Symposium

Convenor: Daniel Arrifano Venturi, WWF Brazil, Brazil

The symposium aims to share the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact´s pathway to address the opportunities and challenges of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, specially the Pact Challenge.

Convenor: Seth Munson, US Geological Survey, United States

The symposium is designed to both share information about the challenge of dryland ecological restoration in the 21st century and promote robust discussions of potential management solutions.

Convenor: Eric Higgs, University of Victoria, Canada

This symposium will present results from a Tri-Council of Canada initiative that assessed the state of the knowledge on ecological restoration practice and policy in Canada. 

Convenor: Martin Breed, Flinders University, Australia

Ecosystem degradation impacts on human health and ecosystem restoration is a nature-based repair mechanism that could improve human health significantly.

Convenor: Renee Young, Curtin University, Australia

In this symposium we examine the upcoming anticipated publication, the International Standards for the Ecological Restoration of Mine Sites (the Mining Standards); we will introduce the Mining Standards and why they are needed, the Principles and Standards themselves, the Mining Standards throughout Life of Mine, case studies and more!

Convenor: Keith Bowers, Biohabitats, Inc., United States

Learn how to successfully integrate a nature-based approach to urban planning that addresses ecosystem services, environment justice and ecological restoration. 

Convenor: Joanna Eyquem, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, Canada

A demonstration of the vital role of the financial sector in funding ecosystem restoration and protection and capturing the true value of our natural infrastructure.

Convenor: April Bagwill, Trillion Trees (c/o Wildlife Conservation Society), United States

Forest restoration has captured the public’s imagination, but perceptions of what is possible can exceed the ability to deliver on the ground. We will discuss barriers, true costs and how to meet the level of ambition not currently matched by the scale of action and finance available in landscapes. 

Convenor: René Zamora Cristales, World Resources Institute, United States

In this symposium we will present key areas where Initiative 20x20 is supporting the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration Strategy.

Convenor: Anthony S. Davis, University of New Hampshire, United States

Symposium bringing partners from multiple ecosystems together to discuss science-based restoration practices, overcoming local resource challenges, and sharing outcomes that highlight restoration success, personal growth, and global opportunities.

Convenor: Anastasia Telesetsky, California Polytechnic State University, United States

This panel explores the legal basis for relying on principles and standards for ecological restoration in order to advance ecological restoration on the ground.

Convenor: Ramesh Venkataraman, Junglescapes Charitable Trust, Bangalore, India

The symposium aims to evaluate the potential of assisted natural regeneration to be a low-cost and effective methodology to meet the ambitious scaling-up goals of the UN Decade on Ecological Restoration, either on its own or in combination with other restoration approaches.

Convenor: Feng Li/Zhang Yibin, Research Center of Ecological Restoration, Tsinghua University, China

This seminar aims to review the methods and practical experience of urban ecological restoration in the new era, view of the current urban mountains, forests and lakes and ecosystems damaged seriously, the continuous degradation of ecological functions and shrinking of ecological space. Through discussion and exchange, the implementations strategies and main methods for carrying out urban ecological restoration work are proposed.

Convenor: Christian Lenhart, SER, United States

Opportunities and challenges for expanding and diversifying the global ecological restoration profession will be discussed by a panel following four presentations.

Convenor: Roberto Danovaro, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy

In the last years, new knowledge has arisen in marine ecosystems restoration. New scientific results and technologies are available, but a concerted effort is required to scale up actions on a wide geographical area, across different marine ecosystems, from coastal vegetated habitats to the deep ocean, also to face climate changes.

Convenor: Ann Kearsley RLA, MLAUD, Rhode Island School of Design, United States

grating scientific experimentation and open source monitoring protocols with the design, construction and management of urban designed landscapes brings citizens into direct contact with the production of evidence-based knowledge and has the potential to built trust and community support for science-based public health and environmental policies.

Convenor: Sarah Barga, USDA - Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Research Station, United States

This symposium provides an overview of some important aspects to consider when using native forbs in restoration and highlights recent work relevant to different phases of the native plant materials development process.

Convenor: Daniel Vallauri, WWF France, France

WWF shares long term forest landscape restoration lessons learnt worldwide.

Convenor: Anita Diederichsen, WWF Brazil, Brazil

WWF first contributions to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Convenor: Taruhim Miranda Cardoso QuadrosWWF Brazil, Brazil

The symposium aims to share the transboundary perspective for restoration in the Upper Parana Atlantic Forest through six experiences developed in a tri-national scale, highlighting the partnerships, the stakeholders engagement and the multidisciplinary approaches adopted to create a pathway that lead to benefits for the environment and for people.

Convenor: Peggy Olwell, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), United States

Globally, our ability to restore resilient ecosystems depends on national programs that develop commercially available, locally adapted native plant materials/seed; this symposium will explore the program as a model for others and discuss the need to expand efforts and partners to meet the significantly increasing demand for restoring resilient ecosystems.

Convenor: Catherine Farrell, Trinity College Dublin, Irland

To demonstrate, through cases studies and current projects internationally, that the natural capital approach is a key lever to gain attention and engagement from policy makers and public for the need to invest deeply in the restoration of ecosystems.

Convenor: Patricia De Angelis, US Fish and Wildlife Service, United States

This symposium reviews progress under the National Seed Strategy and efforts to expand our work and partners to meet significantly increasing demand for native plants needed to restore resilient ecosystems, including the recently announced study on native seed needs being conducted by the National Academy of Sciences. 

Convenor: Nick Davidson, Institute for Land, Water & Society, Charles Sturt University, Australia

Current approaches to wetland conservation, restoration and protection have failed to stop global loss and deterioration of wetlands. Following the lead of indigenous cultures by recognizing the inherent rights of nature, including wetlands, may be the transformational paradigm shift needed to reverse current trends. 

Convenor: Maria Strack, University of Waterloo, Canada

This symposium explores how linear disturbances (e.g., roads and cutlines) affect wetland ecosystem functions, best management practices to reduce ecosystem alterations, and methods of linear disturbance restoration.

Convenor: Greg Noe, US Geological Survey, United States

An opportunity to learn and brainstorm about innovative practices to improve the functions and health of the whole stream corridor by enhancing floodplains during restoration.

Convenor: Marie Guittonny, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Canada

This Symposium will illustrate how mine sites and their surroundings are reclaimed after mine closure to mitigate contamination, and restore ecosystems and land-uses, with a focus on Quebec and Canada expertise.

Convenor: Stephen Glass, SER Midwest Great Lakes Chapter, United States

The symposium speakers will explore the mutually beneficial links between ecological restoration goals and the conservation of migratory species through restoring social, cultural, ecological and landscape connectivity along migratory corridors. 

Convenor: Marcel Darveau, Ducks Unlimited Canada (National Boreal Program), Canada

This symposium aims at presenting: (i) an overview of north American swamp diversity, abundance, and state of alteration; (ii) ecological foundations of swamp management; (iii) three restoration case-studies (white-cedar managed for timber, fluvial swamps for biodiversity and recreation, bottomland forests for wildlife hunting); (iv) multi-objective swamp prioritization in urban landscapes.

Convenor: Anna Dabros, Natural Resources Canada/ Ressources naturelles Canada

The workshop will include: discussion of historical landscape modifications and their effects on stream valley resources; bibliography of seminal scientific papers; half-scale plans will be provided reviewed in the workshop; review of regulatory process; photos/videos pre- restoration, construction, and post-construction will be shared with the attendees via powerpoint.

Convenor: Alexis Gibson, SER (Society for Ecological Restoration), United States

This symposium will feature discussions of Indigenous and First Nations views, approaches, and experiences of restoration and re-wilding. Topics are varied and include climate change adaptation, incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into restoration and management plans, biocultural restoration, supporting traditional livelihoods, and understanding the spirituality/community/cultural benefits of restoration for Indigenous communities. The discussion session will allow for a facilitated conversation with all of the panelists and other interested parties in order to create opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants to learn from each other, share experiences and knowledge, and further discuss the topics raised during presentations.

Convenor: James Hallett, Society for Ecological Restoration, United States

The declaration of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, global restoration initiatives, and the growing demand for individual restoration projects all offer increased visibility and awareness about restoration writ large, and ecological restoration specifically. Recently updated, SER’s International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration (Second Edition) provide a framework for planning, implementing, and monitoring ecological restoration projects that can be used in any ecosystem or by any entity. This symposium will introduce participants to the updated Standards and provide a deeper look at the ecological and social planning and assessment tools included in the document, as well as the restorative continuum which helps articulate the relationship between a wide range of restorative activities. Presentations will also address how the Standards can: guide native plant materials selection in a changing world, be adapted by organizations to identify restoration potential and be integrated with the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation.

Convenor: Remy Chhem, University of Ottawa, Canada

Ecological restoration (ER) is often lauded as a solution to today’s environmental crises. As such, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) was recently declared in order to scale up restoration efforts to fight climate change, and enhance food and water security as well as biodiversity conservation, in alignment with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, amid country pledges to restore millions of hectares of degraded lands, there has been considerably little emphasis on the socio-political dimensions of restoration, including on crucial aspects of social equity. This panel examines potential trade-offs and as well as synergies among social and environmental goals in landscape restoration initiatives as these unfold in diverse geographies. Specifically, we ask: how do social equity or efforts to 'leave no one behind' figure in restoration agendas, and how are they positioned with respect to other restoration goals and objectives? Whose values are recognized and heeded in setting restoration priorities and agendas? Where do social exclusions based on gender, ethnicity, class or other intersecting factors of marginalization sit and how are they (re)produced within the institutions that govern restoration processes (e.g. decision-making processes, land and resource tenure systems)? Finally, how can monitoring approaches capture relevant social and environmental outcomes of restoration, and reconcile the needs of various actors operating across scales? We invite academics or practitioners from various disciplines and perspectives, working across socio-ecological systems (on forests, pastures, watersheds) and geographies, to contribute to the session.

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