Restoration and Recovery

Forests and grasslands are vulnerable to environmental stresses such as wildfire, insect infestation, diseases, invasive species, and drought. Additionally, disturbances from current or historic land uses such as energy infrastructure development, mineral development, recreation, river damming, over-grazing, and logging operations may have lasting impacts on ecosystems and ecosystem services. Often, disturbed ecosystems are slow to recover or they recover to an altered, often less desirable state. Ecological restoration aims to accelerate the recovery on an ecosystem that has been disturbed. Restoring ecosystems can help to re-establish or enhance ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, wood products, clean air and water, and opportunities for outdoor recreation and employment. 

The Rocky Mountain Research Station provides cutting-edge science on restoration, reforestation, and ecosystem recovery. Our scientists led the development of the National Reforestation Strategy which in turn informed provisions in the REPLANT Act of 2021. Our research also directly informs the Native Seed Strategy.

Rocky Mountain Research Station research themes on Restoration, Reforestation, & Recovery include:

• Research & tools that support successful restoration and prioritization of restoration investments
• Development of plant materials, seed selection resources, and nursery technologies to support restoration and reforestation
• Post-fire tree and understory plant regeneration
• Post-fire recovery of watershed processes & other ecosystem services
• Using forest management treatments to restore forest structure 

Read the Restoration, Reforestation & Regeneration Fact Sheet to learn more.

• The Target Plant Concept helps managers choose plant materials and techniques that are best suited for management objectives 
• Improving restoration success through a research and management partnership: A scientist-manager partnership found that locally-sourced seed will result in increased plant establishment, relative to cultivars.
• The Southern Rockies Reforestation Tool (SRRT) identifies sites that have the appropriate climate and topography to plant ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir seedings after wildfires.