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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NCRestoration Ecology

International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Third edition

  • George D. Gann1,2
  • Tein McDonald3
  • Bethanie Walder1
  • James C. Aronson4,5
  • Cara R. Nelson6,7
  • James G. Hallett6,1
  • Manuel R. Guariguata8
  • Emily K. Gonzales9
  • Fangyuan Hua10
  • Cristian Echeverría11
  • Cristina Eisenberg12
  • Junguo Liu13
13 more authors
  • Kris Decleer14
  • Zoe E. Barr15
  • David C. Bartholomew16
  • Marina Best1
  • Robin L. Chazdon17
  • An Cliquet18
  • Jordi Cortina19
  • Harmender Kalirai20
  • Keith MacCallum1
  • Amarizni Mosyaftiani1
  • Simone Pedrini21
  • Renee E. Young22
  • Kingsley Wayne Dixon23
23 affiliations
  1. 1Society for Ecological Restoration Washington, D.C. 20009 U.S.A
  2. 2The Institute for Regional Conservation Delray Beach FL 33483 U.S.A
  3. 3Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia Cooma 2630 New South Wales Australia
  4. 4Center for Conservation and Sustainable Development Missouri Botanical Garden St Louis 63166 MO U.S.A
  5. 5Ecological Health Network Cambridge MA 02138 U.S.A
  6. 6Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula MT 59812 U.S.A
  7. 7Ecosystem Restoration Thematic Group, Commission on Ecosystem Management International Union for Conservation of Nature 1196 Gland Switzerland
  8. 8Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR‐ICRAF) Lima Peru
  9. 9Parks Canada 30 Victoria Street Gatineau Quebec J8X 0B3 Canada
  10. 10Institute of Ecology and State Key Laboratory of Vegetation Structure, Functions and Construction (VegLab), College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University Beijing 100871 China
  11. 11Laboratory of Landscape Ecology, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
  12. 12Ecocultural Resources, LLC Corvallis OR 97330 U.S.A
  13. 13Yellow River Research Institute North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power Zhengzhou 450046 China
  14. 14Research Institute for Nature and Forest Herman Teirlinckgebouw Havenlaan 88 bus 73 Brussels 1000 Belgium
  15. 15The Forest School, Yale School of the Environment Yale University 360 Prospect Street New Haven CT 06511 U.S.A
  16. 16The Global Biodiversity Standard Botanic Gardens Conservation International Descanso House, 199 Kew Road Richmond TW9 3BW U.K
  17. 17Forest Research Institute University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs Queensland Australia
  18. 18Department of European, Public and International Law (EPIL) Ghent University Universiteitstraat 4 9000 Ghent Belgium
  19. 19Department of Ecology and IMEM University of Alicante Alicante Spain
  20. 20SCOR SE 5 Avenue Kléber 75795 Paris Cedex 16 France
  21. 21School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Perth Western Australia Australia
  22. 22Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute Perth Western Australia Australia
  23. 23School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Perth Western Australia 6009 Australia
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Abstract

Introduction Growth in understanding of ecological restoration necessitates updated guidance for effective, equitable, and outcome‐oriented restoration across terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine ecosystems. The third edition of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration provides an expanded, evidence‐based framework for ecological restoration aligned with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and other global frameworks. Objectives This revision clarifies terminology, updates Principles with current science and practice, provides expanded Standards of Practice, and improves the Five‐star System. Methods While key elements of the previous version were retained, substantial revisions were made. Results This document synthesizes eight Principles of ecological restoration and details Standards of Practice spanning assessment, planning, implementation, ongoing management, and monitoring and evaluation. Standards are applicable across ecosystems and biomes, sectors, and diverse social and cultural contexts. Included are: (1) a clarified definition of ecological restoration emphasizing recovery of native ecosystems; (2) refined terminology and updated Standards of Practice; (3) zero‐star baselines and increased quantification of the Five‐star System; (4) an updated Restorative Continuum that refines the relationships between restorative activities and major restoration types and illustrates application to all major ecosystem types; and (5) expanded discussion of several complex topics. Conclusions Applying the SER Standards can help reduce risk and uncertainty and enhance ecological restoration outcomes, including creating synergies with other restorative and conservation activities.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{gann2026international,
  title = {{International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Third edition}},
  author = {George D. Gann and Tein McDonald and Bethanie Walder and James C. Aronson and Cara R. Nelson and James G. Hallett and Manuel R. Guariguata and Emily K. Gonzales and Fangyuan Hua and Cristian Echeverría and Cristina Eisenberg and Junguo Liu and Kris Decleer and Zoe E. Barr and David C. Bartholomew and Marina Best and Robin L. Chazdon and An Cliquet and Jordi Cortina and Harmender Kalirai and Keith MacCallum and Amarizni Mosyaftiani and Simone Pedrini and Renee E. Young and Kingsley Wayne Dixon},
  journal = {Restoration Ecology},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1111/rec.70441},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70441},
  note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - International principles and standards for the practice of ecological restoration. Third edition
AU  - George D. Gann
AU  - Tein McDonald
AU  - Bethanie Walder
AU  - James C. Aronson
AU  - Cara R. Nelson
AU  - James G. Hallett
AU  - Manuel R. Guariguata
AU  - Emily K. Gonzales
AU  - Fangyuan Hua
AU  - Cristian Echeverría
AU  - Cristina Eisenberg
AU  - Junguo Liu
AU  - Kris Decleer
AU  - Zoe E. Barr
AU  - David C. Bartholomew
AU  - Marina Best
AU  - Robin L. Chazdon
AU  - An Cliquet
AU  - Jordi Cortina
AU  - Harmender Kalirai
AU  - Keith MacCallum
AU  - Amarizni Mosyaftiani
AU  - Simone Pedrini
AU  - Renee E. Young
AU  - Kingsley Wayne Dixon
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/01
JO  - Restoration Ecology
DO  - 10.1111/rec.70441
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.70441
AB  - Introduction Growth in understanding of ecological restoration necessitates updated guidance for effective, equitable, and outcome‐oriented restoration across terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine ecosystems. The third edition of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration provides an expanded, evidence‐based framework for ecological restoration aligned with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and other global frameworks. Objectives This revision clarifies terminology, updates Principles with current science and practice, provides expanded Standards of Practice, and improves the Five‐star System. Methods While key elements of the previous version were retained, substantial revisions were made. Results This document synthesizes eight Principles of ecological restoration and details Standards of Practice spanning assessment, planning, implementation, ongoing management, and monitoring and evaluation. Standards are applicable across ecosystems and biomes, sectors, and diverse social and cultural contexts. Included are: (1) a clarified definition of ecological restoration emphasizing recovery of native ecosystems; (2) refined terminology and updated Standards of Practice; (3) zero‐star baselines and increased quantification of the Five‐star System; (4) an updated Restorative Continuum that refines the relationships between restorative activities and major restoration types and illustrates application to all major ecosystem types; and (5) expanded discussion of several complex topics. Conclusions Applying the SER Standards can help reduce risk and uncertainty and enhance ecological restoration outcomes, including creating synergies with other restorative and conservation activities.
SN  - 1061-2971
SN  - 1526-100X
ER  -