THEODORE M. SPERRY AWARD

By this award, the Society honors individuals who have made a significant advancement to the science or technique used in restoration practices.

Criteria: Recipients must have demonstrated innovation and pioneering in one or more of the following categories:

• PROJECT CONCEPTUALIZATION, such as the development of a new approach to restoration;
• PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, such as research and development in regard to restoration methods and tools;
• PROJECT EVALUATION, such as the development of useful restoration criteria and standards;
• PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, such as the development of effective ways of integrating volunteers or involving the public in restoration programs.

Eligibility: Any individual or group of individuals, organizations are not eligible.

MODEL PROJECT AWARD

By this award, the Society recognizes a project accomplished in accordance with the SER International governing documents and will demonstrate a trajectory of meeting some, if not all, of the attributes of a restored ecosystem.

Criteria:

Recipients must have met some, if not all, of the preceding attributes:

• A maturing project that is approximately ten years or older;
• Contains a characteristic assemblage of the species that
  occur in the reference community;
• Consists of indigenous species to the greatest predictable extent;
• All functional groups necessary for the continued development and/or stability of the restored ecosystem are present;
• Physical environment of the restored ecosystem is capable of sustaining reproducing populations of the species necessary for its continued stability or intended trajectory;
•  Restored ecosystem apparently functions normally for its ecological stage of development – signs of dysfunction are absent;
•  Restored ecosystem is suitably integrated in to a larger ecological matrix or landscape, with which it interacts through biotic and abiotic flows and exchanges;
•  Potential threats to the health and integrity of restored ecosystem from the surrounding landscape have been eliminated;
•  Restored ecosystem is sufficiently resilient to endure the normal periodic stress events in the local environment;
•  Restored ecosystem is self sustaining to the same degree as its reference ecosystem.

Eligibilily: Any individual, group of individuals and organizations are eligible.

FULL CIRCLE AWARD

By this award, the Society acknowledges that indigenous people were the stewards of ecosystems in which they lived. Projects eligible for this award have brought ecosystems in a full circle and returned them to their condition prior to the impacts caused by non-indigenous peoples.

Criteria:

Recipients must have demonstrated exceptional competence, knowledge and innovation in the following criteria:

• Traditional Wisdom such as all defined goals were set using wisdom imparted by indigenous peoples;
•   Project goals were complemented by non-indigenous knowledge and techniques.
•  Project goals were not superseded by non-indigenous knowledge and techniques.
•  Indigenous people should have participated and be able to use the restored ecosystem in traditional ways;

Eligibility: A project of any individual or organization.

COMMUNICATION AWARD

By this award, the Society acknowledges the importance of all forms of communications that advance the goals of the Society.

Criteria:

The Nominee must have used on of the following medias of communication 

• Print: books, published papers 
• Visual: Video, movies, exhibits and performing arts, etc 
•  Audio: Speeches, songs, educational Material, etc   
• Contributions that have made significant impact in theory, practice, or public awareness of restoration

Qualifications for the Award:

• Improve the quality of ecosystem restorations;
• Increase the public awareness and acceptance of ecosystem restoration.

Eligibility: Any individual or organization

JOHN RIEGER AWARD

By this award, the Society acknowledges its debt to those who have dedicated their time and skills to the advancement of ecological restoration and/or to the development of the Society.

Criteria:

Recipients must have demonstrated meeting some, if not all, of the following attributes:

• Major Contributions such as those that further ecological restoration through the development of the Society for Ecological Restoration.
• Contributions that have made significant impact in theory, practice, or public awareness of restoration.