Restoration Demonstration Site Scoping and Engagement Study

COSIA, and its member companies, have invested considerable time and energy on linear restoration within woodland caribou habitat, and the need continues for collaborative, interdisciplinary research, on a focused and well-structured basis, on ecological responses to restoration. Well-designed comparative tests allow for development of knowledge that supports better management decisions. They are rare and difficult to establish, but can result in great benefits – external examples include the Breton Plots (Soils/Agriculture) and the EMEND Experiment (Forestry). With the goal of continuing to be leaders in the field of habitat restoration, COSIA member companies retained Fuse Consulting Ltd to scope interest in, and feasibility of, creating a long-term research program in Alberta to study linear restoration that would involve establishing an area for research and outreach in plant and animal response to restoration treatment in NE Alberta. This project included interviews with government, industry and scientists and the review of past long-term research programs to identify key aspects that led to success. Key research questions and results from past projects were also reviewed to provide a roadmap of potential questions of interest, should COSIA decide to pursue a long-term research program.

Initial questions to ask within COSIA: (1) scope: will it include topics beyond caribou and vegetation recovery?; (2) scale: will the program include a large block of land in a single geographic area or multiple sites, and what is the role of existing restoration treatment sites?; (3) interest in dealing with unexpected outcomes: research could result in outcomes that question or shed negative light on past practices. Ensuring resiliency in member companies to see opportunity for adaptive management in these learnings, and realize these learnings would not have been possible if restoration had not been initiated, will be key to long-term partner interests and energy. Five strategic steps to move forward: (1) identify companies motivated to be champions of a long-term research program; (2) empower these organizations to pursue a vision with other partners; (3) identify range of questions of interest to COSIA member companies and scale of potential investments; (4) consider an initial short list of partners COSIA member companies wish to see involved; (5) develop an initial “gut check” of strategic priorities that would drive long-term investment from an industry perspective. A long-term research program is a significant undertaking, but is likely to strengthen an already strong reputation of innovation.