Guidelines for embedded experiments ecological restoration Australia (Click to download)
Enabling continual learning in ecological restoration
Past investment in restoration across Australia has developed a distributed network of highly knowledgeable and experienced practitioners. Predicted growth in the restoration sector to meet national and international targets provides an opportunity to value-add to this investment by upskilling practitioners and building science-practitioner partnerships.
This can enable experimental plantings within some projects and could address a broad range of important questions. For example, to determine the role of seed choice, what influence microbial inoculation has on plant growth, how adaptable plants are to different environmental stressors.
The establishment of experimental plots within practitioner based plantings can build science-practitioner partnerships and enhance the exchange of knowledge as well as support improved science and restoration outcomes.
The role of WABSI
WABSI provided active support by contributing to the development of the Guidelines and leading the science partnership.
Project partners
The project was delivered by CSIRO, Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, WABSI, University of Western Sydney, University of Canberra, University of Adelaide and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.
More than 20 organisations contributed to the development of the guidelines:
- CSIRO
- University of Western Sydney
- Trees for Life (SA)
- Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney
- Murdoch University
- WABSI
- University of Canberra
- Greening Australia
- University of Tasmania
- Deakin University
- University of Adelaide
- Bush Heritage
- Australian Seed Bank Partnership
- Tree Project (Victoria)
- Oxford University/CSIRO
- Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
- Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
- Parks Australia
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
- Riverina Local Land Services, NSW
- Stringy Bark
- Natural Resources, SA Murray-Darling Basin
Funding
The Guidelines are part of the Biodiversity Knowledge Project series co-funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). A workshop in Canberra that initiated the development of these guidelines was jointly funded through the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR) and the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Funding for the publication was also provided by the CANBR, The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute and Australian Research Council Centre for Forest Value at the University of Tasmania.The development of the guidelines was supported by funding through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.