Operationalizing process‐based restoration for terrestrial communities

Abstract

Diverse perspectives in the theory and practice of restoration ecology create a productive space to continuously improve outcomes for people and biodiversity. The practical side of restoration ecology often focuses on the recovery of ecosystem structure—the habitat and organisms that create ecological communities. This structural approach has led to many successes, but falls short when it comes to accommodating both complex ecological interactions and a sustainable role for people as reciprocal agents in restoration practice. Process‐based restoration offers a complementary approach to this structural perspective. Just as structural restoration “balances a ledger” of facilitated and suppressed species based on their perceived value and role in meeting restoration goals, process‐based restoration focuses on suppressing weedy interactions and enhancing desired interactions. At least four features characterize process‐based restoration—including emphasis on the intrinsic and utilitarian values of: (1) the regenerating processes of natural disturbance; (2) functional, indirect, and trait‐mediated interactions; (3) selective connectivity to titrate the amount and types of ecological flows desired for recovery goals; and (4) an inclusive human connection with nature. These features work in concert, such as renewing the role of forest burning by Indigenous people to facilitate growth of forage plants that bolster populations of harvestable animals. With restoration becoming an increasingly vital and internationally recognized field in the coming century, a more effective and inclusive approach will be needed to conserve biodiversity and the cultures that depend on it.