[APWG] ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION HowTo Re: [RWG] WEB: Shrub-Steppe &Grassland Restoration Manual for Columbia River Basin
Ty Harrison
tyju at xmission.com
Sat Mar 10 21:02:46 CST 2012
Wayne et al.: I've just reviewed the 100+ page restoration/revegetation
manual developed for the Columbia River Basin of eastern Washington
(http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01330/ ).
It was refreshing to see how wildlife specialist here in the arid west
are trying to revegetate abused lands dominated by weeds, crested, tall and
intermediate wheatgrasses with ecological suites of native species.
Although this manual relies on the typical "agronomic" approach, I think the
techniques are sound and appropriate and based on many years of experience.
I wish other regions of the arid west would have developed similar manuals
targeting wildlife and ecosystem function based on experience with what
works and appropriate for the areas.
Wayne's questions are certainly relevant. What do I have? What was the
historical condition? What does the site have going for it or against it?
What is a site capable of becoming? What do I have to work with? What do I
want the site to look like?"
The section on the history and selection of a specfic or general
"reference ecosystem" (p. 31-33) was espectially noteworthy. I'm wondering
how difficult it might be in some areas to even find representative
pre-settlement plant communities without a great deal of ecological insight
and training. Ty Harrison
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