Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration addresses a problem that is the reason many current restoration projects are not as effective or successful as they could be: a lack of understanding of the principles of sound planning and management. John Rieger, John Stanley, and Ray Traynor, who collectively have decades of experience implementing successful restoration projects, provide a straightforward framework for developing and executing an ecological restoration project in order to maximize its potential for success.
The authors focus on process, planning, design, implementation, and management rather than science. They describe a simple project management plan, identify the design approaches and the commitments that decisions require, and explain how design theory is translated to on-the-ground project design. Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration includes numerous illustrations, as well as a series of checklists and tables to help restorationists recognize and then correct problems that may arise.
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART I. Project Planning
Introduction to Part I
Chapter 1 Framework for Ecological Restoration
Chapter 2 Restoration Project Management
Chapter 3 Defining Your Project
PART II. Project Design
Introduction to Part II
Chapter 4 Site Analysis
Chapter 5 Design Approach
Chapter 6 Design
Chapter 7 Water and Soil
Chapter 8 Plant Material
PART III. Project Implementation
Introduction to Part III
Chapter 9 Restoration Project Documents
Chapter 10 Construction and Installation
PART IV. Project Aftercare
Introduction to Part IV
Chapter 11 Maintenance and Stewardship
Chapter 12 Weed Management and Invasive Species Control
Chapter 13 Monitoring and Evaluation
PART V. Synthesis of the Process
Introduction to Part V
Chapter 14 Bring It All Together
Chapter 15 Summary of Project Planning and Management Principles
Appendixes
Appendix 1 Gantt Chart Primer
Appendix 2 Project Cost Estimate Worksheet
Appendix 3 Risk Management in Restoration Projects
Appendix 4 Project Evaluation and Review Technique
Appendix 5 Site Analysis Checklist
Appendix 6 Seed and Plant Calculation Exercise
Appendix 7 Plant and Planting Specification
Appendix 8 Plan Review Checklist
Appendix 9 Permitting Table
Appendix 10 Completed Site Analysis Checklist
Glossary
References Cited
About the Authors
Index
John Rieger is a long-time practicing restoration ecologist, and cofounder and first president of the Society for Ecological Restoration. For the past thirty years he has actively promoted restoration throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
John Stanley is a cofounder of the Society for Ecological Restoration and a restoration ecologist with WWW Restoration, a consulting firm specialising in the protection, restoration, and management of watersheds, waterways, and wetlands.
Ray Traynor, with a background in landscape architecture and project management, is vice president and general manager of Axiom Xcell.
"Adding to an already rich series on ecological restoration texts, Island Press delivers this book chock-filled with over 100 years of accumulated knowledge and on-the-ground experiences by three luminaries in the field of ecological restoration. With a focus on project management Rieger, Stanley, and Traynor effectively bring the philosophical, ecological, and social aspects of ecological restoration to a practical reality. Students, practitioners, and, yes, even philosophers stand to benefit from reading this book."
– Nik Lopoukhine, Past Chair of Society for Ecological Restoration
"I have seen many well-meaning restoration projects fail due to poor planning, but that need never happen again. The authors lend over a century of combined experience in ecological restoration design at a variety of scales to describe the detailed analysis and planning process necessary for successful project design, implementation, maintenance, and evaluation."
– Steve Windhager, Executive Director, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
"This sorely needed book presents a comprehensive view of restoration project management from a biological perspective. It will be especially useful to those now entering the field of ecological restoration as practitioners. I wish I had this book when I began my career as a practicing restorationist."
– Tom Griggs, Senior Restoration Ecologist, River Partners
"Whether you are a restoration practitioner, student or researcher, this is a necessary handbook of guidelines for all aspects of restoration and management. Nonspecialists and ecologists alike can readily take in the complexities of planning, risk management, and goal setting for regenerating ecosystems. Case studies and flow diagrams are presented to bring the world of planning to life."
– Edith B. Allen, Professor, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside
"This is an excellent text for anyone interested in ecological restoration."
– Restoration Ecology