Transdisciplinary approach to developing effective restoration measures

Þórunn Pétursdóttir

Soil Conservation Service of Iceland

Ecological Restoration

• Ecological restoration is an engaging and inclusive process. Restoration embraces the interrelationships between nature and culture, engages all sectors of society, and enables full and effective participation of indigenous, local and disenfranchised communities.

• Ecological restoration requires the integration of knowledge and practice. Science and other forms of knowledge are essential for designing, implementing and monitoring restoration projects and programs. At the same time, lessons learned from practical experiences are essential for determining and prioritizing the scientific needs of the field.

• Ecological restoration is policy-relevant and essential. Restoration is a critical tool for achieving biodiversity conservation, mitigating and adapting to climate change, enhancing ecosystem services, fostering sustainable socioeconomic development, and improving human health and well-being.

• Ecological restoration is practiced locally with global implications. Restoration takes place in all regions of the world, with local actions having regional and global benefits for nature and people.

“An intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of a (degraded) ecosystem with respect to its

functions, integrity and sustainability“ (ser.org)

Island Press Book Series on ecological restoration

A cross-disciplinary activity!

(ser.org)

Degraded ecosystems/Unsustainable SESs

impact

inputsinputsResto

ration

eco

logy

Social

coh

esion

Finan

cial su

pp

ort

outputs outputs

Ecological restoration

Evidence-based policies

impact impact

impact

Ecological outcome

Ecosystem

fu

nctio

ns

Ecosystem

stru

cture

Social outcome

Co

llabo

ration

/ tran

sparen

cy

Paradigm

shift

Economic outcome

Market valu

es

No

n-m

arket valu

es

Restored ecosystems/Sustainable SESs

Environmental

information

Societal

information

Economic

Social

Political

Biotic

Abiotic

Technic

EvaluationEvaluation

EGOLOGICAL RESTORATION AS PART OF RESILIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT

feedbackfeedback

Petursdottir et al. In manuscript

Inadequate Behavior

*R-R+R-

Ecology Society

UNSUSTAINABLE SYSTEM

Degradation

Intervention

R+

Ecology Society

R+

SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM

Disturbance

Restoration

Behavioral changes

Adaptive management

Disruption

R-R-R+

Based on: Holling 2001 and Carpenter et al. 2001*R = resilience/resistance

SES resilience – a conceptual model

(Petursdottir et al., in manuscript)

Source: Iceland Forest Service

An estimate of birch woodlands at the time of settlement (around 900 AD)

Source: Iceland Forest Service

The extent of birch woodlands in 1990

Ecosystem degradation

0 150 km

RESTORATION IN ICELAND 1907-2010

• Iceland: 103.000 km2

• 43.000 km2 <50% vegetation cover

– Roughly 80% of Icelandic ecosystems can be defined as rangelands – majority utilized for sheep grazing

RESTORED AREAS:

• Heathland/grassland: 2300 km2

• Woodland: 192 km2

• Wetland: 26 km2

Aradottir et al. 2013

“Drivers of Ecological Restoration: Lessons from a Century of Restoration in Iceland”

PRAGMATICUtilization based

IDEALISTICConservation based BUREOCRATIC

Policy based

Aradottir et al. 2013

Restoration project of a local primary school in the country side

2000-2005

Photos: Sigþrúður Jónsdóttir

Local landcare group operating in the common highlands in the South

Photo: Sigþrúður Jónsdóttir

2000

2005

Ássandur- ÞingeyjarsýsluPreviously collapsed ecosystem

Fertilized in 1963Birch and willow species re-colonizing

2004Photos: Sveinn Runólfsson

CASE STUDY -collapsed to restored

• Icelandic Hekla forest project– Since 2007

• Resilience-based – Capture pumish/ash

• Planting seed banks– Seed spread by wind dispersal

• Multiple benefits– Restoration– Afforestation, native species– Water storage– Protection/utilization– Recreation/aesthetic– Various stakeholders

Private property

Soil Conservation Service

SCS and Local authorities

Local authorities

Local authorities

Forestry

Grazed rangeland

Hekluskógar boundaries

Roads

Farms

Size of area under restoration: 900 km2 (1% of Iceland)

Sparsely vegetated / much sandflux / Lyme grass - 1a

Sparsely vegetated / little sandflux / grasses - 1b

Partly vegetated / fertilizer - 2a

Partly vegetated / tree planting - 2b

Old lupine reclamation / tree planting -3

Fully vegetated / tree planting - 4

Over 600 m a.s.l.

Grazed rangeland

Private property

Hekluskógar boundaries

Rivers and lakes

Roads

Farms

Conditions

Yes!

Þórsmörk

„Almenningar“ („Commons“)

Restoration activities

Since 1990

Plot 4Height: 264 mCover: 40 %Biomass: 84 kg/ha

Plot 4b

Height: Um 250 mCover: 100 %Biomass: 264 kg/ha

Plot 6

Height: 296 mCover: 40 %Biomass: 38 kg/ha

Plot 9Height: 425 mCover: 40 %Biomass: 57 kg/ha

„Hádegissker“ in Skógey area – a historical evidenceGuðmundur Ómar Friðleifsson

HoffellsjökullGlacial lake

Glacier retreating

Glacial outburst

Before 1980

Hornafjörðuraround 1980

Highly intensive managementlow ecological considerations –main purpose to protect the fishing village from drifting sand

2 years after intensive reclamation

Diverse vegetation

• Natural distribution of native species

• Birds

• Wetland formation

2004

The effects of grazing on willows

Protected

Grazed

ONGOING CONFLICT...

Þorlákshöfn

But – they used a restorationcompensation fund, established in relation to the construction of a geothermal power plant to install optical fibre cable to improve their internet connection...

Gunnarsholt´s stream

Gunnarsholt´s stream

For the group exersice:• What are the three main types of degradation in your country?• In accordance to the 4-level model of the EU, what is their level of

degradation?• What are the potentials for their restoration, in the social-ecological

context?

Several useful links:www.ser.org –http://chapter.ser.org/europe/ http://www.desire-project.eu/ http://www.recare-project.eu/ http://desertrestorationhub.com/http://www.globalrestorationnetwork.org/IUCN (the Ecosystem Approach)