Could you introduce yourself and tell us more about your background and your career trajectory in the field of ecological restoration?

I’m a Ph.D. student in Dr. Cara Nelson’s Restoration Ecology lab at the University of Montana. My research interests span from ecological monitoring, and restorative silvicultural treatments, to the ecology of subalpine forests from the Andes of Chile to the Rocky Mountains of western North America. 

Since the beginning of my graduate school journey, I've been an active member of multiple international scientific organizations working on outreach and networking positions. Among them, I have served in multiple advising positions for the Society for Ecological Restoration (2018-2024), and also served as the Student Liaison and Student Representative (for Chile) with the Latin American Chapter of the Ecological Society of America (2018-2019), and as Webinar Organizer (2022-24) for the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation. 

My service with the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) has involved different advisory positions since 2018, participating in multiple activities organized by SER Student Associations as well as regional meetings. In 2020, I was invited to serve as moderator and tester of the first SER online member community and member of the recently formed SER Students & Emerging Professionals Committee (SEPC) where I've served as Vice-chair for the 2021-22 and Co-Chair for the 2023-24 period. Currently, I am working with the SEPC to improve the ways students and emerging professionals can engage with, support, and enhance the value of the SER community and their future careers.

My current research and civic engagement activities are directed to the contribution of scientific-based evidence for the conservation and restoration of Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) and help build supportive communities for students and emerging professionals developing careers in ecological restoration.

What inspired you to join SER, and what do you value most about your membership?

What attracted me to SER was its role as a centralized organization that serves and guides the practice of restoration around the world, while providing multiple opportunities for continuing education, certification, and networking. As a member of SER, I have witnessed how initiatives like the Students & Emerging Professionals Committee can foster the careers of many emerging professionals who stand by the mission of our organization. Even during the hardships that the pandemic brought us, SER and the SEPC have been capable of maintaining connectivity across the globe with multiple volunteers eager to become active members of our community

How do you plan to use your skills and/or experience to strengthen SER?

As a long-term member of the SEP Committee, I have a strong commitment to support and develop initiatives that can foster our demographic into successful careers in restoration while serving as a bridge to our board and partner committees' goals and needs. SER has recognized us as a vital component in promoting the science and practice of ecological restoration, and for this reason, serving as a SER Board member would allow me to best lead the interests and needs of the SEP Committee to take part in decisions involving the strategic direction and priorities of the organization. This input in the development of SER is critical for our demographic, given that the current needs of students and emerging professionals within SER and across the field will be the base for advancing ecological restoration science, practice, and policy at local, regional, and global levels.

What about ecological restoration excites you the most?

Two main elements make ecological restoration the best environment to build a career in ecological sciences: the transdisciplinary nature of our field, where the inclusion of a social component is key for the long-term success of restoration projects; and the strong feedback between the ecological theory behind restoration and the lessons learned in its application. Ecological restoration is the perfect platform to test ecological theory and the opportunity to witness processes previously unknown.

Could you highlight a particular project or initiative you've been involved in that you're especially proud of or passionate about?

During my graduate studies, I got involved in a long-term restoration project where we were trying to understand the response of whitebark pine (P. albicaulis) to silvicultural treatments and prescribed burning. An endeavor of utmost importance, especially given that whitebark pine has been recently listed under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA). What we learned from over 15 years of monitoring has helped us better understand the species recovery dynamics and identify factors that can improve treatment planning, monitoring, and restoration success. Currently, a recovery team is supporting the development of a recovery plan for Whitebark, as required by the ESA, that will include silvicultural treatments among other strategies. In this context, this summer I will be part of a team that will use a hybrid vegetation & bird habitat use protocol to improve our understanding of restoration treatments and wildlife impacts on whitebark pine recovery by integrating Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), the primer whitebark pine seed disperser, habitat use and selection using passive acoustic monitoring.

 

In your view, what are the most pressing ecological restoration challenges or opportunities that the field is currently facing, and how do you see SER playing a role in addressing them?

The greatest opportunity we have is having a centralized organization that serves the practice of restoration around the world, develops and shares guidelines that can easily translate to every restoration scenario, and brings the opportunity to locally (and globally) organize instances of networking where practitioners and researchers can support each other. These efforts have slowly but surely helped bridge the gap between ecological science and practice, yet we still need to continue providing educational opportunities, institutional certification, and building platforms for upcoming restoration professionals to get involved with established practitioners.

Where do you see opportunities for SER to grow its impact in the field?

Our organization has distinguished itself in the field for many reasons, but among the most important are making continuing education a priority and creating literature that bridges the gap between ecological science and practice in an accessible way. I see an opportunity in keeping this accessibility updated to current knowledge, even more so considering the fast pace of growth that restoration has experienced in the last decade. In addition to branching out to more languages, that would take it even further. Similarly, SER has played a crucial role in the development of new curriculum and programs focused on restoration at higher education institutions, which brings a new opportunity to build a platform that eases the transition from their education to our restoration workforce. Whether this comes in the shape of mapping working opportunities with partner organizations or offering more support and guidance to our existing Student Association

Can you share some key lessons or insights you've gained from your work that you believe are important for the broader restoration community?

Regardless of your background, I believe the most effective way to become an asset to your restoration community is to reach out, become visible, and actively participate in meetings and events. Professionals in our field are always looking for peers eager to make this land a better place and help guide the next generation of nature steward.

Are there specific ecological restoration principles or practices that you find particularly fascinating or effective, and how have you applied them in your work or projects?

I believe that a good balance between quality information on the site's historical and current use (Principle 2), an adequate selection of the reference ecosystem (Principle 3), a sound understanding of potential recovery trajectories, drawbacks, and how to effectively measure them (Principle 5) are key elements to support long-term success in restoration. My research on the long-term effects and efficacy of silvicultural treatments for the restoration of whitebark pine (P. albicaulis) confirmed it, where consistent monitoring of control and treated conditions for over 15 years allowed us to understand in higher detail our capacity to achieve lasting goals and identify underlying factors influencing recovery.

What unique ecological restoration challenges and opportunities are associated with your region and how does the chapter address them?

Western Montana (USA) is a unique place for our discipline considering our high number of NGOs working on conservation and restoration initiatives relative to our population density, which translates into multiple work opportunities for students and emerging professionals considering a career in restoration. Nonetheless, our main challenge is the lack of a platform where students can get informed of these opportunities in a more accessible way, a challenge that our SEP Committee will address in the coming years.

What advice do you have for students or emerging professionals who are considering a career in ecological restoration?

To consider becoming a member of our growing community and participate in the multiple instances of networking offered by SER around the globe. Our Student Associations, Regional Chapters, and Thematic Sections are the best way to get involved with how restoration is taking place where you live, as well as being a supportive platform where to get familiarized with other practitioners, researchers, and students.