Advancing Equity in Coastal and Marine Restoration (2025-2026)
Background
Ecosystem restoration has significant potential to address global environmental challenges. Key principles of restoration are under development, including an emphasis on community engagement and augmenting the role of Indigenous and Local People (IPLC). However, many conservation efforts have led to social harm, inspiring critique of past restoration and conservation strategies and calls for more equitable future projects.
Despite increased emphasis on equity in conservation, little evidence exists to define or measure equitable outcomes for restoration projects. Further, external funding and policy making has rapidly increased for “nature-based solutions” or “blue carbon” restoration activities, which impact IPLCs.
Connecting equity outcomes and socio-economic considerations with restoration projects across ecosystems is critical to understanding the ways in which equity is defined and operationalized in restoration.
Project Description
This project team will collaborate with a global team of research and practitioner partners to understand the diverse ways that equity is currently defined and operationalized in coastal and marine restoration.
Team members will develop a database of restoration literature and materials from a collection of white papers, videos, websites, interviews and other previous research. This database will inform a literature review to understand the prevalence of “equity” within the literature and the ways equity is measured and defined.
Team members will also examine case studies of equity restoration projects, particularly “nature-based solutions” or “blue carbon projects” to better understand various views and experiences regarding equity.
The literature review and case studies will contribute to the development of an educational StoryMap that will highlight projects focused on equity. The map will be available to a wide audience and shared with the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), Blue Justice and other outlets.
Team members will also attend the SER Conference where they will meet restoration scientists and practitioners from around the world. Students will invite them to contribute their definitions and examples of equity with an interactive poster session. Students will also interview attendees actively involved in restoration in tropical marine-ecosystems.
Anticipated Outputs
Conference presentation; paper drafts for journal submission; StoryMap; policy briefs
Student Opportunities
Ideally, this project team will include 4-5 graduate students and 4-5 undergraduates with backgrounds in environmental sciences, marine sciences, policy, divinity and social sciences. All applicants should be interested in equity, environmental justice and/or ecological restoration.
Team members will learn about the growing field of restoration ecology, especially in coastal and marine contexts. Students will develop a critical lens to evaluate environmental policies and activities, understanding the funding and policy mechanisms that drive them. They will gain experience co-developing research alongside a global network of interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners through literature review, StoryMap development, interview data collection and conference engagement.
Graduate students will also be able to mentor and lead a team of undergraduate students and one graduate student will fill a project manager role.
This project has an optional summer component. One graduate student will organize literature review materials and case studies, prepare an IRB Request for Exemption and draft a poster design for the Society for Ecological Restoration Conference in late September. Exact dates are to be determined.
Some team members will have the opportunity to travel to Denver, Colorado, for the Society for Ecological Restoration World Conference in late September 2025. Team members may also travel in Spring of 2026 to the Blue Justice meeting.
Timing
Summer 2025 – Spring 2026
- Summer 2025 (optional): Organize literature review and case study materials; identify key informants; prepare IRB Request for Exemption; draft poster for the Society for Ecological Restoration Conference
- Fall 2025: Build a community of practice to ensure team members have foundation in ecological restoration and research methods; commence literature review and refine research methods; begin stakeholder interviews; attend Society for Ecological Restoration World Conference (September)
- Spring 2026: Continue interviews; analyze findings; develop StoryMap; draft a collaborative paper; share findings
Crediting
Academic credit available for fall and spring semesters; summer funding available