Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal Ecological restoration across the Mediterranean Basin as viewed by practitioners Alice Nunes, Graça Oliveira, Teresa Mexia, Otília Correia, Cristina Branquinho [email protected]
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
Ecological restoration across the Mediterranean Basin as viewed by
practitioners
Alice Nunes, Graça Oliveira, Teresa Mexia, Otília Correia, Cristina Branquinho
2
Mediterranean Basin and land degradation
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Desertification Synthesis (World Resources Institute, Washington, DC).
67% occupied by drylandsparticularly vulnerable to desertification and land degradation
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
3
Restoration: ‘silvicultural’ vs. ecological
• Ecosystem-based approach• Diversification of plant species• Soils and fauna preservation
• Few tree species• Combination of forest productivity +
watershed protection
Reinforced by habitat directive 92/43/EEC, Convention on Biological Diversity, etc.
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
4
Ecological restoration definition
Reclamation
Natural processes(sucession)
Ecological restoration
Ecosystem structure and diversity(species number, habitat complexity, etc.)
Eco
syst
em f
un
ctio
nin
g(b
iom
ass,
nu
trie
nt
cycl
ing,
etc
.) ‘Reference’ Ecosystem
Degraded Ecosystem
Rehabilitation
The process of assisting the recovery of a natural or semi-natural ecosystem that has been damaged, as similar as possible to a native reference ecosystem (SER)
McDonald T, Gann GD, Jonson J, and Dixon KW (2016) International standards for the practice of ecological restoration including principles and key concepts. Society for Ecological Restoration, Washington, D.C.
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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Ecological restoration definition
Ecological restoration
Ecosystem structure and diversity(species number, habitat complexity, etc.)
Eco
syst
em f
un
ctio
nin
g(b
iom
ass,
nu
trie
nt
cycl
ing,
etc
.) ‘Reference’ Ecosystem
Degraded Ecosystem
Species diversity (similar to the reference ecosystem)
Community structure (similar to the reference ecosystem)
Presence of functional groups
Presence of native species
Biotic flows with surrounding areas
Self-sustainability
Resilience (http://www.ser.org/)
Attributes of the restored ecosystem
The process of assisting the recovery of a natural or semi-natural ecosystem that has been damaged, as similar as possible to a native reference ecosystem (SER)
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
6
Ecological restoration definition
Ecological restoration
Ecosystem structure and diversity(species number, habitat complexity, etc.)
Eco
syst
em f
un
ctio
nin
g(b
iom
ass,
nu
trie
nt
cycl
ing,
etc
.) ‘Reference’ Ecosystem
Degraded Ecosystem
Species diversity (similar to the reference ecosystem)
Community structure (similar to the reference ecosystem)
Presence of functional groups
Presence of native species
Biotic flows with surrounding areas
Self-sustainability
Resilience (http://www.ser.org/)
Attributes of the restored ecosystem
Represent the potential to deliver ecosystem services
The process of assisting the recovery of a natural or semi-natural ecosystem that has been damaged, as similar as possible to a native reference ecosystem (SER)
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
7
Ecological restoration definition
McDonald et al 2016
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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Ecological restoration definition
• Is restoration practice following ER principles? • Are native species being used? • Are restoration outcomes evaluated, and how, and for how long?
etc.
?McDonald et al 2016
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
9
On-line survey on dryland restoration
COST Action ES1104 - ‘Arid Lands Restoration and Combat of Desertification: Setting Up a Drylands and Desert Restoration Hub’
I. Context and motivation
II. Planning, practice and maintenance
III. Criteria for plant species selection
IV. Monitoring and outcome
V. Costs and benefits
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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Responses from the Mediterranean Basin
N=36
Nunes et al. (2016). Ecological restoration across the Mediterranean Basin as viewed by practitioners. Science of the Total Environment 566-567: 722-732.
On-line survey on dryland restoration
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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Restoration main motivation
0 5 10 15 20
Natural (e.g. drought)
Fire
Industrial activities
Infrastructure develop.
Intensive agriculture
Deforestation/fuelwood
Overgrazing
Number of paired answers
0 5 10 15 20
Na…
Fi…
In…
In…
In…
De…
Ov…
Number of paired answers
Governamental iniciative (33%)
General laws (39%)
Laws for protected areas (14%)
Company initiative (22%)
Public opinion (22%)
Public health (11%)
Scientific research (11%)
0
EU (n=23) nEU (n=13)
EU countries Non-EU countries
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
0 5 10 15 20
Natural (e.g. drought)
Fire
Industrial activities
Infrastructure develop.
Intensive agriculture
Deforestation/fuelwood
Overgrazing
Number of paired answers
0 5 10 15 20
Na…
Fi…
In…
In…
In…
De…
Ov…
Number of paired answers
Governamental iniciative (33%)
General laws (39%)
Laws for protected areas (14%)
Company initiative (22%)
Public opinion (22%)
Public health (11%)
Scientific research (11%)
0
EU (n=23) nEU (n=13)
EU countries Non-EU countries
1212
EU countries Non-EU countries
Restoration main motivation
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
13
0 5 10 15 20
Natural (e.g. drought)
Fire
Industrial activities
Infrastructure develop.
Intensive agriculture
Deforestation/fuelwood
Overgrazing
Number of paired answers
0 5 10 15 20
Na…
Fi…
In…
In…
In…
De…
Ov…
Number of paired answers
Governamental iniciative (33%)
General laws (39%)
Laws for protected areas (14%)
Company initiative (22%)
Public opinion (22%)
Public health (11%)
Scientific research (11%)
0
EU (n=23) nEU (n=13)
EU countries Non-EU countriesEU countries Non-EU countries
Restoration main motivation
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
14
Soil source and revegetation techniques
0 5 10 15 20 25
Fire
Industrial activities
Natural (e.g. drought)
Infrastructure (e.g.roads)
Deforestation (e.g.fuelwood)
Overgrazing
Intensive agriculture
Number of paired answers
Planting from nursery (69%)
Local transplantation (28%)
Seeding (44%)
Hydroseeding (17%)
Grazing exclusion (3%)
Introduction biol. soil crusts (14%)
0 5 10 15
Fire
Industrial activities
Natural (e.g. drought)
Infrastructure (e.g. roads)
Deforestation/fuelwood
Overgrazing
Intensive agriculture
Number of paired answers
Disturbed original soil (erosion) (75%)
Undisturbed original soil (33%)
Reintroduced local topsoil (22%)
Spoil materials (3%)
Introduced non-local topsoil (8%)
0
Soil source Revegetation techniques
A B
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
15
0 5 10 15 20 25
Fire
Industrial activities
Natural (e.g. drought)
Infrastructure (e.g.roads)
Deforestation (e.g.fuelwood)
Overgrazing
Intensive agriculture
Number of paired answers
Planting from nursery (69%)
Local transplantation (28%)
Seeding (44%)
Hydroseeding (17%)
Grazing exclusion (3%)
Introduction biol. soil crusts (14%)
0 5 10 15
Fire
Industrial activities
Natural (e.g. drought)
Infrastructure (e.g. roads)
Deforestation/fuelwood
Overgrazing
Intensive agriculture
Number of paired answers
Disturbed original soil (erosion) (75%)
Undisturbed original soil (33%)
Reintroduced local topsoil (22%)
Spoil materials (3%)
Introduced non-local topsoil (8%)
0
Soil source Revegetation techniques
A B
Soil source and revegetation techniques
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
16
0 5 10 15 20 25
Fire
Industrial activities
Natural (e.g. drought)
Infrastructure (e.g.roads)
Deforestation (e.g.fuelwood)
Overgrazing
Intensive agriculture
Number of paired answers
Planting from nursery (69%)
Local transplantation (28%)
Seeding (44%)
Hydroseeding (17%)
Grazing exclusion (3%)
Introduction biol. soil crusts (14%)
0 5 10 15
Fire
Industrial activities
Natural (e.g. drought)
Infrastructure (e.g. roads)
Deforestation/fuelwood
Overgrazing
Intensive agriculture
Number of paired answers
Disturbed original soil (erosion) (75%)
Undisturbed original soil (33%)
Reintroduced local topsoil (22%)
Spoil materials (3%)
Introduced non-local topsoil (8%)
0
Soil source Revegetation techniques
A B
Soil source and revegetation techniques
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
17
0 5 10 15 20 25
Fire
Industrial activities
Natural (e.g. drought)
Infrastructure (e.g.roads)
Deforestation (e.g.fuelwood)
Overgrazing
Intensive agriculture
Number of paired answers
Planting from nursery (69%)
Local transplantation (28%)
Seeding (44%)
Hydroseeding (17%)
Grazing exclusion (3%)
Introduction biol. soil crusts (14%)
0 5 10 15
Fire
Industrial activities
Natural (e.g. drought)
Infrastructure (e.g. roads)
Deforestation/fuelwood
Overgrazing
Intensive agriculture
Number of paired answers
Disturbed original soil (erosion) (75%)
Undisturbed original soil (33%)
Reintroduced local topsoil (22%)
Spoil materials (3%)
Introduced non-local topsoil (8%)
0
Soil source Revegetation techniques
A B
Soil source and revegetation techniques
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
18
Species nativeness and origin
0
10
20
30
40
50
Only native Mainly native Mainly non-native
Only non-native
Nu
mb
er o
f re
po
rted
cas
es EU (n=19)
nEU (n=9)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Only native Mainly native Mainly non-native
Only non-native
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f re
sto
rati
on
pro
ject
s (%
)
EU (n=21)
nEU (n=10)
0 10 20 30 40
Seed
Number of paired answers
Local (31%)Regional (17%)National (62%)International (14%)Unknown (7%)
0 10 20 30 40
Sapling/seedling
Number of paired answers
Local (42%)Regional (48%)National (26%)International (0%)Unknown (7%)
Saplings/seedlings Seeds
Provenance of propagules
**
**
A B
C D
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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0
10
20
30
40
50
Only native Mainly native Mainly non-native
Only non-native
Nu
mb
er o
f re
po
rted
cas
es EU (n=19)
nEU (n=9)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Only native Mainly native Mainly non-native
Only non-native
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f re
sto
rati
on
pro
ject
s (%
)
EU (n=21)
nEU (n=10)
0 10 20 30 40
Seed
Number of paired answers
Local (31%)Regional (17%)National (62%)International (14%)Unknown (7%)
0 10 20 30 40
Sapling/seedling
Number of paired answers
Local (42%)Regional (48%)National (26%)International (0%)Unknown (7%)
Saplings/seedlings Seeds
Provenance of propagules
**
**
A B
C D
Species nativeness and origin
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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0
10
20
30
40
50
Only native Mainly native Mainly non-native
Only non-native
Nu
mb
er o
f re
po
rted
cas
es EU (n=19)
nEU (n=9)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Only native Mainly native Mainly non-native
Only non-native
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f re
sto
rati
on
pro
ject
s (%
)
EU (n=21)
nEU (n=10)
0 10 20 30 40
Seed
Number of paired answers
Local (31%)Regional (17%)National (62%)International (14%)Unknown (7%)
0 10 20 30 40
Sapling/seedling
Number of paired answers
Local (42%)Regional (48%)National (26%)International (0%)Unknown (7%)
Saplings/seedlings Seeds
Provenance of propagules
**
**
A B
C D
Species nativeness and origin
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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Maintenance and success evaluation
0
10
20
30
40
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f re
sto
rati
on
pro
ject
s (%
)
Years after species instalation
Maintenance
Success evaluation
0 20 40 60 80
Plant cover
Plant diversity
Plant mortality/vitality
Plant functional diversity
Biomass production
C sequestration
Leaf nutritive value
Soil organic matter
Soil N
Soil physical properties
Soil erosion
Soil microbial activity
Litter decomposition
Multi-taxa diversity
Animal diversity
Indicator species
Eco-tourism
Proportion of restoration projects (%)
Success indicators
A B
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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0
10
20
30
40
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f re
sto
rati
on
pro
ject
s (%
)
Years after species instalation
Maintenance
Success evaluation
0 20 40 60 80
Plant cover
Plant diversity
Plant mortality/vitality
Plant functional diversity
Biomass production
C sequestration
Leaf nutritive value
Soil organic matter
Soil N
Soil physical properties
Soil erosion
Soil microbial activity
Litter decomposition
Multi-taxa diversity
Animal diversity
Indicator species
Eco-tourism
Proportion of restoration projects (%)
Success indicators
A B
Maintenance and success evaluation
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
Adaptive management: flexibility to deal with surprises/uncertainties by making adjustments in management decisions
Adapted from Nyberg 1999
23
0
10
20
30
40
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f re
sto
rati
on
pro
ject
s (%
)
Years after species instalation
Maintenance
Success evaluation
0 20 40 60 80
Plant cover
Plant diversity
Plant mortality/vitality
Plant functional diversity
Biomass production
C sequestration
Leaf nutritive value
Soil organic matter
Soil N
Soil physical properties
Soil erosion
Soil microbial activity
Litter decomposition
Multi-taxa diversity
Animal diversity
Indicator species
Eco-tourism
Proportion of restoration projects (%)
Success indicators
A B
Maintenance and success evaluation
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
• Restoration outcome never evaluated in 22% of cases
• Long term evaluation (>6 years) was only performed in 31%
24
Maintenance and success evaluation
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
0
10
20
30
40
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f re
sto
rati
on
pro
ject
s (%
)
Years after species instalation
Maintenance
Success evaluation
0 20 40 60 80
Plant cover
Plant diversity
Plant mortality/vitality
Plant functional diversity
Biomass production
C sequestration
Leaf nutritive value
Soil organic matter
Soil N
Soil physical properties
Soil erosion
Soil microbial activity
Litter decomposition
Multi-taxa diversity
Animal diversity
Indicator species
Eco-tourism
Proportion of restoration projects (%)
Success indicators
A B
FunctionalNot functional
Success indicators
25
Maintenance and success evaluation
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
0
10
20
30
40
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f re
sto
rati
on
pro
ject
s (%
)
Years after species instalation
Maintenance
Success evaluation
0 20 40 60 80
Plant cover
Plant diversity
Plant mortality/vitality
Plant functional diversity
Biomass production
C sequestration
Leaf nutritive value
Soil organic matter
Soil N
Soil physical properties
Soil erosion
Soil microbial activity
Litter decomposition
Multi-taxa diversity
Animal diversity
Indicator species
Eco-tourism
Proportion of restoration projects (%)
Success indicators
A B
FunctionalNot functional
Success indicators
• Functional indicators seldom used
• No attempt to quantify ecosystem services
26
Unexpected negative results
Probable causes
High
mortality
Low or
inadequate
biodiversity
Dominance of a
native species
Low plant
cover
Low natural
recruitment
Drought 11 4 3 1
Low soil quality 7 1 1 1
High erosion 3 1 1 1 1
Pests 2 1 1
Inappropriate
planting techniques 2 1 1
Excessive irrigation 1
Wildfire 1
Invasive species 1
High fragmentation 1
Short elapsed time 1
Reported for 50% of the projects
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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Ecological restoration practice index
Questions Score=2 Score=1 Score=0
1. Scientific assistance before, during, and
after the restoration
project
only in one or two of
such occasions
never
2. Soil origin only local local + other only non-local
3. Species nativeness only native native + non-native only non-native
4. Species provenance local local + other only national or
international
5. Duration of success
evaluation
> 5 years 1 - 5 years never
6. Success indicators based also on
functional indicators,
e.g. soil organic matter,
litter decomposition
rate
based only on species
diversity, e.g. multi-taxa
based only on diversity,
vitality or cover of plant
species
Higher agreement with ER principles
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
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0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
nEU(n=1)
EU(n=3)
nEU(n=3)
EU(n=12)
nEU(n=9)
EU(n=8)
Fire Infrastructure/Industrial Overgrazing/Agriculture
Eco
l. R
est
ora
tio
n in
de
x
Main degradation cause
abc
b
b
cabc
abc
Ecological restoration practice index
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
nEU(n=1)
EU(n=3)
nEU(n=3)
EU(n=12)
nEU(n=9)
EU(n=8)
Fire Infrastructure/Industrial Overgrazing/Agriculture
Eco
l. R
est
ora
tio
n in
de
x
Main degradation cause
abc
b
b
cabc
abc
29
Ecological restoration practice index
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
30
Implications for practice
• High variability among restoration practices
• Need for improved scientific assistance and information exchange
• Need for greater use of native species of local provenance - crucial to preserve
local genetic and functional trait diversity critical to cope with drought
• Need for long-term monitoring and evaluation, including indicators of
ecosystem functioning and services – only way to understand restoration
trajectories and adopt adaptive management in order to create functional
ecosystems
Quarries Alive, 2-4 May 2018, University of Évora, Portugal
31
Acknowledgments:
FCT-MEC (SFRH/BD/51407/2011)
Thank you for your attention
COST Action ES1104 – Arid lands restoration and combat of desertification: setting up a drylands and desert restoration hub