Ecosystem Restoration Communities experiment with, assess and validate different methods and techniques for restoring ecosystem functions across a range of diverse climate zones and biomes. The data emanating from these activities has the potential to contribute to global research on ecosystem restoration. To support widely accessible and adoptable citizen science data collection, we have developed two, unique frameworks.

The ERC Soil Framework has been designed to look at how the ecology of a restoration sites is changing as a result of restoration activities and approaches; it includes a wide range of ecological indicators and methods inspired by citizen science so that no background experience is needed to implement it. The ERC Soil Framework Field Guide offers a “lite” version of the comprehensive Soil Framework, as a handy alternative to accompany ecological data collection activities in the field.

The ERC Soul & Society Framework has been designed to understand how people are changing as a result of restoration activities and approaches; specifically, it includes surveys and methods designed to understand if and how the behaviour and attitudes of people involved in (or affected by) restoration are changing, including restoration practitioners themselves, volunteers and local communities.