Embedding Research Into Restoration: A Case Study Illustrating the Value of Applied-Academic Partnerships

Conservationists are increasingly dependent on restoration as a means of expanding natural areas as the availability of natural habitats for preservation declines. The uptick in number and scale of restoration projects provides an opportunity to learn about how to restore habitats most effectively. This information is especially valuable in an era of climate change where restoration ecologists and foresters are already implementing mitigation strategies, such as assisted migration. Here, we advocate for the establishment of applied-academic partnerships that can be used to glean the most information possible from revegetation projects. Our work was conducted in the context of assisted migration into a boreal forest that is already under decline with climate change and is a model for achieving both applied and academic goals. We outline the value of collaborative initiatives that create translational research with real-world impact. We also underscore key steps that can lead to productive partnerships that achieve both restoration and research goals. This paper was presented at the Joint Annual Meeting of the Northeast Forest and Conservation Association, the Southern Forest Nursery Association, and the Intertribal Nursery Council (Walker, MN, July 31–August 3, 2017).

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Author(s): Julie R. Etterson, Mark A. White, Laura C. Kavajecz, Meredith W. Cornett

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 61, Number 2 (2018)

Event: Joint Annual Meeting of the Northeast Forest and Conservation Association, the Southern Forest Nursery Association, and the Intertribal Nursery Council
2017 - Walker, MN

Volume: 61

Number: 2