Restoration and Understory: Summary

1. Restoration and Understory:Summary SRS-4158 TAV Synthesis September 11, 2012 - Atlanta

2. Restoration • Includes all aspects of ecological restoration • Composition, management, canopy conversions • Understory • Focus on ground layer plants • Includes concerns about rare plants and sensitive/rare plant communities Topic defined

3. General Questions about restoration • More specific restoration methods/materials • Special species and habitats • Technology transfer Overview of comments

4. Reference models for specific sites (What should a restored site look like? Which species?) • Western range, “wiregrass gap”, mountain longleaf • Priorities (Which sites?) • Likelihood of success • Where to put resources, efforts – landscapes with options (e.g. plantations, old fields, unburned sites) • Protocols for ground layer restoration (How?) • 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?); • Site conversion protocols (canopy species) (How?) • “perpetual canopy” approaches to convert from slash or loblolly to longleaf; also loblolly to shortleaf Restoration: what, where, how

5. 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 • Herbicides in restoration • Site preparation, weed control, effects on non-target native species • Fire in restoration, ground layer management • Seasonality, frequency • Integrating silvicultural practices with restoration practices • Site preparation, thinning, planting density, weed control-seedling release • Site conversion from loblolly or slash to longleaf pine • Fundamental biology & ecology of the longleaf pine ecosystem and component species Restoration specifics

6. Restoration protocols for flatwoods and wet sites specifically noted • Protocols for small site restorations desired • Restoration with climate change in mind • Ways to communicate about restoration • Relate restoration opportunities to ecological land classification units (Land Type Associations or finer spatial resolution 1:24,000 scale) • Mycorrhizal associations (role for restoration?) • Economics of restoration (level of cost share required to support landowner participation) Restoration specific specifics- infrequent, but distinctive input

7. Key plant species: biology and management • Grasses; legumes • 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

8. Demonstration sites – a technology transfer option often associated with restoration • Monitoring guidance frequently mentioned • Assessment methods to document ecological conditions (remote sensing technology?) Miscellaneous

9. 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?) • Plant materials for restoration • Herbicides in restoration • Fire in restoration, ground layer management • Key species: biology and management • Rare plant species, habitats: ecology, management • Value of interpreted demonstration sites • Climate change, a recurring theme Summary: General comments/topics