Restoration
ecology
(Revegetation)

Ecological restoration is the process of renewing ecosystems that have been destroyed or damaged by human intervention and activity or through natural events. These disturbance events alter the species’ composition, nutrient cycling and soil properties.

Revegetation gives an ecosystem greater water and air filtration, erosion control and nutrient recycling. It helps achieve large scale biodiversity outcomes, such as increases in indigenous birds and invertebrates and leads to ecosystem resilience.

Native planting can be used to provide a range of benefits in ecological restoration projects including:

• Stabilising soil

• Recreating vegetation linkages and sequences

• Protecting and enhancing water quality

• Increasing native biodiversity

• Creating habitat for native wildlife (insects, frogs, reptiles and birds); and

• Creating landscapes with amenity e.g. providing connection with nature, a sense of place and even New Zealand identity.