BioRestNet: a network of biocultural restoration

Felipe Melo

What is the purpose of this presentaiton?

  • Set the principles and design of the project
  • Understand the role of each institution involved
  • A FAQ for the project

A brief history

The Darwin Initiative is a UK government grants scheme that helps to protect biodiversity and the natural environment through locally based projects worldwide.

  • The role of local institutions is crucial

This is research-action grant

Click here to browse for project on the same funding scheme

  • A quick browse will give a glimpse of the nature of project
  • I recommend you browse a few ones
  • The last call funded 29 projects
  • We are competing among 73 (1 out 3)
  • Only a fraction have Universities as lead applicants
  • A strong integration must be shown

Some lessons

  • This is a coupled research-action grant
  • Both dimensions must be contemplated
  • We can share responsibilities in all dimensions
  • It is important to recognize the greatest potential of each partner

BioRestNet: a network of biocultural restoration

Why a network?

  • It is the best way to scale up restoration
  • Allows sharing of knowledge
  • Strengthen actions
  • Creates models

Research Component

Biocultural restoration

Core principles

  • Based on TEK
  • Potential for social engagement
  • Decolonial perspective
  • Co-constructed models

The project’s design

Assess biocultural landscape

  • List of culturally important species
  • Uses, functional attributes
  • Species occurrence

Testing diversity-functioning

  • Simulate diversity
  • Simulate disturbances
  • Simulate climate change (e.g. water, temp)

Module 1 - Assessment of biocultural landscape

Objetive 1 - Inventory useful species and its fucntional traits

  • We’ll add a species x uses table

Module 1 - Assessment of biocultural landscape

Objetive 2 - Extract and map occureene of the biocultiural core of species

  • Sort species per “importance”
  • Map the biocultural core
    • The most useful species (amount to be set)

Module 1 - Assessment of biocultural landscape

Objetive 3 - Model distribution against climate change

  • Distribution of the biocultural core of species
  • Current and future climate
  • Pirotiry areas for Biocultural Restoration
  • Sensitive areas

Module 2 - BEF experiment

Objective 4 - Test climate and distubance

  • A randomized-structured experiment
  • Placed at the Savanna site
  • Control and simulate
    • Disturbance
    • Climate variables (water)

- inspired by NutNNet

Module 2 - BEF experiment

Objetive 5 - Test the effect of diversity on EF

Module 2 - BEF experiment

Objetive 5 - Test the effect of diversity on EF

  • Control and manipulate diversity
    • Taxonomic
    • Functional
    • Phylogenetic
  • Understand EF responses

Action Component

Training local community hubs

  • Map communities at the Coastal, Montane and Savannah
    • Workshops for seed collectors
    • Restoration Supply Chain
    • Gender equity

Structuring of the Biocultural Restoration Network

  • Create and establish the Network
    • Formalization of network
    • Set principles and mission
    • Intermediate market
    • Public policy intended

Roles and sharing