Restoration Of Native Vegetation Research Articles

Mapping native and non-native vegetation in the Brazilian Cerrado using freely available satellite products

Native vegetation across the Brazilian Cerrado is highly heterogeneous and biodiverse and provides important ecosystem services, including carbon and water balance regulation, however, land-use changes have been extensive. Conservation and restoration of native vegetation is essential and could be facilitated by detailed landcover maps. Here, across a large case study region in Goiás State, Brazil (1.1 Mha), we produced physiognomy level maps of native vegetation (n = 8) and other landcover types (n = 5). Seven different classification schemes using different combinations of input satellite imagery were used, with a Random Forest classifier and 2-stage approach implemented within Google Earth Engine. Overall classification accuracies ranged from 88.6–92.6% for native and non-native vegetation at the formation level (stage-1), and 70.7–77.9% for native vegetation at the physiognomy level (stage-2), across the seven different classifications schemes. The differences in classification accuracy resulting from varying the input imagery combination and quality control procedures used were small. However, a combination of seasonal Sentinel-1 (C-band synthetic aperture radar) and Sentinel-2 (surface reflectance) imagery resulted in the most accurate classification at a spatial resolution of 20 m. Classification accuracies when using Landsat-8 imagery were marginally lower, but still reasonable. Quality control procedures that account for vegetation burning when selecting vegetation reference data may also improve classification accuracy for some native vegetation types. Detailed landcover maps, produced using freely available satellite imagery and upscalable techniques, will be important tools for understanding vegetation functioning at the landscape scale and for implementing restoration projects.

Influence of Sandy Coast Vegetation on the Reproductive Success of Green Turtles at Cuban Nesting Beaches

Vegetation has been shown to influence nest environment (temperature, humidity), affecting hatchling's development as well as emergence success, and has also been used as a cue during the selection of a nesting site. For green turtles, Chelonia mydas, nest density is typically higher in the vegetated zones. This study evaluated the influence of vegetation presence and percent cover on the nesting success and embryonic development of green turtles in Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Cuba. The vegetation cover had a positive and significant relationship with the number of nests (r = 0.56, p = 0.01, n = 17). Two vegetation patches are identified with different vegetation cover values: 29% for the first (closer to the high tide line) and 37% for the second. We found the highest nesting success (70%) and nest relative frequency (15% of total nesting) around the first patch of vegetation. Median hatchling emergence success was 88% (40%–96%, n = 54) in the first patch and 93% (78%–100%, n = 40) in the second. The incubation period was lower in the first patch (mean = 51 d, range = 48–60 d, n = 44) and higher in the second (mean = 54 d, range = 45–67 d, n = 39). This is the first study that reveals the positive impact of sandy coast vegetation on Guanahacabibes' green turtle nesting and will be useful in conservation actions such as native vegetation restoration plans and temperature control using shade management with vegetation.

Energy policy implications of carbon pricing scenarios for the Brazilian NDC implementation

This study assesses the expansion of the Brazilian energy system across three GHG emissions pathways simulating the achievement of the Brazilian Nationally Determined Contribution. In the Reference scenario, the NDC is achieved through command-and-control policies. We then compare this pathway to an Emissions Pricing Scenario (EPS), which simulates a carbon pricing scheme. The Sensitive Fuels Exemption Scenario (SFE) is similar to the latter, but gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas are exempted from pricing, strengthening political buy-in to the mechanism.An integrated modelling approach combines bottom-up models representing energy demand and supply and a macroeconomic framework to ensure consistency across them. The adoption of carbon pricing schemes enables the use of a large potential of offsets (from the restoration of native vegetation) at a limited cost. This allows meeting NDC targets with bounded use of expensive mitigation actions comprised in command-and-control tools in the reference scenario. This study shows that a carbon pricing policy can increase the effectiveness of meeting climate commitments in Brazil, reducing GDP losses against business-as-usual trends. However, the mechanism's scope and sectoral coverage are key to ensure that decarbonisation is pursued in all economic sectors and in line with climate targets beyond the NDC horizon.

Valoração econômica do serviço de polinização na agricultura no Centro-Oeste brasileiro (2010-2018)

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estimar o Valor Econômico do Serviço de Polinização Animal (VESP) das atividades agrícolas dependentes de polinização na região Centro-Oeste brasileira no período de 2010 a 2018, ano a ano e em valores presentes de 2018, além de discutir as principais causas e implicações da redução de polinizadores e propor estratégias para mitigação do problema. O VESP foi estimado a partir do valor da produção e da razão de dependência de polinização das culturas. O VESP representou aproximadamente 1/4 de todo o valor da produção agrícola. As mudanças no uso e cobertura do solo e o uso de agroquímicos foram algumas causas da redução dos polinizadores e a restauração da vegetação nativa e da diversidade biológica algumas estratégias para mitigação do problema.

Will farmers seek environmental regularization in the Amazon and how? Insights from the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) questionnaires

The future availability and quality of natural resources essential to life such as ecosystem services and biodiversity depend on the conservation and restoration of native vegetation. The Brazilian Native Vegetation Protection Law (NVPL) requires farmers to conserve a minimum percentage of native vegetation within their properties as Legal Reserves (LR) as well as riparian forests and hilltops as Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs). To monitor the conservation and facilitate the compliance of these areas, the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA) were created. However, so far, little is known about farmers' interest in joining the PRA and the actions they intend to take to correct their past illegal deforestation. This article explores a unique dataset comprising of the individual answers of 97 thousand farmers in the states of Pará and Mato Grosso given to the Brazilian Forest Service in the process of joining at the national rural environmental registry system. We found that the adherence to the PRA is positively correlated with recognition of the LR deficit and the size of the rural property. Also medium and large landowners and crop producers tend to seek compliance by taking actions outside the farm (compensation), while small farmers and squatters are more likely to act inside their own areas (restoration). Understanding farmers’ interests and options for LR compliance can contribute for the formulation of more effective implementation strategies for PRA and NVPL.

Vegetation associations of the endangered fountain darter Etheostoma fonticola

Aquatic vegetation provides many services for aquatic habitats and fish communities. The federally listed fountain darter Etheostoma fonticola, found only in spring systems of the San Marcos and Comal rivers in central Texas, is reported to associate with vegetation for feeding, reproduction, and refuge. Descriptions of associations with vegetation range from preferred to exclusive, whereas other studies describe fountain darters found outside of vegetation. The purposes of this study were to quantify fountain darter occurrences and abundances among vegetated habitats using the concept of obligate and facultative habitat use. Wadeable and non-wadeable habitats among multiple reaches of the San Marcos and Comal rivers were sampled with seines and SCUBA diving methods in the spring and fall from 2014 to 2019. Fountain darters were often associated with aquatic vegetation but demonstrated both obligate and facultative tendencies. Fountain darters occurred in vegetation more than expected among wadeable and non-wadeable habitats in the majority of reaches within the San Marcos and Comal rivers. Among vegetation taxa, they were positively associated with bryophytes and negatively associated with Texas wild rice, but associations with other vegetation taxa varied by river and were possibly influenced by other variables. Current vegetation management in both rivers includes the removal of non-native species and restoration of native vegetation, so understanding the patterns of fountain darter associations with vegetation can guide future management and restoration efforts of these spring systems.

Revisiting the concept of “fiscal modules”: implications for restoration and conservation programs in Brazil

Fiscal modules (FMs) were created to facilitate the collection of the rural territorial tax in Brazil. In theory, the area of a FM should be enough for a family to have income, survive, and thrive. The current Native Vegetation Protection Law (Law 12.651/2012) gives equal treatment to all people who own up to four FMs through the Environmental Regularization Program for small properties and family agriculture. Thus, FMs are parameters for flexible land allocation, reducing the area in which the restoration of native vegetation is mandatory. In this study, we sought to describe the history of the creation of FMs to verify the correlations between current agricultural and socioeconomic indicators and FM size. We used a case study in the state of Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil to analyze how updating the FM affects the Environmental Regularization Program proposed by the Native Vegetation Protection Law. FMs were created in 1979 and set in 1980, but have never been updated. Current data on land use, rate of deforestation, and productivity in rural areas should lead to changes in the FM size and value. Analyzing the data from municipalities in the state of Rio de Janeiro, we found that the groups formed in the cluster analysis differed from the existing FM groups in the state, which range from 5 to 35 ha. This difference may be a consequence of the failure to update the FM parameters, because updating the FM definition may result in less hectares in each FM. This would result in a larger area to be restored, according to the Environmental Regularization Program, and would thus favor the overall goals of forest restoration.

Alternanthera philoxeroides invasion affects the soil seed bank of reed community

Biological invasion is a global environmental problem that has profound effects on the natural ecosystem. To gain in-depth understandings on how biological invasion affects the natural recovery potential of native vegetation, this study focused on the soil seed banks of reed (Phragmites australis) communities with different degrees of Alternanthera philoxeroides invasion. The soil seed banks were germinated under three light conditions (shading, natural light and supplementary light) and three water level conditions (immersed, 3 cm water flooded and 30 cm water flooded). The effects of the different degrees of A. philoxeroides invasion, light conditions, and water levels on the soil seed bank germination of reed communities were compared and analyzed. Our studies revealed that A. philoxeroides invasion had remarkable impacts on the soil seed banks of wetland reed communities during less than three years and water level and light had interaction on the effect of invasion. Under the supplementary light treatment, the number of germinating species in the non invasive soil seed bank (average 3.78 species/box) was significantly higher than that in the seriously invasive soil seed bank (average 2.22 species/box)(N = 9, P ≤ 0.05)). Under immersed treatments, A. philoxeroides invasion significantly reduced the seedling density (from average 905 seedlings/m2 without invasion to average 363 seedlings/m2 with mild invasion and 313 seedlings/m2 with severe invasion, N = 9, P≦0.05) and the species richness (from average 4.33 species /box without invasion to average 3.11 species/ box with mild invasion and 3.11 species/ box with severe invasion, N = 9, P≦0.05) of reed community soil seed banks. Under 30 cm water flooded treatment, the dominance index of the soil seed bank with severe invasion was significantly higher than that with mild invasion. Shading and flooding inhibited the seed germination from soil seed bank. We also discovered that A. philoxeroides invasion reduced the seedling density of the light-requiring species and the terrestrial species, such as E. crusgalli, which finally impairing the natural seed recovery potential of reed communities. These findings showed new lights on the invasion plant management and the native vegetation restoration.

Climate and land-use change refugia for Brazilian Cerrado birds

As climate and land-use changes threatens biodiversity, the identification of refugia areas for species becomes a crucial strategy in conservation planning. Here, we integrate climate change anomaly with a land-use change model both projected for 2050 to identify refugia areas for 103 bird species that occur in the Brazilian Cerrado. We found that 13% of the Cerrado may serve as refugia for the bird species. In contrast, nearly 35% of the biome might become areas of high risk for those species. Most species (74%) will held from 34% to 85% of their current geographic distribution in areas with less native vegetation, but with low climate anomaly. Apart from the protection of the refugia areas, we suggest restoration of native vegetation in regions that are likely to maintain climate conditions more adequate in the future. These areas should be prioritized to protect places with higher species richness and ease the establishment of corridors that would support climate-induced dispersal from high risk areas to suitable ones. Approaches that allow for the identification and future protection of refugia are fundamental to guarantee the conservation of biodiversity faced with climate change and rapid land-use changes that already taking place.

Land use surrounding wetlands influences urban populations of a freshwater turtle

Abstract Urbanization is one of the most influential land use changes globally and continues to affect wetland ecosystems and their biota. Freshwater turtles, which rely on both terrestrial and aquatic habitats to complete their life cycles, are one of the most endangered vertebrate groups, with approximately 60% of species threatened. Although habitat alteration caused by urbanization is recognized as one of the main threats to freshwater turtles, there is a paucity of studies quantifying the effects of terrestrial habitat change on turtle populations. The aim of this study was to determine how terrestrial land use change, associated with urbanization, influences the viability of freshwater turtle populations. Thirty‐three wetlands were sampled for the southwestern snake‐necked turtle (Chelodina colliei Gray, 1856) (Chelidae) between October 2016 and February 2017 within a region of continuing urban intensification. Land use and habitat types were classified at the aquatic–terrestrial interface and within a 300‐m band around each wetland. Generalized linear mixed models were used to identify the land use variables that best explained the relative abundance of C. colliei. Turtle abundance and population structure varied widely among wetlands. The percentage of residential land use, and the presence and accessibility of fringing native vegetation, was positively associated with the relative abundance of C. colliei. The association with residential land use may be an artefact of historical land use, whereas the association with native vegetation is probably because adjacent vegetation provides connectivity with suitable nesting sites, and thus facilitates increased recruitment. This study shows how the modification of terrestrial habitat around wetlands may directly influence the population viability of freshwater turtles. Protection and restoration of native vegetation fringing urban wetlands is crucial to support the viability of remnant freshwater turtle populations.

Do native plant associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes differ between reconstructed and remnant coastal dunes?

Anthropogenic landscape modification can disrupt mutualistic interactions between native plants and soil microbes. Restoration of native vegetation in disturbed habitats may depend upon reconnecting plants with their fungal symbionts, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We compared levels of root colonisation by AMF (arbuscules, vesicles, aseptate hyphae) and dark septate endophytes (DSE; septate hyphae, microsclerotia) between reconstructed and remnant dunes along the southern coastline of New South Wales (Australia) for two native plants: Lomandra longifolia and Carpobrotus glaucescens. Reconstruction was undertaken approximately 30 years ago to reinstate native vegetation and reduce erosion on dunes deforested by European settlers during the 1800s. Fungal colonisation was assessed using the point-intercept method on stained root sections under a light microscope. Root colonisation by AMF did not differ significantly between reconstructed and remnant dune habitats, but did vary significantly amongst sites. In contrast, DSE was two times lower for L. longifolia plants growing in reconstructed compared with remnant fore dunes. Our finding of reduced DSE colonisation in reconstructed dunes may indicate that impacts of land clearing on plant–fungal associations may persist over long time periods for some key plant species. Reduced DSE colonisation may be associated with limited restoration potential and functioning of reconstructed fore dune ecosystems. Future research will be needed to assess the scale of reduced DSE across reconstructed coastal habitats, the role of plant–DSE relationships in vegetation community function, and implications of reduced DSE for ecosystem restoration.

Potential for Forest Restoration and Deficit Compensation in Itacaiúnas Watershed, Southeastern Brazilian Amazon

The conservation and restoration of native vegetation is vital for providing key hydrological services (i.e., maintaining high water quality, atmospheric humidity, and precipitation patterns). However, this research area lacks fine-scale studies at the watershed level to evaluate opportunities for forest restoration and deficit (the shortfall of forest required to be restored or compensated), as well as the implications for watershed management. We provide the first fine-scale estimation of forest and deficit distribution, integrating permanent preservation areas (APPs, in Portuguese) and legal reserves (RL, in Portuguese), according to Brazilian environmental law, for the 41,300 km2 Itacaiúnas watershed in the Brazilian state of Pará, which has lost 50% of its vegetation cover. Using 30 m- and 10 m-resolution imagery, a multi-temporal land use classification was performed by geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA). The results were combined with a set of Brazilian regulations on the conservation and restoration of APPs and RL to assess patterns of forest cover and legal compliance. We found that the total RL deficit (4383 km2) was higher than the total forest surplus (above legal obligation) (3241 km2). However, most of this deficit (56%) could be compensated by protecting a forest area in another property within the Amazon biome, while 44% must be legally restored. Only 4% of the total forest surplus can be legally deforested, and the remaining 96% is already protected by law but can be used to compensate for areas under the deficit. We also found that, despite 57% (3017 km2) of the total APP being forested, only 26% (1356 km2) of the APP must be restored and 17% (881 km2) can remain deforested (consolidated areas). The 2012 law revision reduced the obligation to restore RL and APPs. This change could affect hydrological and ecological services. Compensation mechanisms could be used to protect forest within the Itacaiúnas watershed, rather than in the biome, to reduce further deforestation pressure.

Removal pattern mitigates negative, short‐term effects of stepwise Russian olive eradication on breeding birds

AbstractInvasive species can have disastrous ecological consequences, and management is often required to control these invasions and mitigate the damage. Yet in many systems, biological invaders can serve critical ecological roles, particularly where they have been long‐established or effectively replaced functionally similar native species. In such cases, eradicating invasions can have unintended consequences on other components of the ecosystem, and potential control measures must be viewed within an ecosystem‐wide context to ensure they do not cause more harm than good. On the lower Snake River in eastern Washington, invasive Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) comprises 90% of the woody riparian vegetation in some areas. In this study, we experimentally removed half of the Russian olive from 0.5‐ha plots using three configuration patterns that varied in the amount of interspersion of remaining vegetation (n = 9 replicates) to evaluate the short‐term impact of a stepwise restoration strategy on breeding bird communities. We monitored plots for 5 yr and found that Russian olive removal on low interspersion treatments negatively affected occupancy rates for 50 of 52 species (96%) and significantly reduced richness by up to 2.41 (95% credible interval [CI] = 0.73, 4.14) species relative to control plots. These effects dampened with increasing interspersion, and occupancy rates of only 41 (79%) species decreased on high interspersion treatments, leading to non‐significant richness reductions of only 0.99 (95% CI = −0.70, 2.75) species. Given the dominance of Russian olive in this region, removing it eliminates critical habitat for birds that require woody structure for nesting and foraging. Thus, we caution managers to consider the potential short‐term negative impacts to the local fauna when planning invasive control efforts. However, we found that several riparian‐dependent species known to breed in the region were noticeably absent from our study plots, and short‐term losses in avian habitat may be tolerable where restoration of native vegetation supports greater diversity in the long term. In such restoration efforts, managers may be able to mitigate the negative effects of invasive shrub control by maintaining high interspersion among unmanipulated vegetation while waiting for native vegetation to re‐establish.

Ecological restoration as a strategy for mitigating and adapting to climate change: lessons and challenges from Brazil

Climate change is a global phenomenon that affects biophysical systems and human well-being. The Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change entered into force in 2016 with the objective of strengthening the global response to climate change by keeping global temperature rise this century well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 °C. The agreement requires all Parties to submit their “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead. Reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation is an important strategy for mitigating climate change, particularly in developing countries with large forests. Extensive tropical forest loss and degradation have increased awareness at the international level of the need to undertake large-scale ecological restoration, highlighting the need to identify cases in which restoration strategies can contribute to mitigation and adaptation. Here we consider Brazil as a case study to evaluate the benefits and challenges of implementing large-scale restoration programs in developing countries. The Brazilian NDC included the target of restoring and reforesting 12 million hectares of forests for multiple uses by 2030. Restoration of native vegetation is one of the foundations of sustainable rural development in Brazil and should consider multiple purposes, from biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation to social and economic development. However, ecological restoration still presents substantial challenges for tropical and mega-diverse countries, including the need to develop plans that are technically and financially feasible, as well as public policies and monitoring instruments that can assess effectiveness. The planning, execution, and monitoring of restoration efforts strongly depend on the context and the diagnosis of the area with respect to reference ecosystems (e.g., forests, savannas, grasslands, wetlands). In addition, poor integration of climate change policies at the national and subnational levels and with other sectorial policies constrains the large-scale implementation of restoration programs. The case of Brazil shows that slowing deforestation is possible; however, this analysis highlights the need for increased national commitment and international support for actions that require large-scale transformations of the forest sector regarding ecosystem restoration efforts. Scaling up the ambitions and actions of the Paris Agreement implies the need for a global framework that recognizes landscape restoration as a cost-effective nature-based solution and that supports countries in addressing their remaining needs, challenges, and barriers.

Shrub establishment favoured and grass dominance reduced in acid heath grassland systems cleared of invasive Rhododendron ponticum

Rhododendron ponticum L. is a damaging invasive alien species in Britain, favouring the moist, temperate climate, and the acidic soils of upland areas. It outshades other species and is thought to create a soil environment of low pH that may be higher in phytotoxic phenolic compounds. We investigated native vegetation restoration and R. ponticum regeneration post-clearance using heathland sites within Snowdonia National Park, Wales; one site had existing R. ponticum stands and three were restoring post-clearance. Each site also had an adjacent, uninvaded control for comparison. We assessed whether native vegetation restoration was influenced post-invasion by soil chemical properties, including pH and phytotoxic compounds, using Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) bioassays supported by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MSn). Cleared sites had higher shrub and bare ground cover, and lower grass and herbaceous species cover relative to adjacent uninvaded control sites; regenerating R. ponticum was also observed on all cleared sites. No phenolic compounds associated with R. ponticum were identified in any soil water leachates, and soil leachates from cleared sites had no inhibitory effect in L. sativa germination assays. We therefore conclude that reportedly phytotoxic compounds do not influence restoration post R. ponticum clearance. Soil pH however was lower beneath R. ponticum and on cleared sites, relative to adjacent uninvaded sites. The lower soil pH post-clearance may have favoured shrub species, which are typically tolerant of acidic soils. The higher shrub cover on cleared sites may have greater ecological value than unaffected grass dominated sites, particularly given the recent decline in such valuable heathland habitats. The presence of regenerating R. ponticum on all cleared sites however highlights the critical importance of monitoring and re-treating sites post initial clearance.

How Changes in Legally Demanded Forest Restoration Impact Ecosystem Services: A Case Study in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

The recent change in Brazilian laws reduced the amount of area that is set aside for native vegetation restoration in rural private properties. However, we lack estimates of its impacts on the provisioning of key ecosystem services at local scales. Therefore, in a microwatershed in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest hot spot, we quantified the impact of the change from the Forest Code (1965) to the Native Vegetation Protection Law in Brazil (2012) on future native forest cover, biomass carbon stocks, and soil loss and sedimentation. We analyzed three scenarios: (a) the land use and cover as of 2016, (b) the Forest Code, 1965, and (c) the Native Vegetation Protection Law, 2012. In each scenario, we modeled soil loss and sedimentation (InVEST, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) and calculated the carbon stocks. The 2012 law implementation would increase forest cover (15.6%), decrease soil sedimentation (1.12%) and loss (1.13%), and increase carbon stock (5.4%). However, compared to the Forest Code, it would reduce the area for restoration and the potential for native forest cover growth, increase soil loss and sedimentation potential, and limit increases in carbon stocks at the landscape level. In both restoration scenarios, the potential percent increase in forest cover in the microwatershed owing to the laws is higher than the percent decrease in soil loss and sedimentation. These findings have the potential to elucidate the effect of laws on ecosystem services and be useful to those planning the creation, modification, and implementation of laws for forest restoration in private properties.

The Influence of Slope on Vegetation Recovery Following Nonnative Grazer Removal on Santa Rosa Island, California

Ecosystem restoration efforts have been ongoing on the Channel Islands of California since the 1980s. Although these island ecosystems evolved without ungulate grazers, large nonnative grazers, including sheep, cattle, feral pigs, deer, and elk, were present on the islands for over 160 years. Intensive grazing led to reductions in the extent of woody vegetation, increases in the area of grassland and bare ground, and widespread landsliding and gully erosion. This study focuses on Santa Rosa Island, the second largest (215.3 km2) island in Channel Islands National Park. After the park was created in 1980, the National Park Service progressively removed nonnative grazers to facilitate the restoration of native vegetation and the wildlife communities they support. We constructed a time series (1989 to 2015) of Landsat TM5 and Landsat 7 ETM+ images to evaluate large-scale and long-term vegetation change in response to grazer removal on Santa Rosa Island. We also evaluated the influence of slope percent, which can be an indicator of past grazing accessibility, on ecosystem recovery. Results indicate that removing nonnative grazers led to passive restoration of 42.1 km2 of scrub, chaparral, and woodland vegetation. In contrast, the area of grassland vegetation decreased by 31.2 km2 and bare ground decreased by 12.0 km2. The extent of scrub and woodland vegetation recovery was greater on gentle and moderate slopes compared to steep slopes, indicating that terrain does influence passive restoration. Despite changes in vegetation cover, 5.4 km2 has remained bare. Much of the bare ground is on ridgelines that were denuded down to the bedrock or regolith. Active restoration will be necessary on bare ridgelines, such as erosion control, fog capture, and oak woodland reforestation.

Risk valuation of ecological resources at contaminated deactivation and decommissioning facilities: methodology and a case study at the Department of Energy's Hanford site.

Many countries are faced with monumental cleanup tasks remaining from World War II and the Cold War and consistent methodologies are essential to assess the risk from pollutants and the risk from cleanup. In the USA, the Department of Energy (DOE), and other federal and state agencies need to be able to rapidly evaluate the risk to ecological resources for remediation projects. While ecological risk assessments for radionuclides and other contaminants can be performed for different species, evaluations of species assemblages, communities, and ecosystems is more difficult. We summarize an evaluation method for ecological resources on individual remediation units that will allow comparison among a large number of units and that can be modified and applied to the DOE complex-wide. We evaluated the deactivation and decommissioning (D & D) facilities at the Hanford site as case studies. Remediation of these sites has the potential to provide harm to, or increase the value of, ecological resources during and after the process. The evaluation method includes three categories: (1) general steps, (2) ecological descriptions, and (3) ecological ratings. The general steps include identifying the categories of resources (level of resource value), identifying the units to be evaluated (e.g., remediation units), identifying a reasonable ecological buffer around the evaluation units, identifying the remediation options (from milestones or other agreements), and developing a rating scale. Ecological descriptions include identifying previous ecological values of specific areas on the evaluation unit, conducting field studies to assess the current conditions, and summarizing the percent of each resource value on the evaluation unit and buffer area. The ecological risk of harm is determined by using the rating scale to evaluate the potential harm to the ecological (and eco-cultural) resources on each evaluation unit currently, during remediation, and in the post-remediation phase. Currently, the risks (potential harm) to ecological resources on the D & D facilities at the Hanford site are non-discernible, but they increase to very high (for reactors) during remediation when there is physical disruption, increased traffic and personnel, and possible increased contamination. Following remediation, the potential harm to ecological resources is low, and the value may be increased due to restoration of native vegetation on sites that were largely industrial prior to remediation. These methods provide managers, regulators, tribes, and the general public with assurance that ecological and eco-cultural resources and the environment are being protected during and following remediation.

Use of seasonal forecasting to manage weather risk in ecological restoration.

Ecological restoration has widely variable outcomes from successes to partial or complete failures, and there are diverse perspectives on the factors that influence the likelihood of success. However, not much is known about how these factors are perceived, and whether people's perceptions match realities. We surveyed 307 people involved in the restoration of native vegetation across Australia to identify their perceptions on the factors influencing the success of restoration projects. We found that weather (particularly drought and flooding) has realized impacts on the success of restoration projects, but is not perceived to be an important risk when planning new projects. This highlights the need for better recognition and management of weather risk in restoration and a potential role of seasonal forecasting. We used restoration case studies across Australia to assess the ability of seasonal forecasts provided by the Predictive Ocean Atmosphere Model for Australia, version M24 (POAMA-2) to detect unfavorable weather with sufficient skill and lead time to be useful for restoration projects. We found that rainfall and temperature variables in POAMA-2 predicted 88% of the weather issues encountered in restoration case studies apart from strong winds and cyclones. Of those restoration case studies with predictable weather issues, POAMA-2 had the forecast skill to predict the dominant or first-encountered issue in 67% of cases. We explored the challenges associated with uptake of forecast products through consultation with restoration practitioners and developed a prototype forecast product using a local case study. Integrating seasonal forecasting into decision making through (1) identifying risk management strategies during restoration planning, (2) accessing the forecast a month prior to revegetation activities, and (3) adapting decisions if extreme weather is forecasted, is expected to improve the establishment success of restoration.

Short‐ and long‐term evapotranspiration rates at ecological restoration sites along a large river receiving rare flow events

AbstractMany large rivers around the world no longer flow to their deltas, due to ever greater water withdrawals and diversions for human needs. However, the importance of riparian ecosystems is drawing increasing recognition, leading to the allocation of environmental flows to restore river processes. Accurate estimates of riparian plant evapotranspiration (ET) are needed to understand how the riverine system responds to these rare events and achieve the goals of environmental flows. In 2014, historic environmental flows were released into the Lower Colorado River at Morelos Dam (Mexico); this once perennial but now dry reach is the final stretch to the mighty Colorado River Delta. One of the primary goals was to supply native vegetation restoration sites along the reach with water to help seedlings establish and boost groundwater levels to foster the planted saplings. Patterns in ET before, during, and after the flows are useful for evaluating whether this goal was met and understanding the role that ET plays in this now ephemeral river system. Here, diurnal fluctuations in groundwater levels and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data were used to compare estimates of ET specifically at 3 native vegetation restoration sites during 2014 planned flow events, and MODIS data were used to evaluate long‐term (2002–2016) ET responses to restoration efforts at these sites. Overall, ET was generally 0–10 mm d−1 across sites, and although daily ET values from groundwater data were highly variable, weekly averaged estimates were highly correlated with MODIS‐derived estimates at most sites. The influence of the 2014 flow events was not immediately apparent in the results, although the process of clearing vegetation and planting native vegetation at the restoration sites was clearly visible in the results.