Restoring grassy ecosystems – Feasible or fiction? An inquisitive Australian's experience in the USA

Abstract

Many small-scale projects in Australia suggest that ground-layer elements of ecosystems can be restored, but scaling up of grassland and grassy understorey restoration has not occurred to date. Paul Gibson-Roy recently travelled through the USA, where well-developed markets for restoration have created a large, financially viable native-herbaceous seed production and restoration sector. Here, he shares his observations, which show how much about the USA situation can be a model and inspiration for Australian grassy ecosystem restoration.