2019 Symposium:
Restoration Beyond the Reference System
Theoretical, practical, and ethical dimensions in managing for ecosystem function rather than species assemblages in a complex and forever changing landscape
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Reception to follow, 4:00 – 6:00pm
UW Botanic Gardens
Center for Urban Horticulture – NHS Hall
3501 NE 41st St.
Seattle, WA 98105
Restoration practitioners are challenged by projects in which recovery toward a reference model community is not attainable. In these cases, it becomes advantageous to restore ecosystem function, rather than a historical suite of species. In this symposium, we will look at restoring ecosystems beyond reference conditions − from the theoretical background, practical application, and ethical dimensions that practitioners need to understand in order to restore ecological communities and functions across a complex and ever-changing landscape.
This symposium is co-sponsored by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the Northwest Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration and is part of a collaboration to provide continuing education for restoration ecology practitioners. Come to ask questions, to hear your colleagues’ stories of their successes and challenges, and to learn about cutting-edge approaches being used to improve restoration project success.
*NEW in 2019: REMOTE ATTENDANCE: We are excited to offer remote attendance, helping make this symposium more accessible to a broader audience throughout our region.
Presentations:
Novel and designed ecosystems: challenges for ecological restoration
Dr. Eric Higgs, Professor of Environmental Studies | University of Victoria (Presentation PDFs: Part 1Part 2)
Reference Communities: Classification of Native Vegetation in the Pacific Northwest
Tynan Ramm-Granberg, Vegetation Ecologist | Washington Dept. of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program (Presentation PDF)
Union Bay Natural Area: A Dynamic Mosaic of Visions
Rodney Pond, Executive Director | Sound Salmon Solutions (Presentation PDF)
Cross-wise: When climate impacts intertwine with human legacies Emily Howe, PhD, Aquatic & Estuarine Ecologist | The Nature Conservancy (Presentation PDF)
Conservation of an Endangered Butterfly and the Management of Novel Plant Assemblages
Amy Lambert, Ph.D., Full-Time Lecturer | University of Washington, Bothell, School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (Presentation PDF)
2018: Restoration in a Changing Climate: Adapting Practices to Meet Long-term Goals
2018 Symposium
Restoration in a Changing Climate: Adapting Practices to Meet Long-term Goals
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
University of Washington Botanic Gardens
Center for Urban Horticulture
3501 NE 41st St.
Seattle, WA 98105
Numerous management guidelines suggest incorporating climate change effects into planning and design of ecological restoration projects. This provides practitioners with challenges of balancing multiple sometimes conflicting goals in actionable restoration design. Practitioners learn by case studies, the application of ecological science and study. This symposium will provide examples of how general guidelines for climate change adaptation were incorporated into existing projects in the Pacific Northwest. While introducing their local restoration projects, practitioners will highlight which pertinent questions of restoration and adaptation they have addressed and conclude with take-home messages for the practitioner community on how to transfer their experience to related settings.
Buying time in a warmer climate: From restoration to resilience (Presentation PDF) David L. Peterson, Professor | University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
Climate change and restoration on the Stillaguamish Delta: Lessons learned (Presentation PDF) Roger Fuller, Ecosystem Ecologist | Western Washington University, Huxley College of the Environment
Considering seed provenance and plant sourcing for climate-resilient ecological restoration(Presentation PDF) Matt Distler, Staff Ecologist | Oxbow Farm & Conservation Center
Weeds and habitat shifts in a changing climate: Modelling and responding(Presentation PDF) Steven Seefeldt, PhD, Assistant Research Faculty | WSU-Mount Vernon NW Research and Extension Center
Climate change adaptation planning and restoration project implementation to preserve treaty protected resources(Presentation PDF) Brett Shattuck, Restoration Ecologist | The Tulalip Tribes
2017: Applying Ecological Concepts to Project Design
2017 Symposium:
Applying Ecological Concepts to Project Design
Photo by Larry Howard
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
University of Washington Botanic Gardens
Center for Urban Horticulture – NHS Hall
3501 NE 41st St.
Seattle, WA 98105
An extensive network of professional restoration practitioners are actively engaged in restoring habitats in the Pacific Northwest. In the Ecological Restoration Symposium, we will present case studies to explore lessons learned from recent projects, enhance participants’ understanding and knowledge of best practices, and stimulate thinking about alternative approaches to tackle thorny problems. Come to ask questions, to hear your colleagues’ stories of their successes and challenges, and to learn about cutting-edge approaches being used to improve restoration project success. This symposium is co-sponsored by the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the Northwest Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration and is part of a new collaboration to provide continuing education for restoration ecology practitioners.
Speakers:
Kern Ewing, Professor | University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
