Guidelines for Native Seed Production and Grassland Restoration

Guidelines for Native Seed Production and Grassland Restoration PDF

Author: Kathrin Kiehl

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2014-06-19

Total Pages: 315

ISBN-13: 1443861855

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World-wide, the degradation and destruction of both natural and traditionally used semi-natural ecosystems is drastically increasing. Unfortunately, commercial seed mixtures, consisting of non-native species and genetically uniform cultivars, are widely used in grassland restoration, often with negative effects on biodiversity. Therefore, native species should be used in the ecological restoration of natural and semi-natural vegetation. This book compiles results from recent studies presented at a Special Session “Native seed production and use in restoration projects”, which was organised during the 8th European Conference on Ecological Restoration in České Budějovice, Czech Republic. The authors review the ecological and genetic aspects of seed propagation and species introduction both from a European and an American perspective, and discuss implications for the development of seed zones and for native seed production. Examples from different countries focus on native seed production in practice, and suggest different approaches for the certification of seed provenance. Best practice examples from Europe and the United States are used to indicate the advantages of using native seeds for ecological restoration of grasslands, field margins and sagebrush steppe. Finally, this volume also provides guidelines for the successful implementation of restoration projects for local authorities, landscape planners and NGOs in order to bridge gaps between research and practice.

An Assessment of the Need for Native Seeds and the Capacity for Their Supply

An Assessment of the Need for Native Seeds and the Capacity for Their Supply PDF

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2020-10-29

Total Pages: 73

ISBN-13: 0309680182

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Across the United States, millions of acres of land have been so disturbed by human activities or severe climate events that significant portions of their native plant communities have been lost and their ecosystems have been seriously compromised. Restoring impaired ecosystems requires a supply of diverse native plant seeds that are well suited to the climates, soils, and other living species of the system. Native seeds are also in demand for applications in urban land management, roadside maintenance, conservation agriculture, and other restorative activities that take into account the connection between native plant communities and the increasingly urgent need for resilient landscapes. Given the varied climatic and environmental niches of the more than 17,000 native plant species of the United States, supplying the desired seed types and species mixes for this wide range of activities is a challenge. As the first phase of a nationwide analysis of the full scope of needs for native plant seeds, this interim report describes the participants in the native plant seed supply chain, makes preliminary observations, and proposes an information-gathering plan for the second phase of the assessment.

Routledge Handbook of Ecological and Environmental Restoration

Routledge Handbook of Ecological and Environmental Restoration PDF

Author: Stuart K. Allison

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-05-18

Total Pages: 604

ISBN-13: 1317413741

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Ecological restoration is a rapidly evolving discipline that is engaged with developing both methodologies and strategies for repairing damaged and polluted ecosystems and environments. During the last decade the rapid pace of climate change coupled with continuing habitat destruction and the spread of non-native species to new habitats has forced restoration ecologists to re-evaluate their goals and the methods they use. This comprehensive handbook brings together an internationally respected group of established and rising experts in the field. The book begins with a description of current practices and the state of knowledge in particular areas of restoration, and then identifies new directions that will help the field achieve increasing levels of future success. Part I provides basic background about ecological and environmental restoration. Part II systematically reviews restoration in key ecosystem types located throughout the world. In Part III, management and policy issues are examined in detail, offering the first comprehensive treatment of policy relevance in the field, while Part IV looks to the future. Ultimately, good ecological restoration depends upon a combination of good science, policy, planning and outreach – all issues that are addressed in this unrivalled volume.

Seeds of Restoration Success

Seeds of Restoration Success PDF

Author: Sara F. Oldfield

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2019-09-25

Total Pages: 137

ISBN-13: 3319969749

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This book provides a general overview of the natural landscapes and vegetation types of the U.S., the key plant species that help define them, the pressures faced by natural ecosystems and the imperative for conservation and restoration. It addresses the policies that have been introduced to manage healthy ecosystems and the practical progress that is being made in restoration. A particular focus is on the production of diverse native plant materials currently required by the National Seed Strategy. Case studies demonstrate how native plant materials are essential to support the conservation of healthy ecosystems with their biodiversity and functions as well as supporting a productive and sustainable agricultural sector and healthy ecosystems for all. The authors are closely connected with major national and international networks of botanic gardens, ecologists and conservation scientists at Board level and through other professional links. Condensing a wide range of current information into a concise format, this book fills a need by experts and informed amateurs interested in the natural environment, including gardeners, botanic garden and protected area visitors, government agencies, the private sector native seed industry, and NGOs.

Urban Services to Ecosystems

Urban Services to Ecosystems PDF

Author: Chiara Catalano

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-09-15

Total Pages: 537

ISBN-13: 3030759296

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The aim of this book is to bring together multidisciplinary research in the field of green infrastructure design, construction and ecology. The main core of the volume is constituted by contributions dealing with green infrastructure, vegetation science, nature-based solutions and sustainable urban development. The green infrastructure and its ecosystem services, indeed, are gaining space in both political agendas and academic research. However, the attention is focused on the services that nature is giving for free to and for human health and survival. What if we start to see things from another perspective? Our actions shall converge for instance to turn man-made environment like cities from heterotrophic to autotrophic ecosystems. From landscape ecology to urban and building design, like bricks of a wall, from the small scale to the bigger landscape scale via ecological networks and corridors, we should start answering these questions: what are the services that are we offering to Nature? What are we improving? How to implement our actions? This book contains three Open Access chapters, which are licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

Sustainable Management of Natural Resources PDF

Author: Fortunato Garza-Ocañas

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-10-15

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 3031333942

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Climate change and human activities are impacting the environment around the world and there is a great need to update our knowledge of natural resources in order to sustain the livelihoods of rural communities and urban dwellers. Educational tools help people to understand the ecology, and the management of natural resources and to participate in actions to protect the environment. This book has a multipurpose focus regarding biodiversity, management, and conservation of the natural resources as species are linked in nutritional webs in the ecosystems. Ecology, diversity, conservation, and management practices such as plant species, native fish, edible mushrooms, and woody species are important for improving people livelihoods and incomes. It is expected that readers will learn to apply similar multipurpose approaches to natural resources in other parts of the world when their environments are affected by climate change or human activities. This book introduces the importance of the sustainable management of natural resources to a wide audience, including policy decision makers, but also researchers.

Grasslands and Climate Change

Grasslands and Climate Change PDF

Author: David J. Gibson

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2019-03-21

Total Pages: 363

ISBN-13: 1107195268

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A comprehensive assessment of the effects of climate change on global grasslands and the mitigating role that ecologists can play.

Land of Sweeping Plains

Land of Sweeping Plains PDF

Author: Nicholas S. G. Williams

Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING

Published: 2015-04-22

Total Pages: 478

ISBN-13: 1486300820

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Native temperate grasslands are Australia’s most threatened ecosystems. Grasslands have been eliminated from across much of their former extent and continue to be threatened by urban expansion, agricultural intensification, weed invasion and the uncertain impacts of climate change. Research, however, is showing us new ways to manage grasslands, and techniques for restoration are advancing. The importance of ongoing stewardship also means it is vital to develop new strategies to encourage a broader cross-section of society to understand and appreciate native grasslands and their ecology. Land of Sweeping Plains synthesises the scientific literature in a readily accessible manner and includes a wealth of practical experience held by policy makers, farmers, community activists and on-ground grassland managers. It aims to provide all involved in grassland management and restoration with the technical information necessary to conserve and enhance native grasslands. For readers without the responsibility of management, such as students and those interested in biodiversity conservation, it provides a detailed understanding of native grassland ecology, management challenges and solutions and, importantly, inspiration to engage with this critically endangered ecosystem. Practical, easy to read and richly illustrated, this book brings together the grassland knowledge of experts in ethnobotany, ecology, monitoring, planning, environmental psychology, community engagement, flora and fauna management, environmental restoration, agronomy, landscape architecture and urban design.