Environmental Restoration Science: the Exxon Valdez Oil

Spill experience

Robert SpiesOcean Conservancy Workshop

St. Petersburg, FloridaApril 2012

Science guides environmental restoration

Restoration without science is like industrial production without market research or quality control.

General instructions

Role of Science in ecosystem restoration

1. What is the cause and effect relationship?2. Will it heal in a reasonable time without

intervention?3. If not, can human intervention help?4. What actions would help?5. Will intervention have unanticipated

negative consequences?

The EVOS RP process

1. Ongoing assessment of injury2. Peer review to determine priorities3. Call for proposals4. Review proposals for quality and applicability5. Do some trimming and joining6. Take action7. Monitor8. Expected result ?9. Report results; peer review10. Identify more action, quit, modify, etc.11. Update on injured resources

Restoration vs. Science:A false dichotomy

1. These often appear as separate program elements.2. Environmental actions have consequences: provide learning opportunities.3. Investigation of damage provides new ecosystem information.4.New knowledge is a legacy.5.Restoration: Learning by doing.