarantee the treatment will prevent zebra mussels from spreading in Rose Lake or any other lake downstream in the Otter Tail River chain, Hecock said. "This offender got a slap on the wrist," Hecock wrote. "Minnesota taxpayers got the treatment bill." |
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Urban Restoration
US: Urban Waters Federal Partnership Launches Ambassadors Program
The Urban Waters Federal Partnership, made up of 11 federal agencies, today announced a program in seven cities that will accelerate and coordinate on-the-ground projects that are critical to improving water quality and public health, restoring forest resources and fostering community stewardship in urban watersheds. Each of the pilot locations was selected due to the strong local and community leadership spearheading restoration efforts underway. |
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Funding Opportunities
Indiana American Water 2012 Environmental Grant Program - Closes March 10, 2012
The program is designed to support diverse types of activities, such as watershed cleanups, reforestation efforts, biodiversity projects, streamside buffer restoration projects, wellhead protection initiatives and hazardous waste collection efforts,
California American Water Funds 2012 Environmental Grant Program-Closes March 9, 2012
California American Water announced it is accepting applications for its 2012 Environmental Grant Program. The company will award several grants for a combined total of $10,000 to innovative community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect watersheds and drinking water supplies within the state. Applications must be postmarked by March 19, 2012.
California: Dept. of Fish and Game (DFG) Fisheries Restoration Grants-Closes March 30, 2012
Applications will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Feb. 15, 2012 through 3 p.m. March 30, 2012. Proposals should focus on projects that restore, enhance or protect anadromoussalmonid habitat in the coastal watersheds of California or projects that lead to the restoration, enhancement or protection of anadromoussalmonid habitat.
US: Minnesota State Funding Available for Environmental Project-Closes April 6, 2012
The Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) has issued its 2012-2013 Request for Proposal (RFP) for funding from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund beginning July 1, 2013. Approximately $31 million is expected to be available for projects being sought in environment and natural resource areas that will provide multiple ecological and other public benefits. Proposals responding to the 2012-2013 RFP are due Friday, April 6, 2012.
New Hampshire: Grant Funding for Wetlands Restoration and Drinking Water Protection
The Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund grants are available for eligible wetland restoration, land protection or habitat improvement projects; and drinking water supply protection grants are available for lands in the southern I-93 corridor and Lake Massabesic Watershed. Aquatic Resource Mitigation (ARM) Fund payments are collected according to nine service areas.
US: Emergency Forest Restoration Program
USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land in order to carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster.
Earth Island Institute: Supporting community-based wetland restoration initiatives
Through the Small Grants Program, Earth Island Institute has been able to support locally based restoration efforts to do just that. Small grassroots efforts to restore the coastal habitats of Southern California, which have been depleted by an astounding 98%, have been slowly working to bring our wetlands back from the brink of extinction. By supporting and empowering the new restoration leaders, we ensure our collective success in restoring some of the earth's most fragile ecosystems.
The Gulf of Mexico Foundation's Community-based Restoration Partnershiphas 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.
Terra Viva Grants develops and manages information about grants for agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resources in the world's developing countries.
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.
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. |
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