Achieving more with less – linking ecological restoration investments with ecological restoration research infrastructure: Discussion Paper

Australian governments and communities are investing in a broad range of ecological restoration programs. A key challenge for these programs is quantifying achievements and improving our capacity to implement cost-effective restoration outcomes that are sustainable and resilient within changing landscapes and climates. We propose a national Platform for Ecological Restoration Research Infrastructure (PERRI), to advance ecological restoration in Australia by enabling and coordinating collaboration among policy-makers, practitioners and researchers. The primary objective of PERRI is to embed nationally integrated research infrastructure (small, well-designed experimental plantings) within local ecological restoration programs. Such infrastructure would address key ecological management questions at national scales, enable predictions and improve outcomes in future programs. Costs of the research infrastructure and monitoring would be minimised by capitalising on restoration efforts already funded through restoration programs, with additional resourcing sought through a cost-sharing model. This coordinated platform of research infrastructure, monitoring, evaluation, and collaborative engagement in restoration initiatives would be integrated nationally to facilitate knowledge sharing and up-scaling of learning. The platform would also form a foundation on which to build additional research and learning through complementary funding sources.