Ecological Restoration is a moving target
Nicoterra Trails aims for natural cycles, increased plant diversity, enriched soils: …to give Nature a boost
Challenges:
- Persistent weed seed banks
- Lack of irrigation or proximity to water
- Degraded and compacted soils
- Damaging social trails
- Increase in droughts
Nicoterra Trails approaches restoration with:
- An investment in monitoring and plant replacement through long-term site observations
- Restraint in the use of herbicides while creating conditions for native plants to outcompete exotics
- Integration of community stewardship to manage restored lands by providing recreational opportunities such as primitive trails, bird and wildlife observation points for instance
- Use of hand tools where practical
- Careful study of “boundary effects” to the site including diseased plants, and incompatible land use activities
- Research into native plant and wildlife inventories to take advantage of the best science
Our Goals in a restored site include:
- an enriched soil layer benefitted by mulch and mycorrhizae
- ecosystem enhancement through native plants to support habitat and food choices of priority species
- suppressed weed stock through shading and stewardship
Projects below:
Little Spokane River – Conservation and Trails
Covington Community Park – Trails Decommissioning
Bass-Beaver Lake Organic Restoration Enumclaw
Green River WDFW Neely Mansion historic site
NICOTERRA 