The Ten Principles of Ecological Restoration...

PRINCIPLE THREE

Utilize pioneer species and natural succession to facilitate the restoration process

When a forest community colonizes an area of open ground, there is a process of plant succession that takes place, beginning with the pioneer species. These species typically are fast growing and short lived. Seeds are widely dispersed and their successful colonization creates a new set of environmental conditions that enable the next stage in the procession to take root. This is a very dynamic process and creates new niches for the organisms that are adapted to exploit rapidly changing ecological factors.