Succession and stages of ecosystem restoration

Succession and stages of ecosystem restoration

Restoration is the acceleration of natural processes, not their replacement.

Any ecosystem develops gradually. It doesn't emerge suddenly as a mature forest, an orchard, or rich soil. Nature experiences successive stages of development, each preparing the way for the next.

This process is calledecological succession.

Succession is one of the fundamental mechanisms of self-organization in the biosphere. It ensures the transition from open and poor substrates to complex, resilient ecosystems with high biodiversity, developed soils, and stable water and nutrient cycles.

In the DREVO model, the human task is not to replace natural succession with artificial technologies, but to understand its patterns, remove obstacles, and safely accelerate natural development.

The main principle:

Each stage of recovery must create the conditions for the next stage. It is impossible to skip stages without losing the stability of the future system.

1. What is succession?

Ecological succession is a gradual change in the composition of organisms, ecosystem structure and environmental conditions over time.

During succession, the following change simultaneously:

geochemical processes;

water regime;

soil formation;

composition of microorganisms;

fungal communities;

vegetation;

animal world;

microclimate;

circulation of substances;

stability of the entire system.

Each stage creates an environment in which subsequent forms of life become possible.

2. Primary and secondary succession

Primary succession

It begins where there is practically no proper soil.

Examples:

volcanic lava fields;

rock surfaces;

glacial deposits;

fresh sand dunes;

man-made waste dumps;

outcrop.

Here it is necessary to form the soil practically from scratch.

Secondary succession

It begins where the soil is completely or partially preserved.

Examples:

cut down forests;

abandoned agricultural lands;

areas after fires;

former pastures;

degraded forest-steppes;

abandoned gardens.

Such areas are restored much faster thanks to the preserved seed bank, microorganisms and soil profile.

3. The basic law of succession

Each stage creates the conditions for the next.

Pioneer species change the environment.

They:

retain dust;

retain water;

create organic matter;

reduce surface temperature;

reduce wind speed;

create microenvironments;

form the first soil horizons.

After this, more demanding plants become possible.

Therefore, pioneer species cannot be considered "weeds" just because they are temporarily dominant.

In many cases, it is they who begin the restoration of the entire territory.

4. DREVO Recovery Sequence

The DREVO model identifies eight main stages of ecosystem development.

Stage 0. Disturbed area

Characteristic features:

destroyed soil cover;

loss of organic matter;

active erosion;

disturbed water regime;

extremely low biodiversity.

Main objective:

stop further destruction.

Stage 1. Mineral surface

Predominant:

sand;

stones;

regolith;

outcrop.

Life is represented by individual microorganisms.

Main goal:

create conditions for the first organisms.

Stage 2. Pioneer ecosystem

Appears:

bacteria;

cyanobacteria;

lichens;

mosses;

the first herbs.

Main processes:

accumulation of organic matter;

dust retention;

beginning of soil formation.

Stage 3. Grass community

Developing:

perennial herbs;

legumes;

ground cover plants;

first pollinators.

The soil begins to actively recover.

Stage 4. Bush stage

Appears:

shrubs;

tree pioneers;

berry species;

protective strips.

The microclimate is improving.

Water retention increases.

Stage 5. Young forest

The following are being formed:

tree canopy;

undergrowth;

forest litter;

mushroom nets;

young soil horizons.

The internal circulation of substances begins to work.

Stage 6. Mature forest

Appears:

several tiers;

old trees;

dead wood;

natural regeneration;

stable microclimate;

rich soil life.

The ecosystem becomes significantly less dependent on external intervention.

Stage 7. Forest garden

After a stable natural basis has been established, productive species are gradually introduced.

Appears:

fruit trees;

nut crops;

medicinal plants;

food shrubs;

mushrooms;

honey plants.

The main difference between a forest garden and a garden is that productivity is based on an already formed natural system.

5. Changes at each stage

During succession, several processes occur simultaneously.

Soil

Increases:

depth;

organic matter;

quantity of mushrooms;

number of microorganisms;

porosity;

moisture capacity.

Water

Increasing:

infiltration;

moisture retention;

groundwater recharge;

air humidity.

Decreases:

flow rate;

surface erosion.

Climate

Gradually decreasing:

surface overheating;

wind speed;

temperature changes.

A stable microclimate is formed.

Biodiversity

Increases:

number of species;

number of ecological niches;

complexity of food chains;

system stability.

6. The role of pioneer species

Pioneer plants have unique properties.

They are capable of:

to endure extreme conditions;

quickly populate vacant areas;

improve soil structure;

retain moisture;

create organic matter;

prepare a place for trees.

Restoration projects should not unnecessarily destroy such communities.

In many cases, it is more correct to use them as natural assistants.

7. Transition to the arboreal stage

Trees are introduced when the area is already capable of supporting them.

Before mass planting, you must ensure that:

water is retained;

erosion has been stopped;

the grass cover has been formed;

soil life develops;

shrubs or tree pioneers appeared.

Early planting of large numbers of trees on completely degraded land often results in high plant mortality and unnecessary costs.

8. The principle of natural acceleration

DREVO uses methods that accelerate natural succession:

restoration of water regime;

mulching;

cover crops;

creation of microclimate;

use of local pioneer species;

return of organic matter;

development of fungal communities;

preservation of seed trees;

protection of natural undergrowth.

Every intervention should enhance natural processes, not replace them.

9. Mosaic succession

In nature, different areas develop at different rates.

Even in a small area, the following can exist simultaneously:

open areas;

meadows;

shrub communities;

young forest;

mature forest;

wet areas;

rocky areas.

This diversity increases the stability of the entire system.

The DREVO project avoids creating completely homogeneous plantings.

10. Reverse succession

An ecosystem can move not only forward, but also backward.

The reasons may be:

fires;

pollution;

overgrazing;

felling;

salinization;

change in water regime;

invasive species;

climate change.

Therefore, recovery requires constant monitoring.

11. Natural renewal

One of the main indicators of successful succession is the ability of an area to independently reproduce vegetation.

Evaluated:

self-seeding of trees;

undergrowth;

spread of shrubs;

renewal of grass stand;

preservation of mushroom networks;

the emergence of new generations of plants.

If the system requires constant replanting of most plants, then succession is not yet complete.

12. Indicators of ecosystem maturity

As development progresses, the following increase:

soil thickness;

organic matter content;

number of tiers;

number of large trees;

volume of dead wood;

variety of mushrooms;

number of pollinators;

drought resistance;

natural regeneration.

These indicators are more important than the age of the plantings.

13. The role of man

In the early stages, human participation is most active.

As the ecosystem develops, interference gradually decreases.

The sequence is as follows:

Protect the territory.

Stop the destruction.

Restore water.

Restore the soil.

Support pioneer species.

Help tree communities.

Observe.

Support natural processes.

An ideal system is one that, after several decades, requires only periodic maintenance and monitoring.

14. Time Horizons

Succession is measured in decades and centuries.

Approximate dynamics:

Each territory develops at its own rate depending on climate, soil, water and the degree of degradation.

15. The main criterion for successful succession

The main result of restoration is not the number of trees planted or the speed of greening.

Success is determined by the fact that the ecosystem begins to independently:

retain water;

create soil;

renew vegetation;

maintain biodiversity;

protect yourself from erosion;

adapt to change;

to form new generations of organisms.

The final principle of DREVO

Succession is the language in which nature regenerates itself.

A person should not rewrite this language, but should learn to understand it, remove obstacles and help natural processes develop faster, preserving their internal logic.

This is why each restored territory is viewed not as a completed object, but as a living system that will continue to change, become more complex, and pass on its accumulated resilience to future generations.