Every Restoration Is Unique
Practitioners of ecological restoration are acutely aware that the outcomes of their efforts depend on a multitude of factors. Some of these are well understood and remedial measures can be applied; while some other factors are much less understood, if they are even identified. For instance, control of exotic species, species selection, site preparation and planting methods can all play significant roles in the restoration process and change the ecosystem in ways that are only partially understood. It is also known that the same restoration technique when used in identical situations over the course of several years can yield dramatically different results. Such a change can be difficult for practitioners to predict and therefore they might need to keep contingency plans in place beforehand. For example, consider a study conducted…