Ecosystem Restoration - 2024 AGTA Conference, Darwin

James Heafey and I presented a session on Ecosystem Restoration - Engaging students in Geography through ecosystem restoration projects, at the recent Australian Geography Teachers Association conference. As it turned out, this was a really relevant topic for the conference - there was a sand dune restoration project not even a kilometre from one of the hotels I stayed in, and while in Kakadu I flew over the Ranger Uranium mine, currently undergoing rehabilitation. Does the Ranger example even count as ecosystem restoration? I think not, but it is worth including it in the discussion, and asking some questions...

This presentation has built on the work of a number of Geography and Science teachers over the last few years who have worked on some of these projects.

​Click the image below to view the full presentation.

  2021-2030 is the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Ecosystem restoration refers to initiatives that assist in the recovery of degraded ecosystems and in some cases conserving ecosystems still intact. It seeks to initiate or accelerate ecosystem recovery following damage, degradation or destruction, and involves creating the conditions needed for recovery. Actions related to ecosystem restoration could include altering landforms, planting vegetation, removing invasive species, changing hydrology, etc.

Ecosystem restoration activities can be short or long term, but it will take a long time before the ecosystem can become self-organising again. The process of restoration may take years or decades. Ecosystem restoration projects are an excellent opportunity to improve student engagement in Geography, Science, Marine Studies and STEM, and provide a real world context for students to apply their knowledge and skills in a meaningful way.

Criticisms of Geography can be that it tends to be very problems focused. We often study an environment or an issue, the geographical processes related to it, the various issues and implications related to a problem, and then right at the end (often when we have lost student interest) we start exploring possible solutions and ways of addressing sustainability. 

A focus on ecosystem restoration projects, enables students to explore positive activities that are occurring in their community, and then explore what those solutions are addressing, the processes and the environment. It is almost turning the learning on its head and provides an almost "positive psychology" approach to learning about environments and Geography. 

Currently in Sydney there are a range of ecosystem restoration projects underway that are having regular successes, regularly receive positive media attention, and are winning awards. Seabirds to Seascapes is a three-year project, led by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). It aims to bring important ecosystems and marine wildlife back to the harbour.

Seabirds to Seascapes consistes of three main projects:
Project Restore – restoration of Sydney Harbour seascapes through installing Living Seawalls and replanting sea grasses and kelp.
Penguin census – counting little penguins and monitoring breeding colonies and their foraging behaviours along the NSW coast.
Seal survey – monitoring Australian and New Zealand fur seal populations in New South Wales.

It involves a range of government organisations, research institutions and community groups including: DCCEEW's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Biodiversity, Conservation and Science Division (BCS), Science, Economics and Insights (SEI), Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS - University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University, the University of NSW and the University of Sydney), Taronga Conservation Society  (penguin count and seal census), CSIRO, Marine conservation groups and Gamay Rangers. 

Beyond Sydney and the Seabirds to Seascapes projects, there are a wide range of organisations involved in ecosystem restoration projects, many which have been operating over a long period and which already provide opportunities for schools and student involvement. Landcare and Greening Australia are the obvious examples, and tree planting is an activity students have been involved with for many years. WetlandCare Australia, and OzFish are involved in a range of projects.

New York Harbour School and the Billion Oyster Project

In. exploring ways that schools might be able to get involved in the ecosystem restoration projects occurring in Sydney, I came across the New York Harbour School and Billion Oyster Project.

The New York Harbour School connects the school - located on an island in the NY harbour on Governors Island, with learning - both theoretical and practical, about ecosystem restoration. Students are introduced to the of study of aquaculture, marine biology research, marine policy and advocacy, marine systems technology, ocean engineering, professional diving, and vessel operations in addition to their traditional high school coursework.

Billion Oyster Project is restoring oyster reefs to New York Harbor in collaboration with New York City communities. Oyster reefs provide habitat for hundreds of species, and can protect our city from storm damage — softening the blow of large waves, reducing flooding, and preventing erosion along the shorelines. Field stations are restoration sites where  Billion Oyster Project, or our partner organizations, host regular field days utilizing an oyster installation. They are targeted for long-term community and student engagement with an emphasis on local involvement.
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- Billion Oyster Project website

The New York Harbour School and Billion Oyster Project provide an example of student involvement in an ecosystem restoration project that is driving the learning of the whole school. This isn't a realistic expectation for most of us, and most schools, but what can we achieve in a normal mainstream school, with limited time and limited budget?

Schools Foreshore Project

Read about student involvement in the Balmain Foreshore Project: 
Balmain Foreshore Project - Introduction
Gardening Below the Surface - Operation Posidonia
Balmain Foreshore Project - Trial Activities
Balmain Foreshore Project - Implementation
Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls
​Balmain Foreshore Project - Living Seawalls: Pre-Installation Biodiversity Survey
Balmain Foreshore Project - Launch and 2023 Reflection
​Balmain Foreshore Project - Bush care, Year 9 2024

Click the image below to view the Balmain Foreshore Project section of the presentation.

Below are the Year 9 and 10 student worksheets. Click the download button to view them full size.

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View the Balmain Foreshore Project website here:
sites.google.com/education.nsw.gov.au/balmain-foreshore-project/home

​Work is now underway to introduce a Hunters Hill Foreshore Project, based at Hunters Hill High school. Initial meetings have taken place and funding is currently being sought. This project will focus on mangroves, and the installation of Living Seawalls, but will link the project with the new Senior Geography syllabus implementation.