Implementation Of Restoration Projects Research Articles

Research on Monitoring and Application of Ecological Restoration Engineering in Open Pit Backfilling Mines Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Data

Abstract. The restoration and management of mining ecological environment is an important component of China's ecological civilization construction. The implementation of restoration projects is to avoid the serious impact caused by the continuous deterioration of mining ecological structure, and is a key way to maintain regional ecological security and energy and mineral security. Therefore, efficient and rapid monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of mining ecological restoration is an essential and important link. With the rapid development of remote sensing technology, remote sensing monitoring has become an important means to objectively, quickly, and accurately obtaining changes in the mining environment. It can provide timely and long-term monitoring of mining and backfilling conditions in mining areas. This article uses the multi temporal stereo images of the Resource 3 satellite over four years to monitor the mining and backfilling situation of the Zhungeer open-pit coal mine area in Inner Mongolia. By reconstructing the Digital Surface Model (DSM) of the open-pit mining area, the changes and thresholds of the multi temporal DSM data are statistically analyzed to extract the mining and backfilling areas, and the earthwork volume is calculated. The results showed that from 2013 to 2016, the main large-scale mining faces in the study area of Zhungeer open-pit mining area had a total mining operation of about 563.5 million cubic meters, and a total backfilling operation of about 604.29 million cubic meters; During the period from 2016 to 2018, the main large-scale mining faces in the region had a total of approximately 721.71 million cubic meters of mining operations and a total of approximately 805.42 million cubic meters of backfilling operations. The overall operational intensity increased from 2016 to 2018. The research results show that based on satellite image data, it is convenient and efficient to obtain DSM and corresponding changes of multiple time periods in mining areas. Monitoring results can provide important support for regional environmental governance and protection, as well as safety production in mining areas.

Dissimilar forests along the Rio Doce watershed call for multiple restoration references to avoid biotic homogenization

An environmental disaster caused by the rupture of a mining tailings dam has impacted a large area of the Rio Doce watershed in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, resulting in unprecedented damage at spatial and temporal scales. The Atlantic Forest is one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots. A long history of land use conversion has resulted in a highly fragmented landscape. Despite numerous restoration initiatives, these efforts have often biased criteria and use limited species assemblages. We conducted a comprehensive synthesis of the plant community in riparian forests along the Rio Doce watershed. Our work detailed vegetation composition (tree and sapling strata) and examined its relationship with edaphic and landscape factors, aiming to inform restoration projects with scientifically robust knowledge. A total of 4906 individuals from the tree strata and 4565 individuals from the sapling strata were recorded, representing a total of 1192 species from 75 families. Only 0.8% of the tree species and 0.5% of the sapling species occurred in all sampled sectors, with over 84% of the species occurring in a single watershed sector for both strata. We observed a high species heterogeneity modulated by turnover (92.3% in the tree, and 92.7% in the sapling strata) among sites. Overall, our research revealed a gradient of soil fertility influencing species composition across different strata. Additionally, we discovered that preserved landscapes had a positive impact on species diversity within both strata. The species exclusivity in the sampled sites and the high turnover rate imply the need to consider multiple reference ecosystems when restoring the watershed to reduce the risk of biotic homogenization. Finally, the reference ecosystems defined here serve as a basis for the selection of locally particular species in the implementation of restoration projects that aim to improve biodiversity, ecosystem services, and water security.

The role of palaeoecology in reconciling biodiversity conservation, livelihoods and carbon storage in Madagascar

Planting trees is proposed as an important climate mitigation tool, but can be detrimental to biodiversity and livelihoods if not carefully planned and managed, with landscape history and livelihoods in mind. In Madagascar, deforestation is of concern, and a threat to forest-adapted biota. However, much of Madagascar’s landscape harbours ancient mosaic and open ecosystems that are home to unique suites of flora and fauna and provide a wide range of ecosystem services. Though guidelines for ecologically and socially responsible reforestation are emerging, the potential role of landscape history and palaeoecology has been generally underemphasised. Here, using Madagascar as a case study, we argue that forest restoration projects need a sound understanding of landscape history that includes a greater integration of palaeoecological data. This would help establish the former composition and extent of forests and also investigate the antiquity of open and mosaic ecosystems. When economic interests are strong, information from palaeoecology and environmental history can help reduce biases when identifying appropriate locations and suites of species for forestation. Furthermore, a reflective approach to landscape history can contribute to restoration projects that integrate cultural and livelihood considerations. A transdisciplinary approach that considers local needs and cultural context can facilitate the design and implementation of restoration projects that share benefits equitably. Underpinning this ambition is a more comprehensive consideration of ecosystem service benefits in a changing climate that includes accurate carbon storage calculations, as well as other ecosystem services including water provision, soil formation and erosion prevention, grazing resources, medicine and cultural components.

Quantifying the policy-driven large scale vegetation restoration effects on evapotranspiration over drylands in China

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key variable in the water cycle and reflects the ecosystem's feedback into the climate system. However, quantitative studies on the response of ET to large-scale vegetation restoration projects and climate change are still lacking, especially in drylands. To address this deficiency, this research examined the variation in ET since the implementation of restoration projects in the drylands of China in 2000–2018, and utilized quantitative analysis methods to investigate the effects of six environmental factors, including temperature (TEM), precipitation (PRE), solar radiation (RAD), vapour pressure deficit (VPD), soil moisture (SM), and leaf area index (LAI) on ET. Furthermore, a new method was proposed to detect the ET change caused by land use and land cover change (LUCC). The results indicated that ET showed a significant increasing trend (3.54 mm yr−1) during 2000–2018, and PRE was identified as a main influential factor with an ET contribution rate of more than 50%, especially in areas with insignificant vegetation greening. Additionally, the LAI had a major positive impact on ET in the areas of significant vegetation greening, and the contribution rate was nearly 40%. Furthermore, large-scale vegetation restoration expanded the area of high-transpiration vegetation types, and the ΔET (net variable quantity of ET caused by LUCC) increased obviously especially for the changes from cropland and grassland to forest, and barren land to grassland. These findings provide a new perspective for future assessments and further decision making regarding vegetation restoration projects in drylands.

Toward a forest transition across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome

The world has entered the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), yet many regions of the world still face environmental degradation. In this context a question arises: under what conditions may a given region shift from a trajectory of environmental degradation to environmental recovery? Answering this question constitutes an important endeavor for the scientific community, policymakers, and organizations leading the planning and implementation of restoration projects. This study examines some of the human-environment conditions underpinning the net gains in natural forest cover in a region that has experienced environmental degradation: the Atlantic Forest biome, Brazil. Using land-use/cover (LULC) data, we assessed the loss and successive gain in forest cover during the 1987–2001 and 2001–2015 periods. Municipality-level statistics on agriculture and economy, together with LULC and biophysical data, were used to develop models for assessing forest cover trajectories. Of the 1,972 municipalities experiencing net forest loss during the 1987–2001 period, 59% shifted their trajectory to a net gain during the 2001–2015 period. This shift, known as forest transition, followed a complex socio-economic pathway characterized by (i) the stagnation of traditional agricultural activities favoring the replacement of pasturelands by mechanized agriculture, and (ii) the emergence of non-agricultural rural activities together with multifunctional landscapes. Furthermore, a trend of decrease in precipitation seems to be associated with land abandonment, thus, favoring the return of natural vegetation. Our findings suggest that forest transition at the biome level is possible if environmental and land regulations take advantage of specific context-dependent situations that foster net forest gains.

Climate change mitigation potential of Louisiana's coastal area: Current estimates and future projections.

Coastal habitats can play an important role in climate change mitigation. As Louisiana implements its climate action plan and the restoration and risk reduction projects outlined in its 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, it is critical to consider potential greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in coastal habitats. This study estimated the potential climate mitigation role of existing, converted, and restored coastal habitats for years 2005, 2020, 2025, 2030, and 2050, which align with the Governor of Louisiana's GHG reduction targets. An analytical framework was developed that considered 1) available scientific data on net ecosystem carbon balance fluxes per habitat and 2) habitat areas projected from modeling efforts used for the 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan to estimate the net GHG flux of coastal area. The coastal area was estimated as net GHG sinks of -38.4 ± 10.6 and - 43.2 ± 12.0 Tg CO2 equivalents (CO2 e) in 2005 and 2020, respectively. The coastal area was projected to remain a net GHG sink in 2025 and 2030, both with and without implementation of Coastal Master Plan projects (means ranged from -25.3 to -34.2 Tg CO2 e). By 2050, with model-projected wetland loss and conversion of coastal habitats to open water due to coastal erosion and relative sea level rise, Louisiana's coastal area was projected to become a net source of greenhouse gas emissions both with and without the Coastal Master Plan projects. However, at year 2050, Louisiana Coastal Master Plan project implementation was projected to avoid the release of +8.8 ± 1.3 Tg CO2 e compared to an alternative with no action. Reduction in current and future stressors to coastal habitats, including impacts from sea level rise, as well as the implementation of restoration projects could help to ensure coastal areas remain a natural climate solution.

The Influence of Induced Drought Stress on Germination of Cenchrus ciliaris L. and Cenchrus setigerus Vahl.: Implications for Rangeland Restoration in the Arid Desert Environment of Kuwait

Drought impacts in arid desert ecosystems can result in decreased ecosystem productivity and biodiversity. Implementation of restoration projects in arid desert environments is largely dependent on water availability and soil moisture condition. This study investigated the influence of induced drought stress by using polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) solution on germination viz. Cenchrus ciliaris and Cenchrus setigerus as the important rangeland species. The water stress potential treatments were 0 (control), –0.5 MPa, –1.0 MPa, –1.5 MPa, and –2.0 MPa. The extent of seed germination was severely affected by decreased water stress potential. As drought increased, the percentage of germination decreased in both Cenchrus’ species. The water deficit at –0.5 MPa showed a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in the final germination percentage in the case of C. setigerus and C. ciliaris by 65% and 42.5%, respectively. At –1.0 MPa to –1.5 MPa, changes in intermediate germination were observed in C. ciliaris (from 35% to 17.5%, respectively) and C. setigerus (from 22.5% to 11.25% respectively). Higher levels of water stress (–2.0 MPa) prevented the survival of both species. Understanding the germination strategies of native desert plant species associated with drought stress and identifying favorable conditions during the germination process can be useful for restoration practices and rangeland management actions to improve desert ecosystems and maintain biodiversity.

Hydrologic, geomorphic, and stratigraphic controls on suspended sediment transport dynamics, Big Harris Creek restoration site, North Carolina, USA

Abstract Water quality monitoring records were combined with geomorphic and stratigraphic data to determine the controls on suspended sediment transport dynamics within the headwaters of Big Harris Creek, the site of one of the largest stream restoration projects in North Carolina, USA. Land-use change associated with European settlement resulted in spatially variable geomorphic responses that produced reaches possessing semi-homogeneous landforms and processes, referred to as process zones. Downstream, process zones were dominated by entrenched channels possessing banks characterized by sandy post-settlement deposits that overlie finer-grained pre-settlement deposits. Spatial variations in the resulting process zones strongly influenced modern suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) and loads in the catchment, which are among the highest reported for the southeastern United States. The source and transport dynamics of suspended sediment differed between low magnitude floods (characterized by minimal changes in water level elevations) and moderate to high magnitude floods. Low magnitude floods were characterized by SSCs that varied over several orders of magnitude, and that were unrelated to flow conditions. Precipitation, during these events, rapidly mobilization fine-grained pre-settlement deposits associated with bank failures and cattle crossings along entrenched alluvial channels. Moderate to high magnitude floods within larger tributary basins exhibited more systematic discharge-SSC relationships. Suspended sediment transport was dominated by sand-sized particles derived from post-settlement legacy sediments eroded from the channel banks and headwater gullies. The observed temporal and spatial differences in SSC between low and moderate to high magnitude floods complicates the quantification of water quality, and shows that comparisons of water quality before and following the implementation of restoration projects need to differentiate between distinct populations of suspended sediment transport.

Identification of conservation and restoration priority areas in the Danube River based on the multi-functionality of river-floodplain systems

Large river-floodplain systems are hotspots of biodiversity and ecosystem services but are also used for multiple human activities, making them one of the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. There is wide evidence that reconnecting river channels with their floodplains is an effective measure to increase their multi-functionality, i.e., ecological integrity, habitats for multiple species and the multiple functions and services of river-floodplain systems, although, the selection of promising sites for restoration projects can be a demanding task. In the case of the Danube River in Europe, planning and implementation of restoration projects is substantially hampered by the complexity and heterogeneity of the environmental problems, lack of data and strong differences in socio-economic conditions as well as inconsistencies in legislation related to river management. We take a quantitative approach based on best-available data to assess biodiversity using selected species and three ecosystem services (flood regulation, crop pollination, and recreation), focused on the navigable main stem of the Danube River and its floodplains. We spatially prioritize river-floodplain segments for conservation and restoration based on (1) multi-functionality related to biodiversity and ecosystem services, (2) availability of remaining semi-natural areas and (3) reversibility as it relates to multiple human activities (e.g. flood protection, hydropower and navigation). Our approach can thus serve as a strategic planning tool for the Danube and provide a method for similar analyses in other large river-floodplain systems.

Synergism Between Payments for Water-Related Ecosystem Services, Ecological Restoration, and Landscape Connectivity Within the Atlantic Forest Hotspot

Restoration projects designed to promote one ecosystem service may have synergistic benefits to other services. Therefore, bundling them can be an effective way to maximize the return to the investments in programs of payments for ecosystem services (PES). Here, we investigated the additional gain of restoration actions—which were implemented as part of a PES program to protect a key watershed for water supply—on increasing functional landscape connectivity in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil. Using a landscape ecology approach, we estimated the amount of forest cover before (2006) and after (2012) restoration activities by the PES program and changes in structural and functional landscape connectivity for birds with varying gap-crossing capabilities. Forest cover increased from 42.5 to 86.1 ha after the implementation of restoration projects by the PES program. In the simulated scenarios of landscape connectivity, the mean patch size of functionally connected forest increased by 1,034%, 392%, 248%, and 94% for species with gap-crossing capabilities of 0, 20, 40, and 60 m, respectively. Our results highlight the potential for incorporating biodiversity conservation objectives into PES projects primarily designed to enhance water-related ecosystem services.

Water Environment Assessment as an Ecological Red Line Management Tool for Marine Wetland Protection.

A ‘red line’ was established, identifying an area requiring for ecological protection in Tianjin, China. Within the protected area of the red line area, the Qilihai wetland is an important ecotope with complex ecological functions, although the ecosystem is seriously disturbed due to anthropogenic activities in the surrounding areas. This study assesses the water quality status of the Qilihai wetlands to identify the pollution sources and potential improvements based on the ecological red line policy, to improve and protect the waters of the Qilihai wetlands. An indicator system was established to assess water quality status using single factor evaluation and a comprehensive evaluation method, supported by data from 2010 to 2013. Assessment results show that not all indicators met the requirement of the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002) and that overall, waters in the Qilihai wetland were seriously polluted. Based on these findings we propose restrictions on all polluting anthropogenic activities in the red line area and implementation of restoration projects to improve water quality.

Governance capacity in collaborative watershed partnerships: evidence from the Philadelphia region

The aim of this study is to assess and document the influence of collaborative watershed partnership processes on realising outcomes: improvement in social conditions and implementation of restoration projects in the Philadelphia region. Methods include primary document review, a survey of partnership participants and quantitative analysis. This analysis identifies correlations between the quality of the collaborative process and changes in social conditions. In addition, although participants in the partnerships have implemented a range of watershed restoration projects, the influence of the process on implementation is ambiguous. The collaborative processes yield agreements, improve learning and build social capital; yet these alone may be insufficient to overcome barriers to implementation.

The Science and Values of Restoration Ecology

It has been 22 years since William Jordan III and the University of Wisconsin Arboretum published the first issue of Restoration and Management Notes, 16 years since the founding of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), and 10 years since SER published the first issue of its flagship journal, Restoration Ecology. In this short time, restoration ecology has become a leader in North American conservation efforts. Believing it is important that the field has a strong scientific foundation (Bradshaw 1993), restoration ecologists have emphasized concepts such as ‘ecosystem health’ and ‘ecosystem integrity’ when articulating restoration goals and frequently have invoked ecological principles when describing and justifying their objectives (SER 2002). Although ecology plays a central and essential role in the implementation of restoration projects, we believe that defining restoration goals and objectives is fundamentally a value-based, not scientific, activity. Since its inception, SER has taken the lead in developing and articulating paradigms of restoration. SER’s most recent major publication, The SER Primer of Ecological Restoration (SER 2002), is developed around the notion that communities and ecosystems are ecological entities. In the Primer, the goal of restoration is stated to be ‘‘the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.’’ The Primer describes a recovered ecosystem as one that ‘‘contains sufficient biotic and abiotic resources to continue its development without further assistance’’ and for which ‘‘potential threats to the health and integrity of the restored ecosystem have been eliminated.’’ An ecosystem is also considered restored when it ‘‘apparently functions normally for its ecological stage of development, and signs of dysfunction are absent.’’ The idea that communities and ecosystems possess traits such as health and integrity, that they exhibit an organic development, that their ‘‘health’’ can be injured or harmed and then can be restored through informed efforts of ecologists is reminiscent of earlier ecological claims of communities and ecosystems as integrated entities (Clements & Shelford 1939). Attributes such as ‘‘health’’ and ‘‘integrity’’ can be meaningfully applied to entities that have been directly shaped by evolution, such as individual organisms. Organisms normally have clearly defined boundaries and a myriad of homeostatic mechanisms that maintain those boundaries while the organism develops, matures, and reproduces. However, communities and ecosystems are not shaped as entities by evolution. Today, communities are no longer believed to be tightly organized systems (Slobodkin 2003). They are believed to lack coherence (Gould 2002) and clear boundaries (Stiling 1999). A community or ecosystem does not possess distinct boundaries nor does it have mechanisms that have evolved to regulate particular processes. Communities do not exhibit any kind of evolutionary imperative, such as reproduction, as do individual organisms. The terms ‘‘community’’ and ‘‘ecosystem’’ are useful in a practical sense for referring to species and processes occurring in a particular locale (O’Neill 2001), but this does not mean that there actually exists some integrated entity out there called an ecosystem that grows, lives, reproduces and dies, or can be injured or healed. If ecological communities and ecosystems lack any intrinsic evolutionary or ecological purpose, one cannot validly invoke any ecological (or evolutionary) rationale to establish particular restoration goals. As noted by Diamond, ‘‘this goal [of restoration ecology] is not itself a self-evident mandate. It is a choice based on values, and it is only one of many possible choices’’ (Diamond 1987). Restorationists have often tried to justify their goals by presenting them as fulfillling various ecological imperatives, e.g., restoring ecosystem health and restoring indigenous environments. However, characterizing communities and ecosystems as ‘‘healthy’’ or ‘‘damaged’’ is a value-based, not scientific, assessment (Lackey 2001). Architecture uses mathematics, physics, and engineering in its efforts to achieve a particular result of aesthetic and social value. In an analogous fashion, restorationists must use ecology, and often geology, soil science, and more to achieve results of social value. Often, their results are also of great beauty as well. Perhaps, ‘‘ecological architecture’’ might be a more apt characterization of the work of ecological restoration, because the term acknowledges the central roles played by both values and science. Ultimately, it is important that restorationists do their best to clearly distinguish between their science and their values in their discussions with the public and policy Department of Biology, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN 55105, U.S.A. Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, U.S.A. Address correspondence to Mark A. Davis, email davis@macalester.edu

Adapting an Ecological Mangrove Model to Simulate Trajectories in Restoration Ecology

We used an ecological model to simulate the trajectories of mangrove attributes according to different restoration criteria at geographically specific conditions and at decadal time scales. This model can contribute to the design and implementation of restoration projects, and also be used to verify key mechanisms controlling ecosystem attributes during the recovery period. An existing gap model of mangrove wetlands, FORMAN, was used to simulate restoration trajectories in one of the largest estuary rehabilitation projects (128 000 ha) in South America, Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombia (CGSM). Recovery of a disturbed mangrove forest based on simulations of basal area following reductions of salinity to 40 g/kg within 2 yr or 10 yr time periods suggests that in both cases dominance would reach about 75% of that in the reference site (80 m 2/ha) in 40 yr. Both forests are >80% dominated by Avicennia, and Laguncularia has greater basal area than Rhizophora in the remaining structure. Simulations of forest recovery with a 25 yr target for salinity reduction show that only about 50% of the basal area in the reference site is recovered after 40 yr. After 40 yr of recovery, both the 2 and 10 yr salinity targets produce higher basal area and different patterns of community composition ( Laguncularia becomes the dominant species) under enhanced recruitment (planting program) than observed under more natural recruitment. Ecological models can be used to establish trajectories of mangrove response to a variety of initial site conditions at spatially explicit locations that can improve engineering designs, project operation, and more clearly define monitoring programs and natural resource valuation. Modelling techniques can be used to identify the appropriate spatial and temporal scales of problems associated with mangrove restoration projects that could improve our ability to conserve and manage one of the most valuable forested wetlands in the tropical coastal zone.

NORTH CAPE OIL SPILL NRDA PROCESS UNDER OPA 1990

ABSTRACT On January 19, 1996, the tank borge North Cape and the tug Scandia grounded on Moonstone Beach in southern Rhode Island, spilling 828,000 gallons of no. 2 heating oil into Block Island Sound. Just 2 weeks prior to the grounding, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had published the final natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) rule for the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA). The North Cape oil spill became the first opportunity to implement the new NRDA rules. One of the key provisions of the NRDA rule is the requirement that trustees must invite the responsible parties (RP) to participate in a cooperative assessment of damages. If the trustees and the RP can agree to perform the initial phases of an assessment cooperatively, the chances of achieving a fair settlement and avoiding protracted litigation are expected to be enhanced. The cooperative approach should also reduce overall transaction costs, facilitate settlement, and result in a more rapid implementation of restoration projects. This paper presents an overview of the cooperative natural resource damage assessment process being undertaken by the trustees and the RPs following the North Cape oil spill and highlights some of the lessons learned in conducting a cooperative assessment.