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Progressive scholars have found in community-engaged research and participatory methodologies a synergistic approach for pursuing transformative co-production of knowledge to understand the complexity of critical social and environmental issues. According to Jasanooff (2004), the co-production of knowledge is "the simultaneous process through which modern societies form their epistemic and normative understandings of the world." This dissertation project has sought the co-production of geographic knowledge in socio-environmental research on stream restoration, co-produced between academics and community activists in Medellin, Colombia. Specifically, the intent of the research has been to examine the latent power of affect and feeling to promote the ecological care of streams and their surrounding basins, and to understand the possibilities of mapping the desires that local ecological actors have for stream restoration. Papers one and two also made key contributions to understanding how environmental and social actors surrounding La Honda stream are or could contribute to a scenario of the stream basin’s ecological care. In paper three I detailed my work on the ElAtlas initiative. There I documented the rich historical process we went through to build ElAtlas. I described how the initiative involved the convergence of different participatory approaches in GIS, such as Public Participatory GIS (PPGIS), and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI), and richly detailed the three different stages of the initiative. / Geography

The terms restoration ecology and ecological restoration are used interchangeably confusing the definition and work of ecological restoration and its many components. Restoration ecology is a type of scientific practice whose work will be a component of a restoration project while ecological restoration is the sum of practices, social, historical and ecological that constitute the field of restoration (Higgs, 2005). Within our rapidly urbanizing society the role of ecological restoration and restoring ecosystem services is increasingly important, especially within our coastal cities. The goals of restoration differ when the classification of restoration techniques is by ecosystem service, not ecological function, framing restoration around people’s use of the ecosystem, not the ecosystems needs. The problems faced in restoration work affect social, historical and ecological aspects that reach beyond the physical and political boundaries of the restoration site. Ecological restorationists need to understand the differences in framing that a non-universal definition for ecological restoration creates, while also understanding how to bridge these differences. One solution is graphic communication and representation of the different components that scientists and non-scientists alike can understand. This study uses restoration project plans to illustrate the goals within projects, and shows where the goals of scientists and designers conflict and harmonize. Shown through map overlays and graphics, this comparison provides professionals within the field, with resources and illustrations to better communicate. In addition, graphics and matrices will illustrate key terms, concepts and the intersection of restoration types with habitat types, ecosystem services and social components. In conclusion, this study addresses differences in ways of learning, and kinds of knowledge other than science needed in ecological restoration projects, and uses graphics to bridge these gaps.

The main goals of this study were to document the structural and functional recovery of differently restored areas, to understand better the relationship between the two, and to determine which types of measurements are best for assessing restoration success. To address these questions, an experimental system was created through topsoil removal and subsequent restoration in a blocked, completely randomized design using two levels of soil amendment (with or without 10 kg of leaf mulch per m2) and three levels of seeding treatment (no seed, a standard reclamation mix, and an alternative, wildflower dominated reclamation mix). All measurements were designed to document responses due to restoration treatment in comparison to adjacent, undisturbed, reference sites. Vegetation structure in amended sites, as measured by total vegetation cover and species richness, recovered to levels similar to references within the two years of the study. Plant community composition did not develop similarity to references in any experimental treatments. Both soil amendment and seeding type affected cellulose decomposition rates, with amended plots showing higher decomposition rates than unamended, and seeded plots exhibiting higher rates than unseeded. Enzyme activities were largely determined by soil amendment, but the reference plots consistently had higher enzymatic activity. Amended sites exhibited significant increases over time in soil respiration, reaching or surpassing the rates observed in reference areas. Methane oxidation rates were generally increased in disturbed plots compared to undisturbed references due to increased atmospheric diffusion into the soil. Amended areas exhibited depressed rates relative to unamended, and seeding level had no significant effect on methane oxidation. Over all measurements, restoration of ecosystem function was most facilitated by the addition of the soil amendment. Seeding treatment significantly altered the resultant plant community, which may have substantial, long-term consequences for succession. The inclusion of functional parameters into restoration assessment provides for better overall information concerning ecosystem performance and may add to the ability to predict long-term success of restoration efforts. / Ph. D.

In spite of the relative simple vegetation structure, the Grassland biome has surprisingly high species diversity. The Grassland biome is also the most transformed biome in South Africa, with cultivation having the largest impact. When croplands are abandoned, secondary succession leads to low diversity Hyparrhenia hirta dominated grassland. A combination of two seed mixtures, two seeding densities and two establishment methods was established in plots on a recently abandoned cropland at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve to evaluate their effect on secondary succession. The rip plots, where more resources were available between the rip lines, have shown higher densities of relic weeds as well as local perennials, showing some progressive successional movement. However, Hyparrhenia hirta was one of the non-sown perennials increasing in the rip plots. Hyparrhenia invasion and relic weeds were best controlled in the plough plots. Although Hyparrhenia was successfully controlled in plough plots, no secondary succession occurred in these treatments. / Agriculture, Animal Health & Human Ecology / M. Tech. (Nature Conservation)

Em todo o mundo, a conservação de savanas é menos valorizada que a de florestas. No Cerrado Brasileiro, majoritariamente composto por savanas, a expansão de plantações florestais é uma ameaça à biodiversidade. Entender o impacto dessas plantações na comunidade nativa e como restaurá-las quando os plantios são abandonados é uma demanda relevante. O principal objetivo do estudo foi avaliar se, em plantações florestais de pinus abandonadas, é possível restaurar a vegetação nativa de savanas ou se há necessidade de manejo após o abandono. Foram avaliadas três práticas recorrentes de restauração em plantações florestais: áreas abandonadas em que as árvores de pinus são mantidas em pé (pinus abandonado), áreas com corte raso de pinus seguido de abandono (restauração passiva) e áreas em que, após o corte raso do pinus, foram plantadas árvores nativas e controladas as gramíneas exóticas (restauração ativa). As práticas foram comparadas entre si e com cerrado típico (savana natural primária) e cerradão (savana adensada pela exclusão do fogo), em duas regiões (Assis e Mogi-Guaçu - SP). Foram avaliados o estrato arbóreo (DAP &#8805; 5 cm) e o arbustivo e arbóreo regenerante (DAP < 5 cm e H &#8805; 50 cm). A densidade de ervas não graminides, a riqueza de ervas graminóides e não graminóides, a cobertura do solo por vegetação nativa e por gramíneas exóticas e a cobertura de dossel foram avaliadas em Assis - SP. As espécies foram classificadas em típicas de savana, florestais e generalistas. O pinus abandonado apresentou menores valores de densidade, área basal e riqueza geral e de espécies típicas de savana para o estrato arbóreo. O estrato arbustivo e arbóreo regenerante não variou em densidade e riqueza em função das técnicas de restauração, embora a densidade tenha sido sempre menor do que a de savanas primárias. Restauração passiva e ativa apresentaram riqueza de espécies típicas de savana, no estrato arbóreo, semelhantes à savana primária. Entretanto, apenas a restauração passiva apresentou densidade semelhante à referência para espécies típicas de savana. Nenhuma prática de restauração foi eficaz para restaurar a comunidade herbácea e todas tiveram alta cobertura de dossel e presença de espécies florestais e generalistas. No decorrer do estudo, o pinus abandonado e a restauração passiva em Mogi-Guaçu - SP sofreram um incêndio e avaliamos o papel do fogo para a restauração do estrato herbáceo, comparando as duas práticas com savanas primárias e com a restauração ativa, que não queimou. Foram avaliadas a riqueza e a similaridade florística do estrato herbáceo e a cobertura do solo por herbáceas nativas e por gramíneas exóticas. Savanas primárias apresentaram composição florística diferente e maior riqueza que as áreas em restauração. A restauração passiva associada à queima resultou em maior cobertura por herbáceas nativas e mais espécies em comum com as savanas primárias do que a restauração ativa sem fogo. Entretanto, ambas as práticas de restauração resultaram em maior cobertura por gramíneas exóticas do que nas savanas primárias. Conclui-se que o corte do pinus seguido de abandono é mais eficaz à restauração da comunidade lenhosa típica de cerrado do que as demais técnicas comparadas. Porém, devido à ausência do fogo, as áreas tenderão a formar fisionomias florestais no futuro, sem a presença da comunidade herbácea nativa. A ocorrência do fogo nas áreas de Mogi-Guaçu reforça a importância das queimas para a restauração da comunidade herbácea típica do Cerrado. / Throughout the world, savanna conservation is less valued than is forest conservation. The Brazilian Cerrado, which is mostly composed by savannas, is having its biodiversity threatened by the expansion of forest plantations. Thus, it is relevant to understand how those plantations affects native communities and how to restore those areas when plantations are abandoned. The main objective of the study was to evaluate whether abandoned pine plantations can restore the native savannas or if there is a need for management for the restoration to take place. Three recurrent restoration practices in forest plantations were evaluated: abandoned pine plantations where pine trees are kept standing (abandoned pine plantation), areas abandoned after pinus harvesting (passive restoration) and areas with native tree seedling plantation and grasses control after pinus harvesting (active restoration). The practices were compared among themselves and to old-growth savanna and cerradão (encroached savanna), in two regions (Assis - SP and Mogi-Guaçu - SP). We evaluated trees (DBH &#8805; 5 cm) and woody natural regeneration (DBH < 5 cm and H &#8805; 50). Nongraminoid species density, richness of grasses and nongraminoid species, ground cover by native vegetation and by exotic grasses, and canopy cover were evaluated in Assis - SP. Surveyed individuals were classified as savanna, forest and generalist species. Abandoned pine plantation had the lowest tree density and general basal area and richness, as well as the lowest richness for savanna tree species. Woody natural regeneration did not vary in density and richness among restoration practices, although density was lower compared to the old-growth savanna. Community richness for savanna tree species was similar among passive and active restorations and old-growth savanna. However, only the passive restoration presented tree density similar to the reference for savanna species. No restoration practice was effective for the restoration of the native herbaceous community, and all practices had high canopy cover and presence of forest and generalist species. During the study, abandoned pine plantation and passive restoration in Mogi-Guaçu - SP burned and we evaluated the role of fire for the restoration of the native herbaceous community. We compared the herbaceous community richness and floristic similarity of the two restoration practices to old-growth savannas and to the active restoration, which did not burn. Ground cover by native herbs and by exotic grasses were also evaluated. The old-growth savannas are floristically different and have a greater richness than restoration sites. The burned passive restoration had more species in common with the old-growth savannas and a higher ground cover by native herbs than active restoration without fire. However, both restoration practices had higher ground cover by exotic grasses than old-growth savannas. We conclude that pine harvesting followed by passive restoration was the most effective practice for the restoration of the Cerrado native woody community. However, due to the lack of fire, areas tend to become forest physiognomies without native herbs in the future. The fire in the Mogi-Guaçu highlighted the importance of fire for the Cerrado native herbaceous community restoration.

O Estado de São Paulo passou por um longo processo de degradação e fragmentação, fruto de um modelo de desenvolvimento que baseou sua ampliação agrícola e urbana na derrubada de ecossistemas florestais nativos. A necessidade de aumento na cobertura florestal do estado é reconhecida há muito tempo, principalmente em razão da relação intrínseca entre água e matas, especialmente no caso das matas ciliares. Essa questão gerou ao logo dos anos o aprimoramento do conhecimento técnico na área de restauração, mas este avanço não foi acompanhado de reflexões a respeito de questões sociais, econômicas e políticas. As diversas políticas públicas e instrumentos agrícolas e florestais vigentes não trazem em seu escopo a preocupação com a realidade socioeconômica ou com o desenvolvimento rural. O presente trabalho procurou analisar, através do estudo de caso em duas microbacias hidrográficas do estado de São Paulo, Ribeirão Campestre no município de Saltinho e Córrego Santo Antônio em Jaú, o desenvolvimento áreas de mata ciliar implantadas por quatro instrumentos e políticas públicas de restauração ecológica de matas ciliares em pequenas e médias propriedades. Buscou-se compreender o contexto em que os diferentes instrumentos e políticas de restauração de matas ciliares ocorreram procurando correlacionar indicadores ecológicos de desenvolvimento de áreas de mata ciliar em restauração, com a percepção e o envolvimento dos proprietários rurais nos diversos processos de restauração de matas ciliares estudados. Desta maneira, a partir dos resultados, foi possível demonstrar que conhecer o perfil e a percepção dos proprietários rurais envolvidos em políticas públicas de restauração de matas ciliares é essencial para a para produção de conhecimentos relacionados à restauração de matas ciliares e de políticas públicas relacionadas. / The State of São Paulo has gone through a long process of deterioration and fragmentation, due to the model of development of agricultural and urban expansion based on the destruction of native forest ecosystem. The need to increase the forest covering in the state has been clear for quite some time, especially due to the intrinsic relationship between water and forests, most notably in riparian forests. With time, this issue gave rise to the refinement of technical knowledge in the area of restoration. However, this progress was not accompanied by discussions on social, economic and political issues. The various public policies, laws and regulations in the agricultural and forest area now in place fail to express any concern with socioeconomic reality or with rural development. This text represents an attempt to analyze a case study in two micro-river basins in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, namely, Ribeirão Campestre, in the municipality of Saltinho and Córrego Santo Antônio, in the municipality of Jaú. Specifically, the development of riparian forest areas implemented by four legal instruments and public policies of ecological restoration of riparian forests in small and medium-sized landholdings were investigated. Searched was made to understand the context in which different legal instruments and policies for restoring riparian forests occurred, and ecological indicators of the development of riparian forest areas in restoration were correlated with the perception and involvement of rural landowners in several different processes of restoration of riparian forests. Thus, based on the results, it was possible to demonstrate that understand the profile and perception of landowners involved in riparian forests restoration public policy is essential to the production of knowledge related to riparian forests restoration of and related public policies.