New Restoration Standards Reveal

The Society for Ecological Restoration has released the **Third Edition of the *International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration***, and this episode is less of a book review than a reflection on what these new Standards reveal about our profession. I explore how ecological restoration has evolved over the past two decades through the lenses of **justice, human health and livelihoods, climate readiness, accountability, and communities of practice.** I also share why I think the first four principles form the philosophical heart of the new edition, where I'm still wrestling with the Restorative Continuum, and what I hope future editions might look like. Read more on the Grove & Grit Substack, and here are a few hot takes... - Ecological restoration has grown from a conversation among ecologists into a global movement involving Indigenous Nations, communities, governments, planners, policymakers, and funders. - The addition of the word **"native"** isn't just a definition change - it helps clarify ecological restoration's identity within the much broader ecosystem restoration movement. - The Third Edition reflects a profession becoming more people-centered, climate-ready, accountable, and connected to public policy. - Standards don't just describe good practice - they reveal what a profession values, who is participating in the conversation, and where it may be headed next. - The future of restoration won't be shaped only by better science, but by welcoming new voices, new perspectives, and a variety of knowledge systems. Read them critically. Celebrate what resonates. Challenge what doesn't. The best standards aren't static documents sitting on a shelf... idling in the nether regions of our computer networks... or chilling five clicks into the SER website. They're invitations into an ongoing conversation. **Society for Ecological Restoration. International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration (Third Edition)** Gann, G.D., McDonald, T., Walder, B., Aronson, J., Nelson, C.R., Hallett, J.G., Guariguata, M.R., Gonzales, E.K., Hua, F., Echeverría, C., Eisenberg, C., Liu, J., Decleer, K., Barr, Z.E., Bartholomew, D.C., Best, M., Chazdon, R., Cliquet, A., Cortina-Segarra, J., Kalirai, H., MacCallum, K., Mosyaftiani, A., Pedrini, S., Young, R. and Dixon, K.W. (2026), International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Third edition. Restor Ecol, 34: e70441. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70441 more treehugger podcast episodes A special thank you to Madrone Grove Adaptation & Restoration for supporting this episode and for advancing climate-ready ecological restoration throughout the Pacific Northwest. Opening and closing music by: Jessie Villa and The Parrisian