Ecosystem restoration | Research Capability & Technology Portfolio

Ecosystem restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed. Against a backdrop of rapid habitat degradation on land and along our coastlines, ecosystem restoration is becoming a critically important conservation intervention that can greatly enhance biodiversity and key ecosystem services.

Competitive advantage

Extensive evidence-based expertise in ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation in marine and terrestrial habitats including seaweed forests, seagrass meadows, oyster reefs, mine sites, urbanised settings and bushfire affected ecosystems.
State-of-the-art analytical approaches including the use of genetic and molecular tools to design restoration programs and monitor biodiversity
Comprehensive support covering design of restoration, environmental sampling, statistical analyses as well as social research, community engagement and outreach

Impact

Development of novel socio-ecological approaches to effectively restore and rehabilitate terrestrial and marine habitats, thereby protecting and enhancing biodiversity values and associated ecosystem functions.

Successful outcomes

Developed bio-inoculants for restoring biodiverse communities in mine-affected areas
Developed methods to effectively restore self-sustaining crayweed forests at the scale of original degradation in Sydney metropolitan
Development of 'Living Seawalls', rehabilitation solutions for coastal urban developments
Development of methods to effectively restore seagrass using new citizen science methods to collect storm-detached seagrass shoots for restoration without damaging existing meadows

Capabilities and facilities

Specialist skills in flora and fauna taxonomic identification including traditional taxonomy and eDNA analysis
DNA sequencing facilities with all current state-of-the-art sequencing platforms
State-of-the-art ecophysiology facilities (fluorometry, photorespiratory/ metabolism chambers, MicroResp)
Probes to measure environmental parameters (e.g. oxygen, turbidity)
Equipment to survey terrestrial and marine ecosystems remotely at multiple spatial scales, including drones, radiometers, cameras and remote underwater vehicles
Programming and pipelining of bioinformatics tools
Boating fleet and SCUBA facilities for coastal and subtidal restoration
Brand new laboratories with a wide range of ecological and molecular analysis equipment

Our partners

Government organisations at the local (Council), State and Federal level
Other research organisations (domestic and overseas)
NGOs
Artists
Corporations
Indigenous ranger groups