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.

Our Projects

About Us

Join Us

Lab News

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

Jan 2026 – Congratulations to Pika MacDougal for completing their masters thesis on the effects of prescribed fire on federally threatened small whorled pogonia orchids!

Jan 2026 – Our Peters Mountain Mallow research was featured on RadioIQ! (Read more on Natural History of Ecological Restoration)

Read the latest blog posts on
Natural History of Ecological Restoration

• 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 […]
• Native Plant Seeding Solutions for High Disturbance Highway Roadsides
  January 6, 2026
  Wes Bollinger, a restoration ecologist, recommends strategies for enhancing roadside ecosystems through native species planting. His research identifies effective seeding practices and species, focusing on improving habitat quality and lowering maintenance costs. Projects reveal the ecological benefits of native vegetation in combating invasives and supporting biodiversity along Midwestern highways and roadsides.
• Peter’s Mountain Mallow – Back on the brink as it approaches its 100th anniversary
  December 5, 2025
  Peter's Mountain Mallow (Iliamna corei), one of the rarest plants globally, has dwindled to just five individuals as of 2025. Historically endangered, it relies on fire for seed germination and population revival. Despite recent declines due to drought, a dedicated new wave of researchers aims to restore and monitor this endangered species.