A Nordic Perspective. Ása L. Aradóttir Agricultural University of Iceland

Transcription

1 A Nordic Perspective Ása L. Aradóttir Agricultural University of Iceland

2 Driver a factor which causes a particular phenomenon to happen or develop (Oxford Dictionaries Online)

3 Drivers of degradation Direct drivers Land conversion Nutrient additions Industrial pollution Overexploitation Climate change Species introductions Indirect drivers Economic Demographic Sociopolitical Cultural (Technological) Ecological effects Changes in the variety of: Ecosystems within landscapes Species within ecosystems Genes within species Ecological functions Responses to environmental shocks Services Provisioning services (food, fuel, timber) Regulation services (water purification, natural hazard reduction, pollination) Cultural services (recreation, aestetics, spirutal) Based on Galatowitsch, S. M Ecological Restoration. Sinauer Associates, Inc.

4 improve ecosystem productivity 1 provide various ecosystem services (e.g. clean water, climate amelioration, etc.) 2,3 improve biodiversity / conservation values 1,2 preserve rare and endagered species, communities or landscapes reverse land degradation 1,2 reverse effects of unsustainable land uses mitigation to compensate for ecosystem destruction by construction improve resilience 3,4 land use natural disasters idealistic or moral 2 to atone for past or present environmental degradation to improve aestetic values ethics or faith demograpic or socioeconomic changes abandonment, changes in uses of ecosystems 1 Hobbs and Norton 1996, Rest. Ecol. 4: Clewell & Aronson 2006, Conserv. Biol. 20: Suding 2011, Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 42: Aradottir and Hagen 2013, Adv. Agron. 120:

5 economic incentives 1 private or governmentally run funding programs government subsidies market arrangements non-financial 2, 3 policy / legislation international, regional or national policy voluntary work of NGOs restoration work resulting from local action technology / scientific advancement 1 de Groot et al Making restoration work: financial mechanisms. Pp in J. Aronson et al., eds. Restoring Natural Capital. Science, Business, and Practice. Island Press. 2 McGhee et al Making restoration work: nonmonetary mechanisms. Pages in J. Aronson et al. eds. Restoring Natural Capital. Science, Business, and Practice. Island Press. 3 Baker et al Environmental Politics 23:

6 mynd af vistheimtarsvæði... Photo: Ása L. Aradóttir

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8 Project leader Guðmundur Halldórsson, Icelandic Soil Conservation Service, National coordinators and other core group members Anna Maria Fosaa, Faroese Museum of Natural History Anne Tolvanen, Metla and University of Oulu Ása L. Aradóttir, Agricultural University of Iceland Christer Nilsson, Umeå University Dagmar Hagen, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) Karsten Rauland Rasmussen, University of Copenhagen Kristín Svavarsdóttir, Icelandic Soil Conservation Service

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10 Workshops and meetings Fieldtrips An international conference... and writing meetings

11 National assessment reports Overview report Halldórsson, G., Á. L. Aradóttir, A. M. Fosaa, D. Hagen, C. Nilsson, K. Raulund-Rasmussen, A. B. Skrindo, K. Svavarsdóttir, and A. Tolvanen ReNo. Restoration of damaged ecosystems in the Nordic countries. TemaNord 2012:558.

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13 Size, thousand km 2

14 Population density

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16 Based on Hagen, D., K. Svavarsdottir, C. Nilsson, A. K. Tolvanen, K. Raulund-Rasmussen, Á. L. Aradóttir, A. M. Fosaa, and G. Halldorsson Ecological and Social Dimensions of Ecosystem Restoration in the Nordic Countries. Ecology and Society 18 (4): 34.

17 Denmark Faroe Islands Finland Iceland Norway Sweden agriculture, forestry, pollution, non-native species overgrazing, peat harvesting, energy production (hydropower) forestry, draining and harvesting of peatlands, agriculture overgrazing, draining of wetlands, energy production (hydropower and thermal energy), soil erosion energy production (hydropower), forestry, agriculture, non-native species forestry (incl. river channelization), agriculture, energy production (hydropower) Peat harvesting in Finland (photo Anne Tolvanen, Photo: Ása L. Aradóttir Based on Hallorsson et al TemaNord 2012:558. and Hagen et al Ecology and Society 18 (4): 34. Eroded landscape in Iceland

18 Hagen et al Ecology and Society 18 (4): 34.

19 Forest Wetland/ peatland Freshwater system Heathland / natural grassland Cultural Denmark Faroe Islands Finland Iceland Norway Sweden Based on Hallorsson et al TemaNord 2012:558. and Hagen et al Ecology and Society 18 (4): 34.

20 Denmark Finland Iceland Intensive activities restoring and rehabilitating raised bogs, meadows, and riparian zones; management by controlled grazing to avoid overgrowing by trees Many large-scale projects aiming at returning peatland processes and vegetation succession through raising the water table A few small projects aiming at restoring wetland function and structure by raising the water table Filling up of a drainage ditch in an Icelandic wetland (photo Ásrún Elmarsdóttir) Norway Sweden A few projects, often aiming at restoring habitats for birds and amphibians Many projects restore drained wetlands by blocking ditches and restoring former water table Based on Hagen et al and Hallorsson et al Restored wetland in Mývatnssveit, NE-Iceland (photo Ása L. Aradóttir)

21 Denmark Finland Iceland Rivers and lakes intensively restored and managed for conservation; biomanipulation and P-precipitation often used to mitigate eutrophication in lakes; rivers restored to remeander Hundreds of projects aiming at returning the biota through manipulation of stream structure and improvement of chemical conditions Few small projects aiming at returning the biota through manipulation of abiotic factors Skern River in Jutland, Denmark, after restoration (photo Karsten Raulund- Rasmussen) Norway Sweden Liming program and other mitigation efforts mostly aiming at improving condition for anadromous fish Numerous projects return boulders to river channels used for timber floating; others increase nutrient retention to reduce leakage Based on Hagen et al and Hallorsson et al A stretch of a tributary to the Vindel River in N-Sweden, restored by addition of large boulders and trees (photo Christer Nilsson)

22 Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Intensive activities, including set-aside unmanaged forests and conversion of plantation to more nature-like structures Many large-scale projects aiming at returning the elements of pristine forests through disturbances, which trigger natural succession One large and many small projects aiming at triggering successional processes; native birch and willows are sometimes planted in clusters to establish seed sources No regular activity Storm simulation in a Finnish forest (photo Anne Tolvanen) Sweden Scattered activities to restore structural and functional heterogeneity; some projects expand areas of deciduous forests by removing conifers to support rare species Based on Hagen et al and Hallorsson et al Birch woodland on formerly eroded land in Iceland (photo ÁLA)

23 Denmark Finland Intensive management of cultural heathlands in order to avoid overgrowing and to conserve characteristic habitats and species A few projects aiming at fixing deteriorated sites and worn trails in tourist areas Iceland Norway Sweden Numerous projects of various sizes aiming at accelerating and manipulating succession and build-up soils and associated ecosystem functions A number of small and a few larger projects, mainly in low-alpine heath aiming at restoring a plant cover in severely disturbed sites Many activities to restore cultural openness by removing shrubs and trees A new heathland on formery eroded land in S-Iceland (photo Guðjón Magnússon) Based on Hagen et al and Hallorsson et al Road removal and restoration of a military training area in Dovrefjell, Norway (photo Dagmar Hagen)

24 Denmark Marginal lands, often reclaimed wetlands, are being restored; afforestation to protect groundwater and for recreational purposes Finland Iceland Hundreds of small projects aiming at keeping the landscape open through grazing and moving, which prevents natural succession None Norway Sweden Many management initiatives on abandoned land aiming at keeping the landscape open by removing shrubs and reintroducing grazing and mowing Many small and at least one large project aimid at restoring, e.g., old pastureland by removing shrubs and reintroduce grazing and mowing Based on Hagen et al and Hallorsson et al 2012.

25 Denmark Finland Main actors National authorities, municipalities, private funds, NGOs State and local authorities, e.g, the Metsähallitus, also NGOs Land tenure Mainly on state-owned land, but also some large projects on private land Mainly on state-owned land Iceland Norway Sweden Soil Conservation Service, energy companies, local landowners, and NGOs State and local authorities; stakeholders within hydropower and other infrastructure development State and local authorities, such as National Board of Forestry, municipalities, and NGOs Mixture of state-owned and private land Mainly on state-owned land and common properties, some small scale projects on private land Mainly on state-owned land Based on Hagen et al and Hallorsson et al 2012.

26 Denmark Finland Iceland Norway Sweden Drivers National policy on nature protection, including biodiversity, habitat and water framework directives National policies on the environment (forestry, water protection. pollution control, and control on non-native species); EU Habitat Directive and EU Water Framework Directive Extensive soil erosion and volcanic activity; governmental policies, partly stimulated by the UN conventions on climate change and biodiversity Governmental National policies, policies, e.g. Nature e.g. Nature Diversity Act, Diversity EU Water Act, Framework EU Water Directive Framework Directive National policies on the environment (on forestry, water protection, pollution control and control of non-native species); EU Habitat Directive and EU Water Framework Directive Funding Mixture of national, EU and private funds Mixture of national and EU funds Mainly national funds, but some from industry (mainly energy companies) National funds or the industry (like energy companies) Mixture of national and EU funds Based on Hagen et al and Hallorsson et al 2012.

27 A century of restoration in Iceland Actors Habitat (no. of areas) Total # Size Heathland Woodland Wetland of areas (km 2 ) /grassland Public bodies Private energy companies NGOs Sum Area (km 2 ) Aradóttir, Á. L., T. Petursdottir, G. Halldorsson, K. Svavarsdottir, and O. Arnalds Drivers of Ecological Restoration: Lessons from a Century of Restoration in Iceland. Ecology and Society 18(4):33.

28 s 1940s- 1960s 1970s- 1980s 1990s s 1940s- 1960s 1970s- 1990s- 1980s s s Aradóttir et al Ecology and Society 18(4):33.

29 Increased productivity (for grazing and forestry) Photos Ása L. Aradóttir

30 Reversing degradation caused by former land uses Left: Channelized (unrestored) section of a stream in Sweden. Right: Stream section after restoration. The sediment lining the channel margins during timber floating has been placed back into the channel together with large boulders and large wood from upland areas (From: Gardestrom, J., D. Holmqvist, L. E. Polvi, and C. Nilsson Demonstration Restoration Measures in Tributaries of the Vindel River Catchment. Ecology and Society 18 (3): 8; photos Daniel Jonsson)

31 Reversing degradation caused by former land uses Peatland and forest restoration in protected areas in Finland (photos Anne Tolvanen)

32 Reversing degradation caused by former land uses Removal of roads and restoration of a former military training area in Dovrefjell, Norway (photos Ása L. Aradóttir). For detailes see: Hagen, D., and M. Evju Using Short-Term Monitoring Data to Achieve Goals in a Large-Scale Restoration. Ecology and Society 18 (3): 29

33 maintenance of cultural habitats Management interventions to maintain open, cultural habitats Photos from: Norderhaug, A Restoration of semi-natural vegetation. Pp in Hagen, D., and A. B. Skrindo (eds.). Restaurering av natur i Norge et innblikk i fagfeltet, fagmiljøer og pågående aktivitet. Norsk institutt for naturforskning (NINA), Trondheim.

34 National policies on environment important including nature protection, forestry, water protection, pollution control and control of non-native species EU directives EU Habitat Directive, EU Water Framework Directive, Natura 2000

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37 Synergies paradigm Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Desertification Synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC.

38 Reversal of DESERTIFICATION? Increased 1 productivity and nutrient cycling Reduced greenhouse effects Slowing or reversing CLIMATE CHANGE Restorationinterventions Increased carbon stocks and reduced CO 2 emissions Increased retention of nutrients and water in soils Reduced soil erosion Restoring BIODIVERSITY

39 Denmark, Sweden, Finland (EU countries): Mixture of national funds and EU funding (important) Norway and Iceland (non-eu countries): National funds and industry

40 Photo: Ása L. Aradóttir / Sigþrúður Jónsdóttir

41 Photo: Ása L. Aradóttir

42 Photo: Ása L. Aradóttir

43 Photos: Ása L. Aradóttir

44 Photos: Ása L. Aradóttir

45 Herrick et al The global Land- Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS): Supporting evidencebased, site-specific land use and management through cloud computing, mobile applications, and crowdsourcing. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 68:5A-12A.

46 Photo: Hekluskógar Photos: Ása L. Aradóttir Hekla Forest Project: about 900 km 2 or 0.9% of Iceland Main objective to restore native woodlands in the vicinity of Mt. Hekla, in order to reduce wind erosion and prevent redistribution of volcanic ash

47 Increase resilience Prevent sand storms and redistribution of ash Reverse desertification Restore biodiversity, fertility and water retention Sequester carbon Provide job opportunities Photos: Ása L. Aradóttir

48 New Nordic project ( ) Aims: To explore possibilities for strategic build up of ecological resilience towards specific natural hazards in the Nordis countries Case studies: resilience of forests towards storms resilience of catchment areas towards erosion and nutrient loss resilience towards floods through river restoration resilience towards volcanic ash deposition through restoration of woodlands Project leader, Guðmundur Halldórsson, Icelandic SCS Funding, Nordic Council of Ministers Photo: Ása L. Aradóttir

49 Inadequate attention to evaluation of restoration outcomes Sampling for assessment of carbon stocks at a revegetated site (wetland) in SE Iceland (photo Icelandic Soil Conservation Service) Students in restoration ecology class at Agricultural University of Iceland try their hand at different evaluation methods in a restoration area (photo Ása L. Aradóttir)

50 Special session: Improved evaluation as the key to better ecological restoration Chair Kristín Svavardóttir 13:40 Christer Nilsson The process of evaluating ecological restoration 14:00 Margaret Palmer Stream restoration outcomes: what is being measured? what should be measured? 14:20 William Adams Institutional constraints on landscape scale restoration for conservation 14:40 Francine Hughes Monitoring and evaluation of projects that take an open-ended approach to restoration 15:00 Kaisa Junninen Monitoring of restoration in protected areas of Finland

51 Land use, policy and economic incentives affect the emphasis and timing of restoration interventions (when, where and what to restore) while habitat types and environmental context predict restoration approaches (how to restore) Most restoration projects have several interacting drivers Restoration tends to be a residual land-use strong financial mechanisms are important Integrate restoration with other land uses Look for possible synergies in restoration projects Hagen et al Ecology and Society 18 (4): 34; Aradóttir et al Ecology and Society 18(4):33.

52 Important to look at restoration in a broad context Advocate cooperation and knowledge sharing across disciplines, countries and habitats Educate new generation of restoration actors for work in diverse settings and on diverse challenges Hagen et al Ecology and Society 18 (4): 34 Nilsson and Aradóttir Ecology and Society 18 (4): 33 Photo: Ása L. Aradóttir

53 Acknowledgements Fellow members of the ReNo team Guðmundur Halldórsson, Icelandic Soil Conservation Service Anne Tolvanen, Metla and University of Oulu Christer Nilsson, Umeå University Dagmar Hagen, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) Karsten Rauland Rasmussen, University of Copenhagen Kristín Svavarsdóttir, Icelandic Soil Conservation Service All the other people contributing to the ReNo project The Nordic Council of Ministers