LESSONS FOR LARGE-SCALE ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION:

Organizing. Large-scale ecosystem restorations involve complex and lengthy negotiations among dozens of scientists, government agency staff, and stakeholders. Restoration success will depend on achieving consensus and commitment to complex restoration plans and their implementation. Who is brought to the table and how they are convened can make or break a negotiation. Dynamic political leadership launched from hard-won consensus is the one thing that can amass the resources needed to restore large-scale ecosystems.

Governing. People involved in restoring ecosystems will increase their ability to get things done by understanding how the various federal, state, and local systems work. It is important to master not only formal laws and regulations, but also the customary ways of developing and implementing policy.

Planning. Large-scale ecosystem restoration will not move forward without a comprehensive, science-based plan that includes price tags and stakeholder consensus. Once the initiative's organization and initial governance structure are in place, people can begin to craft plans to restore the ecosystem. Such plans at this level of complexity take a great deal of time and resources.

Implementing. Implementation is part of a lengthy and iterative process that involves amassing funds and driving action. Through adaptive management, decision makers and stakeholders will respond as conditions change. While such adjustments can be frustrating, they are expected and essential parts of the process.

Accounting. Restoration initiatives need to engage in several types of accounting practices. One form of accounting involves projecting and tracking expenses as part of governance. Another form is the enforcement of mandatory actions and tracking of voluntary performance. A third form requires evaluating ecosystem outcomes; a forth involves reporting on the status of ecosystem health. Establishing efficient and effective accounting systems for these and other practices will allow scrutiny to ensure economic, ecological, and political accountability.

CONCLUSION:

Make Large-scale Ecosystem Restoration a National Priority
The more than half dozen large-scale ecosystem restorations in process have evolved based on the belief that restoration can best be achieved by regions acting separately and competing for federal funds. Because of severely limited federal resources, we believe this premise is no longer true, if it ever was true. We argue for a coordinated and collective effort to place large-scale ecosystem restoration at the top of national priorities. In particular, this effort must include careful stewardship of national line programs - such as revolving loan funds for wastewater treatment - and media-specific regulatory frameworks which prevent new damage to ecosystems or already are helping to improve them. Without these programs, each restoration initiative becomes a black hole for federal restoration dollars. We urge joint efforts to advance and improve these national line programs while collaboratively advancing top restoration priorities for each region.

Transform Complex Human Systems
We believe restoration will both stimulate and depend on successful transformation of complex human systems such as those supplying energy, transportation, and business. Concentrating solely on restoration's upfront costs overlooks real benefits stemming from the new technologies and economic efficiencies that result from large-scale restoration.

Keep Our Eyes on the Prize
It is difficult to keep the vision of a healthy restored ecosystem in mind as we struggle with day-to-day realities. Ecosystem restorations entail complexities, uncertainties, and huge costs, but tackle these problems we must for human economic and social life cannot thrive if the existing trajectory persists. The challenge is to stay the course long enough to ensure a solid future for our grandchildren and their grandchildren. Needed are an inspiring vision, political will, cross-regional cooperation, and continual reevaluation and realignment. By working and learning together, large-scale ecosystem restoration initiatives can enhance the higher quality of life throughout our nation.