A Restoration Research Program for NTU

Felipe Melo

By the end of this talk I want to:

• Showcase how restoration hooked me
• The research opportunities around restoration
• A general call for jumping on the Restoration boat

Research interests and background

Forest sucession via seed dispersal

Landscape perspective

Landscape perspective

Biotic homogenization

Biogeographical patterns

Applications

Forest and people

Forest and people

Restoration policy

Restoration policy

Restoration for NTU

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

Biocultural landscape

• Culturally important species
• Database on functional traits
• Landscape perspective

Objective 1 - Inventory useful species and its functional traits

• We’ll add a species x uses table
• Use a framework from Functional Ecology
• Test functionality of culturally important species

Objective 2 - Model distribution against climate change

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

Objective 3 - Controlled experiments on BEF

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

- inspired by NutNNet

Objetive 4 - Test the effect of diversity on EF

Objetive 4 - Test the effect of diversity on EF

Photo: Felipe Melo (Brazil)

• 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

What is next?

Find the money

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

Join us!

Aknowledgements