Restoration planning – closing the loop

Stephen Hartley* & Frances Forsyth#

*School of Biological Sciences &Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology

Victoria University of Wellington

# Wildland Consultants Ltd

Based on a presentation by Colin Meurck (2010 restoration day),based on a presentation by Murray Williams

What is a restoration plan?

• Keep it short & clear, and supplement it with 2 other documents. – An annual work plan (budgeting time, money,

materials and labour)– A monitoring plan

• A guiding document– Outlining a journey from where

are you now (current status) to where you want to be

Why write a restoration plan?

• To keep everyone on the same page– Heading for (more or less) the same goal

• To clarify your group’s thinking – identify and avoid procedural inconsistencies– identify knowledge gaps

• To convince potential funders that you are organised, accountable and “a good bet” for funding

What might a restoration plan look like?

• Introduction• Vision / Goals• Site description

• Threats • Objectives / actions• Monitoring• Appendices

Where do we want to end up?

Where are we now?

What if we do nothing?

How are we going to get there?

How will we know if we are on track?

Extra info that could be useful, but which could distract from the main

plan

Te Raekaihau Point ecological rehabilitation plan 2010-2014

Table of ContentsIntroduction _________________________________________________________4Historical context _____________________________________________________4Site description_______________________________________________________6Current ecological issues_______________________________________________7Management recommendations ________________________________________9

Principles for ecological rehabilitation: ____________________________9Aims of ecological rehabilitation _______________________________10

Actions ___________________________________________________________10Monitoring ________________________________________________________18Interpretation ______________________________________________________19Time frame for 5 year rehabilitation plan________________________________20The next twenty years________________________________________________21Acknowledgements__________________________________________________21Appendix one: Consultation for this plan_________________________________22Appendix two: Site species list (current) _________________________________23Table: Species recommended for planting Map of rehabilitation and planting

Vision

• A high-level statement that everyone can agree to – (the ultimate goal in 100-500 years time)

• Example:A thriving forest ecosystem supporting a full

complement of the region’s wildlife and natural systems

Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust2003-04 Working Document

“To remove forever, introduced mammalian pests and predators form Maungatautari, and restore to the forest a healthy diversity of indigenous plants and animals not seen in our lifetime”

• A healthy, self-sustaining ecosystem, free of all introduced mammals and comprising indigenous species that are appropriate to the Orokonui site, where people can enjoy a peaceful encounter with nature, and from which they may take recreation, refreshment, new knowledge, new skills and a new commitment to conservation.

Study site description

• Historical context• Current values– Landscape– Soils / water– Fauna– Flora– Cultural values– Recreational– Educational

Threats

• Current trends / problems– increasing abundance of weed species– decrease in abundance of key bird species– lack of tree recruitment– predators

• Potential threats– Loss of habitat to development projects– Biosecurity risks

• Be specific and quantitative if possible

Additional points to consider / alternative approaches

• A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis

• Research tenure, land/reserve status, community consultation, iwi liaison (these contacts may yield allies to the cause)

• Local Govt plans that may affect site – roads, services, etc • Mapping of main land units which may become

restoration units

Goals, objectives and actions

• Goals are a more specific statement of the vision.

• They describe the intended endpoint• They should be considered fixed• They are not time dependent• They should be agreed upon by the whole

group (as far as possible)• Consider 1-2 for each key value

Maungatautari : Vision and Goals

Goals, objectives and actions

• Objectives support particular goals• They are what needs to be achieved in order

to make progress • They represent potential legs of the journey• They should be time dependent (3-30 years)• If they aren’t being achieved they can be

revised (more than one way to skin a cat)

Maungatautari : Vision, Goals & Objectives

Goals, objectives and actions

• Actions support particular objectives• They are what needs to be done at a very specific level • They should be time dependent (1-5 years)• If they aren’t producing the desired results they can be

revised • E.g. Goal 1 : to increase bird numbers

• Objective 1.1 : reduce predator numbers– Possible action 1.1.1 : poison baits against predators– Possible action 1.1.2 : trap predators

• Objective 1.2 : improve food sources for birds– Possible action 1.2.1 : plant fruit and nectar sources– Possible action 1.2.2 : provide supplementary feeders

Technical feasibility

• Talk to lots of people with experience to test your ideas.• The plan should be based on objectives and actions that

are feasible.• If there is no feasible way of achieving the vision and

goals, then agree on a revised set of goals!• Often there will be considerable uncertainty over what

will work (or what will work best) – Hence the need for monitoring (checking your progress) and

adaptive management (updating your objectives and actions) in the light of experience

Optional extras

• Highlight alternative pathways (with a SWOT analysis)

• Create a timeline• Create a visual version of the plan• Highlight potential conflicts between different

objectives (e.g dogs vs penguins)

• Include budget (?)

5-year timelineActions Year 1 -

2010Year 2 - 2011

Year 3 - 2012

Year 4 - 2013

Year 5 - 2014

Site preparation

X

Weed control X X X X XPest animals X X X X XPlanting X X X X XPenguin boxes X XInterpretation X XBeach access X XMonitoring X X X X X

Appendices

Budget

• Not necessarily part of a restoration plan• Nonetheless you should have one• It will inform the range of objectives and actions

that you can tackle and over what time frame• Volunteer hours are just as important to budget

as dollars• Detailed budgets are part of the annual work

plan

Where to get information?

• Consult widely across the community• Call a public meeting• Local library• Council libraries and archives• Council staff • LINZ website, council & Google earth for aerial photos• Local groups – botanical societies, ornithological etc.• Local schools, colleges, university

What next

• Make annual work plans• Monitor and record progress• Revise the plan every 5-10 years

The Command and Control Loophttp://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/mcdp6/ch2.htm

Don’t forget

• Consult with your group• Consult outside of your group• Include photos• Maps• Keep it focussed

• More example plans and a previous version of this presentation:

http://www.naturespace.org.nz/resource-centre/preparing-restoration-plan