Society for Ecological Restoration

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The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) International is a non-profit organization with 2300 members, both individual and organizations, that are actively engaged in ecologically-sensitive repair and management of ecosystems through an unusually broad array of experience, knowledge sets and cultural perspectives. They are scientists, planners, administrators, ecological consultants, first peoples, landscape architects, philosophers, teachers, engineers, natural areas managers, writers, growers, community activists, and volunteers, among others.

Founded in 1988, the SER International now boasts members in 37 countries and all 50 US states, with 14 chapters serving regions of North America, England, Europe, Australia and India. Recognized by public and private enterprises as the source for expertise on restoration science, practice and policy, the Society achieves its objectives through cooperation with partner organizations and the work of its worldwide membership. The Society for Ecological Restoration International is a registered not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)3 of the US Internal Revenue Code, and all contributions are fully tax-deductible.

SER International does not itself engage in restoration projects; its mission is:

"to promote ecological restoration as a means of sustaining the diversity of life on Earth and reestablishing
an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture."

To that end, the Society serves the growing field of Ecological Restoration through facilitating dialogue among restorationists; encouraging research; promoting awareness of and public support for restoration and restorative management; contributing to public policy discussions; recognizing those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of restoration; and, of course, promoting ecological restoration around the globe through:

Conferences are the lifeblood of the Society, where members convene to exchange ideas and information, and participate in SER workshops, fieldtrips and other activities. The Society hosts and cosponsors several conferences a year, and many SER chapters also offer regional conferences and meetings.

Journals have steadily defined and refined the field. Restoration Ecology, initiated by the Society in 1993, is offered to SER members at reduced rates. The Society's scientific and technical journal, it is peer-reviewed by a 30-member Editorial Board which includes eminent scholars from around the world. Primary emphases include: research on restoration and ecological principles that help explain restoration processes, descriptions of techniques that the authors have pioneered and that are likely to be of use to other practicing restorationists, and reviews of articles that summarize literature on specialized aspects of restoration. Ecological Restoration the indispensable practitioner's guide, has served the field since 1981, summarizing current projects and techniques, and offering thought-provoking philosophical essays. Subscription to ER is provided as a service to SER members. Both journals are published quarterly.

Restoration Networks are fast becoming the heart of this emerging field which is now recognized as an essential element in the solution to our global environmental crisis. The Indigenous Peoples Restoration Network (IPRN) was created in order to promote the appropriate uses of traditional ecological knowledge as a guiding principle in restoring the environment and culture of indigenous peoples. The Global Restoration Network (GRN) offers a comprehensive web portal to every aspect of ecological restoration, including case studies, databases, scientific papers, resource and expertise directories as well as podcasts and webcasts on a wide range of topics related to ecological degradation, conservation and restoration.

Website (www.ser.org), Newsletter & eBulletin continue to evolve as important forums for communication, outreach and the exchange of vital information. The SER International website, which includes the IPRN and GRN websites, provides the general public with an invaluable and comprehensive resource on ecological restoration and related issues. The quarterly Newsletter keeps members up-to-date on the good work of the Society and its chapters while the weekly eBulletin - RESTORE - offers annotated links to the latest news stories from around the world.

Committees & Working Groups provide leadership opportunities within the Society and steer the following programs: Awards honors and recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the field; Education & Training advances the field by overseeing the Training Program and initiating educational programs for the Society; Publications advances the field by producing and overseeing publications on key restoration topics; and Science & Policy promotes excellence in research and contributes to the policy dialogue on ecological restoration as a conservation tool.