Dryland restoration needs suggest a role for introduced plants

Authors: Davies, Kirk; JOHNSON, DUSTIN - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Global Ecology and Conservation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2024
Publication Date: 5/23/2024
Citation: Davies, K.W., Johnson, D.D. 2024. Dryland restoration needs suggest a role for introduced plants. Global Ecology and Conservation. 53. Article e03005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03005.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03005

Interpretive Summary: Restoration of degraded drylands is critically needed to return ecosystem goods and services. Restoration practitioners often focus on restoring the historic native plant community. However, success with native plants in drylands is often low, especially with altered climatic and disturbance regimes. Instead, we suggest we should focus on restoring ecosystem goods and services that are important to society. This would include using introduced (non-native) plants where they are likely to establish and meet ecosystem objectives, but native plants are likely to fail. However, native plants should be used where they can be successful. Meaningful restoration of ecosystem goods and services at scales that will offset and reverse the current rates of degradation in drylands will likely require the use of both native and introduced plant species. This viewpoint article is of interest to the general public, other scientists, land managers, and restoration practitioners.

Technical Abstract: Restoration of degraded drylands is critically needed to return lost ecosystem goods and services. Restoration practitioners often focus on restoring the historic native plant community to promote biodiversity and reduce the threat of invasion. However, success with native plants in drylands is often low, especially with altered climatic and disturbance regimes. Instead, we suggest that the focus should be on restoring ecosystem goods and services that are important to society. In other words, restoration goals should be the starting point for the restoration planning process. This may include using introduced (non-native) plants where they are likely to establish and meet ecosystem objectives determined important for society and pose minimal risk of further land degradation, but native plants are likely to fail. However, native plants should be used where they can be successful. We propose a decision tree to assist in determining if native, introduced, or mixes of native and introduced plant species should be used in restoration efforts. Restoration of degraded drylands at scales that will offset and reverse the current rates of degradation may require the use of both native and introduced plants. We do not make these arguments lightly, and are aware of the numerous challenges in the careful and successful use of introduced species in service of supporting ecosystems services and function without causing further, unintended degradation. However, we believe that the potential benefits are greater than the risk if done correctly and judiciously. We do not underestimate the complexity involved in following through with the decision tree we propose, but present it as a framework to guide this difficult work.