Restoration

The Lands Council advocates for the restoration of watersheds and forests through its Forest Watch and Water Watch programs.

Restoration is defined as the intentional process which assists or initiates the recovery of an altered ecosystem to a state of ecological integrity. Ecological integrity is achieved through recovery of the diversity of species, water quality and quantity, soil quality and function, terrestrial and aquatic habitats, and resilience.

Unfortunately, unsustainable resource extraction, development and short-sighted management, and exotic species invasions have fundamentally altered much of our forest lands. Biologically rich old-growth and native forests have been converted to tree plantations. Water quality has been reduced, native fish and wildlife habitats have been altered or lost, and floods have increased in number and intensity. This has caused economic and social harm to communities and workers who depend on forest resources.

There is an urgent need to reverse these declines by repairing the damage from past mismanagement. The Lands Council shares a vision of ecological restoration that embraces natural ecological processes, improves habitat for native fish, wildlife and plants, and enhances the human connection to the natural world. Ecosystems are complex and our understanding of them is limited, our restoration activities must be done carefully and with humility.

An investment in restoration projects on our national forests provides a great opportunity for job creation and increased economic activity, particularly in rural communities.

The Lands Council endorses these ecological principles to guide restoration projects on National Forests:

A Citizens' Call for Ecological Forest Restoration: Forest Restoration Principles and Criteria

Restoring Montana's National Forest Lands: Guiding Principles and Recommended Implementation


For more information about forest restoration and restoration principles, contact our Forest Policy Director, Jeff Juel (jjuel@landscouncil.org) - (509) 209-2401.