Reference Concepts in Ecosystem Restoration and Environmental Benefits Analysis (EBA): Principles and Practices

Abstract

Though reference condition concepts are not explicitly required for use by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works Ecosystem Restoration practitioners, these concepts are often applied during ecosystem restoration project planning. Describing restoration objectives in a scientifically founded yet easily understandable way remains a challenge to the ecosystem restoration community. The application of reference concepts helps restoration practitioners overcome these challenges. A basic understanding of ecosystem structure and function through study and characterization of reference condition can influence how planning teams formulate planning objectives and alternatives, benchmark future ecological conditions, evaluate performance and sustainability, and seek to justify investments. Site-based reference characteristics, functions, and landscape position are critical considerations when evaluating plan alternatives in a systems context. Likewise, coherent approaches to developing references can serve as assets to planners investigating opportunities for ecosystem restoration investments at project, watershed, and system scales. The field of study for reference ecosystems is vast, with a recent emphasis on standardizing definitions, interpretation, and methods to create a more rigorous and pragmatic framework for ecosystem restoration practitioners (Stoddard et al. 2006, Dufour and Piegay 2009). A scientifically valid lexicon and standardization of techniques for applying reference conditions during investigations and planning of ecosystem restoration actions can help to ensure that these concepts are applied properly to ecosystem restoration (Stoddard et al. 2006). Ecosystem restoration history and state of the science are broadly established and reference concepts are widely used.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA571264

Entities

People

  • Bruce A. Pruitt
  • Chuck H. Theiling
  • J. C. Fischenich
  • Sarah J. Miller
  • Shawn B. Komlos

Organizations

  • United States Army Corps of Engineers

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Engineered Resilient Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agriculture
  • Army Corps Of Engineers
  • Biology
  • Business Administration
  • Chemistry
  • Climate Change
  • Data Sets
  • Delphi Method
  • Drainage Basins
  • Ecology
  • Ecosystems
  • Environment
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Environmental Protection
  • Geographic Regions
  • Habitats
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Facility/Structural Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Wetland-Land-Environmental Management.