Habitat Restoration Practices

Habitat restoration is defined by the Society for Ecological Restoration as “the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.” Restoration can encompass a wide variety of actions including removing a specific source of stress, restoring natural processes like flooding and fire, removing invasive species or reintroducing extirpated native species. This section discusses the need for restoration and offers some guidance and examples of restoration practices used by land trusts and agencies.

Habitat Restoration: Information for Land Trusts. A six-page fact sheet that addresses elements of a habitat restoration plan, including restoration planning resources and habitat restoration examples. Click here to read (pdf document).

Ecological Restoration: A Practical Approach. This white paper by Steven Apfelbaum of Applied Ecological Services, Inc. and Kim Alan Chapman of The Nature Conservancy, Minnesota Chapter explains the importance of restoration, how to develop a program and includes a useful planning worksheet. Click here to read (pdf document).

Invasive Species
  • Invasive Species Resources - Defenders' resources and information about invasive species.
  • The Invasive Exotic Plant Management Tutorial for Natural Lands Managers provides a "one-stop-shop" for natural resource managers who are interested in organizing on-the-ground efforts to prevent, manage and control IEP's. The purpose is to provide sufficient background information on the problem and then provide management guidance in the form of a standard management process or approach so that managers can more readily apply the information to their specific invasive plant problem. Click here to read tutorial.
  • Herbicide Use Guidelines. The City of Ann Arbor’s (MI) Natural Area Preservation Division established guidelines on how and who may apply herbicide in their natural areas. This is a good example for other land trusts in their restoration efforts. Click here to read (pdf document).

Creating a Plan

  • SWMLC Stewardship Policy: A real world example of stewardship policy for one land trust, The Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy. Read pdf document here.
  • SWMLC Developing a Management Plan: Guidelines from the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy on how to develop a management plan. Read pdf document here.
  • SWMLC Stewardship Costs: Ever wonder how much a preserve sign costs? This sample cost sheet by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy will help guide you through some cost estimates. Click here to read pdf document.

Plan Examples

  • Bird Hills Nature Area Stewardship Plan. The City of Ann Arbor’s (MI) Natural Area Preservation Division’s stewardship plan for the Bird Hills Nature Area. This plan details biotic communities as well as wildlife. It also reviews the conservation goals and strategies for the property. Click here to read (pdf document).
  • Bird Hills Nature Area Annual Site Management Plan: The City of Ann Arbor’s (MI) Natural Area Preservation Division’s management plan for the Bird Hills Nature Area. This plan describes management objectives, strategies, outlines the schedule and prioritizes actions. Click here to read (pdf document).