Restoring Ecological Function with Habitat Restoration Plants
People change the environments they come into contact with, most of the time for their convenience. Activities such as farming, construction of roads, and building cities require extensive modifications of the land, soil, and other natural systems. All of those changes lead to problems after those human activities move out of the area.
Tammy Sons, Owner of TN Nursery, one of the most important nurseries in the state of Tennessee that specializes in native plants, discusses the problems of the land after human activities are finished and the importance of planting native plants for habitat restoration.
What is Restoration of Habitat?
Restoration of habitat is repairing and returning the ecosystems and their biological communities that have been damaged, degraded, or destroyed. They include the balance of the ecosystems and other functions. They include restoring native plants, and organic soil and wildlife ecosystems are regained and balanced. One of the most important is the restoration of wetlands, which ensures the preservation of the wetlands and the protective surrounding ecosystems from further degradation.
Methods and Tools for Restoration and Mitigation of Wetlands
Method and Mitchell are important in the restoration of ecosystems. These are live stakes, brush layering, riparian buffer plants, fascines, and other native plants. These methods have different roles and functions to help restoration, such as stabilizing soils and improving the soil and biodiversity of the system.
Live Stakes: An Easy and Boosting Procedure
Riverbanks Restoration requires very little effort and resources. Live stakes are dormant tree cuttings woven into the soil and riverbanks. When the stakes are added to the soil before they put out buds, they grow into trees. Their root systems fill and stabilize soil that would erode due to water and wind. This method is great for restoring the natural shape and flow of rivers.
Helpful Hint: To improve the success rate of the stakes, cut the bottom of the branch at an angle. This will help bury the branch without resisting the soil and help the branch grow in the right direction.
Brush Layers: More Stability
Alternate layers of gravel, topsoil, and planting cuttings to program soil vegetation growth and increase the erosion control of riverbanks. This method is especially useful for preventing soil erosion and controlling deep water flows and landslides.
Riparian Buffers: Nature's Filters
The plants in riparian buffers form natural barriers among river systems and surrounding habitats. These plants filter out certain impurities and provide shade, and regulate temperature. Furthermore, they are food sources of freshwater insects, mollusks, and crustaceans, which are vital to the food webs of freshwater ecosystems.
Fascines: Stabilizing Slopes
Fascines are bundles of vegetation that are laid in trenches along the slopes or banks of rivers. They help to stabilize soil and capture sediment. These nutrient-addition, soil-stabilizing, sediment-trapping bundles of vegetation are particularly effective in areas that have steep slopes or loose soil.
Native Plants: The Backbone of Restoration
Every habitat restoration project has to have native plants. They are the ones that have been around in the area the longest, and because of that, they are the ones that help the native wildlife the most. For example, native plants are able to bring in bees and butterflies, which are critical pollinators that every ecosystem needs.
Other Plants That Aid Habitat Restoration
Besides the ones mentioned above, there are several plants that also do extremely well in habitat restoration. For example:
- Hydrangea Arborescens: This shrub is particularly known for its reliable performance and excels at soil stabilization. Plus, it grows well under a wide range of conditions.
- Evening Primrose: This lovely flower beautifies the landscape and attracts pollinators.
- Water Pond Plants: These flora assist in the restoration of wetlands; they filter and purify the water and support life in and around the water.
The Advantages of Restoration of the Habitat
There are many benefits to be gained from the restoration of the habitats. These benefits include biodiversity increase: Restoration of the ecosystem creates additional habitats and encourages the establishment and sustenance of the populations of the native species.
- Water Quality Improvement: Riparian buffer systems remove pollutants and increase stream water quality.
- The Improved Erosion Control: These include the use of brush layering and fascines; they improve the control of erosion of the soil.
- The Increased Resilience of Ecosystems to Climate Change: Healthy ecosystems can adapt to the adverse impact of climate change.
Want to make a change for the better?
For soil stabilization, wildlife, water quality improvement, and restorative planting, TN Nursery offers a wide selection of native plants to suit all of your needs. Have a look at TN Nursery today to help with the plant's mortgage and make an effort to save the planet.
FAQs
What is involved in habitat restoration?
Restoration of the habitat involves the restoration of the damaged or degraded ecosystem. This requires the action of planting native species, soil stabilization, improvement of water quality, and the establishment of conditions to support wildlife. The aim of this action is to achieve a restoration of the equilibrium in the ecosystem.
What are two ways a habitat can be restored or protected?
Restoration or protection of habitats can be achieved by planting native flora and controlling erosion. The local wildlife is assisted, and the soil quality is improved by planting native species. The soil erosion is controlled, and water systems are protected by the use of live stakes and brush layering techniques.
What are the benefits of habitat preservation?
Cleaning natural habitats means that there will be less encroachment on the flora and fauna in the area. Decreased encroachment means that there is more opportunity to preserve biodiversity. In addition to biodiversity, there will also be decreased injurious encroachment on endangered species.
What are the benefits of restoration?
Restoration provides decreased holistic deterioration. Ecosystem resiliency increases. Uplifts the overall standard of living in the surrounding population.
What are the 5 components of restoration?
The main activities that you should be focused on are assessing damage. Planning how you will achieve the restoration. Using Implementation. Keep a close eye on what you have restored. Keeping the restoration in a good state.
How long does it take to restore a habitat?
Restoration of a damaged habitat can take a long time. It depends on what damage has been done. In some of the projects, you should be able to record the improvement of the damage in a 3-year period. In most of the projects, a decade can be a reasonable timeframe. It will require long-term, consistent monitoring of the project.
