Conservation and restoration of native flora in human-transformed landscapes: what are possible approaches?

Abstract

For more than 10 years, stakeholders have been using native seeds for ecological restoration at high altitude. They aim at restoring dense vegetation covers and typical high altitude pastures. Since the year 2000, the National Botanical Conservatory of the Pyrenees and Midi-Pyrenees regions and the Amidev environment agency has technically supported them, in order to initiate a restoration process in these high altitude areas following disturbance (www.ecovars.fr). We initiated studies and projects with technical stakeholders, land managers and scientists in order to choose the species that are the best adapted and technically successful and to study their ability to be harvested and propagated. The keystone of the approach is the involvement of stakeholders in the conception and the implementation of the activities. To spread these practices at a larger scale, we are strengthening a native seed production network. Therefore, we need new scientific studies both to implement new ecological restoration techniques and to assess provided ecosystem services.