Restoration and
Understory:
Summary
SRS-4158 TAV Synthesis
September 11, 2012 - Atlanta
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Restoration
◦ Includes all aspects of ecological restoration
 Composition, management, canopy conversions
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Understory
◦ Focus on ground layer plants
◦ Includes concerns about rare plants and
sensitive/rare plant communities
Topic defined
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General Questions about restoration
More specific restoration
methods/materials
Special species and habitats
Technology transfer
Overview of comments

Reference models for specific sites (What should a restored site
look like? Which species?)
◦ Western range, “wiregrass gap”, mountain longleaf
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Priorities (Which sites?)
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Protocols for ground layer restoration (How?)
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Site conversion protocols (canopy species) (How?)
◦ Likelihood of success
◦ Where to put resources, efforts – landscapes with options (e.g. plantations,
old fields, unburned sites)
◦ Old fields: pasture grass removal, invasive species management; residual
effects on soil;
◦ Plantations: how to introduce native grasses, forbs; thinning patterns,
density
◦ Fire-excluded sites: will fire restore the ground layer diversity?
◦ Timing of events (trees first? Grasses first?);
◦ “perpetual canopy” approaches to convert from slash or loblolly to longleaf;
also loblolly to shortleaf
Restoration: what, where, how
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Plant materials for restoration
◦ Sources of plant materials –seed transfer zones
◦ How to produce plugs, seeds
◦ How and when to collect, handle, store, plant seeds
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Herbicides in restoration
◦ Site preparation, weed control, effects on non-target native
species
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Fire in restoration, ground layer management
◦ Seasonality, frequency
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Integrating silvicultural practices with restoration
practices
◦ Site preparation, thinning, planting density, weed controlseedling release
◦ Site conversion from loblolly or slash to longleaf pine
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Fundamental biology & ecology of the longleaf pine
ecosystem and component species
Restoration specifics
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Restoration protocols for
flatwoods and wet sites
specifically noted
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Restoration with climate
change in mind
Relate restoration
opportunities to ecological
land classification units
(Land Type Associations
or finer spatial resolution
1:24,000 scale)
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Protocols for small site
restorations desired
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Ways to communicate
about restoration
Mycorrhizal associations
(role for restoration?)
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Economics of restoration
(level of cost share
required to support
landowner participation)
Restoration specific specificsinfrequent, but distinctive input
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Key plant species: biology and
management
◦ Grasses; legumes
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Rare plant species, habitats: ecology,
management
◦ Better understanding of ecology and biology
needed to restore unique habitats, rare species
(conservation targets)
Special plant species and habitats
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Demonstration sites – a technology
transfer option often associated with
restoration
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Monitoring guidance frequently mentioned
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Assessment methods to document
ecological conditions (remote sensing
technology?)
Miscellaneous
Reference models for specific sites (What should a restored site
look like?)
 Priorities (Which sites?)
 Protocols for ground layer restoration (How?)
 Site conversion protocols (canopy species) (How?)
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Plant materials for restoration
Herbicides in restoration
Fire in restoration, ground layer management
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Key species: biology and management
Rare plant species, habitats: ecology, management
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Value of interpreted demonstration sites
Climate change, a recurring theme
Summary: General comments/topics