Hedging our bets for effective restoration

Svejcar, L.N., Davies, K.W. and Ritchie, A.L., 2023. Ecological restoration in the age of apocalypse. Global Change Biology. PDF

Written by Bethany Bradley, edited by Audrey Barker Plotkin

Summary

Invasive species management and restoration often go hand in hand, as the re-establishment of native species can make ecological communities more resistant to invasion. A typical restoration project involves planting seeds and/or seedlings following invasive species removal. However, increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme climatic events due to climate change makes it more likely that a single restoration planting will fail. Svejcar et al. (2023) suggest an alternative approach to single-year restoration projects.  First, they suggest ‘hedging our bets’ on restoration by planting seeds and/or seedlings over multiple years, thus increasing the chances for favorable establishment conditions. . Second, they suggest seed and site treatments to defend against climate risks.  For example, mulching with dead (non-invasive) plant material could increase shading and moisture retention to defend against climate-driven extreme heat and drought.

Take home points

• Increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme climatic events could reduce the efficacy of restoration plantings following invasive species removal.

• Bet-hedging by dividing planting effort over multiple years increases the likelihood that favorable conditions for plant establishment are included during a restoration project.

Management implications

• Invasive species restoration projects should plan for multiple years of seeding/planting to minimize climate risk.

• Seed or site treatments could proactively defend against some climate risks.

Keywords

climate extremes, management, climate-smart restoration