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

Jun 2026 – Check out this cool meshed sensor network that we are testing in the Choconexion Experiment in western Ecuador! Built by Matt Toups and his awesome engineering students at Tulane. The ultimate goal is to put one of these at each of 192 vegetation monitoring stations to learn about plant-environment relationships.

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!

Read the latest blog posts on
Natural History of Ecological Restoration

• News from the Northeast Seed Network: Launching Wild Seed Collection Protocols
  May 28, 2026
  By Eve Allen, Geordie Elkins, Heather Liljengren, and Sefra Alexandra Eve Allen is the US Northeast Regional Director at the Ecological Health Network. In this role, she co-coordinates the Northeast Seed Network. She is joined by Geordie Elkins, the Executive Director of the Highstead Foundation, Heather Liljengren, the owner and president of Local Land Consulting, and Sefra Alexandra- The Seed […]
• 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.