Advancing ecological restoration

We aim to improve ecological restoration outcomes for society and nature through applied research and effective capacity building. We work in a variety of terrestrial ecosystems including temperate grasslands and woodlands and tropical forests.

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Lab News

May 2026 – Cecropia undergraduate researcher Ezra Staengl won the Phi Kappa Phi medallion! Congratulations, Ezra!

Apr 2026 – Congratulations to Dr. Gabrielle Ripa for successfully defending her PhD on invasive plants and stream restoration in the Chesapeake Bay watershed!

Feb 2026 – Congratulations to Desiree Shelley for winning a prestigious SECASC Fellowship for 2026-2027!

Read the latest blog posts on
Natural History of Ecological Restoration

• From Hayfield to Meadow: An Herbicide-Free Sod Removal Trial to Restore Native Meadows in Virginia’s Northern Piedmont Region, USA.  
  April 23, 2026
  Charlotte Lorick, Head of Biodiversity Conservation at Oak Spring Garden Foundation, discusses her initiative to restore a native meadow in Virginia. The project employs sod removal instead of herbicides to enhance biodiversity. Early results show a significant increase in native species richness and a decrease in non-native vegetation, indicating effective restoration.
• Reintroducing Kenya’s Threatened Trees and Shrubs in the Highlands Through Science and Community Action
  March 16, 2026
  The project led by Tobin Mutiso and Andrew Gichira focuses on restoring threatened plant species in Kenya through community engagement and targeted ecological practices. By developing propagation methods for 22 species and involving local communities in monitoring and seed collection, the initiative aims to enhance biodiversity while providing livelihood benefits and sustainable conservation solutions.
• From Soil Seed Banks to Seedlings: Deciphering the Natural Regeneration of Tropical Dry Forests in the Americas
  February 19, 2026
  By Viviana Londoño-Lemos Viviana Londoño-Lemos is a Ph.D. candidate with the Powers Lab in the Plant and Microbial Biology Program at the University of Minnesota. Email: vivianalondonolemos@gmail.com or londo074@umn.edu The tropical dry forest is a unique ecosystem that challenges many preconceived assumptions about the tropics. Unlike the iconic tropical rainforest, dry forests are highly seasonal, marked by distinct dry […]