The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER)

Practice - (Community-based Restoration, NPS, MS-CES, BLM, UNCCD, Certification) SER entered a Restoration in Action collaboration with Microsoft Corporation in 2023 to support their efforts to implement standards-based ecological restoration. Through this collaboration, Microsoft identifies priority locales, and then SER works with existing or new member organizations in those locales to develop and deliver standards-based restoration projects with funding from Microsoft. SER provides training, technical support, and project oversight for the local partners. SER also collects all required reporting and data from the local partners to deliver to Microsoft. In 2023, SER managed just over 14 projects in 6 countries in collaboration with Microsoft and local partners.

Networking-Outreach (World Conferences, NAC, RRC, MadWeek) SER2023: Tenth World Conference on Ecological Restoration SER hosts a biennial world conference on ecological restoration, bringing together the worlds leading researchers, practitioners, land managers, and other restoration experts to discuss new and emerging science, practice, and policy issues in restoration. SER2023 was held in Darwin, Australia, drawing more than 1000 delegates from nearly 100 countries for a week of knowledge exchange and field learning on restoration. The conference featured keynote speakers, symposia and other oral presentations, posters, community dialogs, a film festival, field trips, trainings, and extensive networking opportunities. Those who could not attend in person were invited to participate in a virtual event held a few weeks later.

Organizational Development-(Membership, Chapters, Sections, Open Doors) With more than 5,000 members in more than 100 countries, SERs global network represents the worlds foremost source of scientific and practical expertise on the repair of degraded ecosystems. SER members include scientists, engineers, planners, program managers, policy makers, landscape architects, artists, economists, volunteers, community advocates, and others. SER members work in all terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and represent governmental and nongovernmental organizations, private industry, consultancies, indigenous communities, students and more. Through this collective expertise, SER works to advance the field of ecological restoration by facilitating knowledge development and sharing among practitioners, researchers, and decision-makers. SER helps members and non- members alike share knowledge through trainings and workshops, conferences, publications, on-the-ground demonstration projects, virtual and in-person networking events, an online restoration resource center, and the worlds only Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program.

Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program: SERs Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program credentials restoration practitioners and practitioners-in- training who meet core knowledge and practice requirements and maintain those through continuing education. While actual projects are not audited on the ground, applicants are required to submit three sample projects which are reviewed for consistency with SERs International Principles and Standards, and which help certification reviewers

assess if the applicants are likely to uphold and implement best restoration practices in their projects. To date SER has certified more than 600 practitioners.

Publications: Since 1993 SER has published Restoration Ecology, the premier global journal for publishing research in this growing and important field. Restoration Ecology includes a bi-annual thematic series on restoration in arid lands, as well as a joint series with British Ecological Society on articles specifically focused on the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. SER also publishes key guidance documents, such as its International Principles and

Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration which are considered the global guide for designing, implementing, and monitoring ecological restoration projects.

POLICY SER contributes significantly to national and international policy actions through collaborations with such bodies as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The SER/IUCN biennial global fora on restoration, for example, are helping define and guide high quality restoration across the world. SER members and board

members serve on a variety of international advisory committees that also support the implementation and monitoring of ecological restoration. Through SERs Science and Policy Committee, SER chapters and global conferences, SER continues to bring increased attention to the importance of ecological restoration as a tool for addressing some of the worlds most pressing challenges - e.g. climate change, biodiversity loss, water security, rural poverty - and continues to

guide these bodies in incorporating restoration as a specific component within their activities and strategic plans. ALL Remaining: The Society for Ecological Restoration co-sponsors conferences, workshops, and other knowledge-sharing and knowledge-development events with its chapters and other like-minded NPOs that provide restorationists with cutting-edge

research, information, and tools to improve ecological restoration practices