| Institution: | 1. Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0810, Australia;2. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Northern Territory Government, Darwin, Northern Territory 0828, Australia
Kakadu National Park, Parks Australia, Jabiru, Northern Territory 0886, Australia;3. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Northern Territory Government, Darwin, Northern Territory 0828, Australia |
| Abstract: | Assessments of ecosystem restoration have traditionally focused on soil and vegetation, often with little consideration of fauna. It is critical to include fauna in such assessments, not just because of their intrinsic biodiversity value but also because of the many ecological roles that animals play in restoration processes. However, a widely accepted framework for specifying faunal standards for restoration is lacking. Here we present such a framework, incorporating: (1) the identification of appropriate reference conditions; (2) the taxa to be targeted for assessment; (3) the attributes of these taxa to be measured; (4) acceptable similarity with reference conditions; and (5) robust sampling methodologies for reliable assessment. We illustrate this framework using the restoration program at Ranger Uranium Mine in the Australian seasonal tropics, which aims to establish an environment similar to the surrounding World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, corresponding to “full recovery” according to Society for Ecosystem Restoration's standards. Our case study has especially high restoration standards, but our framework has wide applicability to the specification of faunal standards for ecosystem restoration. |
