On principles and standards in ecological restoration
The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) has long debated how to define best practices. We argue that a principles‐first approach offers more flexibility for restoration practitioners than a standards‐based approach, is consistent with the developmental stage of restoration, and functions more e...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Published: |
Wiley
2018
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| _version_ | 1797097680707518464 |
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| author | Higgs, E Harris, J Murphy, S Bowers, K Hobbs, R Jenkins, W Kidwell, J Lopoukhine, N Sollereder, B Suding, K Thompson, A Whisenant, S |
| author_facet | Higgs, E Harris, J Murphy, S Bowers, K Hobbs, R Jenkins, W Kidwell, J Lopoukhine, N Sollereder, B Suding, K Thompson, A Whisenant, S |
| author_sort | Higgs, E |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) has long debated how to define best practices. We argue that a principles‐first approach offers more flexibility for restoration practitioners than a standards‐based approach, is consistent with the developmental stage of restoration, and functions more effectively at a global level. However, the solution is not as simple as arguing that one approach to professional practice is sufficient. Principles and standards can and do operate effectively together, but only if they are coordinated in a transparent and systematic way. Effective professional guidance results when standards anchored by principles function in a way that is contextual and evolving. Without that clear relation to principles, the tendency to promote performance standards may lead to a narrowing of restoration practice and reduction in the potential to resolve very difficult and diverse ecological and environmental challenges. We offer recommendations on how the evolving project of restoration policy by SER and other agencies and organizations can remain open and flexible. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T04:58:57Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:d79873b5-c82d-41a0-a655-a7a6a7f8d851 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T04:58:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:d79873b5-c82d-41a0-a655-a7a6a7f8d8512022-03-27T08:42:15ZOn principles and standards in ecological restorationJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:d79873b5-c82d-41a0-a655-a7a6a7f8d851Symplectic Elements at OxfordWiley2018Higgs, EHarris, JMurphy, SBowers, KHobbs, RJenkins, WKidwell, JLopoukhine, NSollereder, BSuding, KThompson, AWhisenant, SThe Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) has long debated how to define best practices. We argue that a principles‐first approach offers more flexibility for restoration practitioners than a standards‐based approach, is consistent with the developmental stage of restoration, and functions more effectively at a global level. However, the solution is not as simple as arguing that one approach to professional practice is sufficient. Principles and standards can and do operate effectively together, but only if they are coordinated in a transparent and systematic way. Effective professional guidance results when standards anchored by principles function in a way that is contextual and evolving. Without that clear relation to principles, the tendency to promote performance standards may lead to a narrowing of restoration practice and reduction in the potential to resolve very difficult and diverse ecological and environmental challenges. We offer recommendations on how the evolving project of restoration policy by SER and other agencies and organizations can remain open and flexible. |
| spellingShingle | Higgs, E Harris, J Murphy, S Bowers, K Hobbs, R Jenkins, W Kidwell, J Lopoukhine, N Sollereder, B Suding, K Thompson, A Whisenant, S On principles and standards in ecological restoration |
| title | On principles and standards in ecological restoration |
| title_full | On principles and standards in ecological restoration |
| title_fullStr | On principles and standards in ecological restoration |
| title_full_unstemmed | On principles and standards in ecological restoration |
| title_short | On principles and standards in ecological restoration |
| title_sort | on principles and standards in ecological restoration |
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