Rebuilding nature

Good practice guidance for ecological restoration

Biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation and climate destruction present unprecedented challenges – the actions we take now will fundamentally affect our lives and the lives of future generations. To combat these pressing issues and halt and reverse nature’s decline we need evidence-based large-scale ecological restoration, underpinned by the re-establishment of ecological processes and ecosystem services.

Ten good practice principles are set out for ecological restoration projects in the terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments of the UK and Ireland. This guidance was prepared by the CIEEM working group on good practice guidance for ecological restoration that was established by the CIEEM Habitat Creation and Ecological Restoration Special Interest Group.

The guidance is intended for restoration practitioners working in land and water management or on development projects, and provides an introduction to ecological restoration, the importance of a robust and consistent approach to ecological restoration, links to more detailed information, a glossary of key terms and 10 good practice principles. The principles and glossary of terms are informed by guidance produced by global organisations such as the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are broadly accessible to practitioners in the UK and Ireland and highlight links to the mitigation hierarchy and Lawton principles of ‘bigger, better, more and joined-up’ ecological restoration.

This guidance is being published in advance of more detailed material relating to habitat types, to stimulate discussion and comments.

The CIEEM working group has also produced a set of key references to help ecologists and environmental managers design and manage effective restoration projects. This reference list is not intended to be exhaustive and it will be updated as each section of the guidance is written.

Click here to download the key references

Please contact erhc@cieem.net to provide comments and feedback.