Presenter/s: Jared Busen
Symposium Session: 2024 - 04 Restoring Riverscapes as Complex Habitats that Include Humans
Topics covered: adaptive management and monitoring, equity and inclusion, and traditional ecological knowledge
ABSTRACT
Within the colonial cultural structure of riparian restoration there is no institutional structure for multigenerational stewardship of the land. Without this structure riparian restoration projects are typically set up as a one time planting occurring at the same time as site preparation, with maintenance only funded to occur once or twice a year for 3-5 years depending on grants. This leads to riparian restoration sites that are not maintained at the level they need to achieve broad-based ecological functions such as reduction in invasive species, appropriate width and density of the riparian ecosystems and habitat creation for a range of aquatic and terrestrial species. The standard colonial cultural structure strives to remove humans from the restoration site. How do we develop a culture that values long-term stewardship of restored habitat to ensure success with a framework that is designed to keep people out, from having the opportunity to develop a connection with the land? This presentation will discuss three examples and their efforts towards establishing a culture of stewardship, developing connections with the land.
1) Raising Cane Ranch, an established agroforestry riparian buffer integrated with a working cider orchard.
2) Snohomish Waterfront Park, an agroforestry riparian buffer in development along the Snohomish River for use by the public.
3) Skykomish Field Station, an effort to develop self-replicating and culturally-driven community events, rather than the institutionally-driven volunteer events typical in the restoration industry.