ABSTRACT
Large-scale ecosystem restoration projects have emerged in the last decade around the world: the Fouta Djallon Highlands of Africa, the grasslands of Central Asia, the Danube Delta of Europe, and Patagonian rangelands of South America. Well-known cases from North America include the Everglades, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and Chesapeake Bay. These restoration efforts can be termed mega-projects because they encompass one or more ecosystems, expansive landscapes, multiple levels of government, and varied considerations spanning environment, society, and economy. Restoration mega-projects are appealing because they address complex problems; act as symbols of decisive action; bring together many governments and private institutions; employ a systems approach that connects diverse issues; and utilize many sources of fi nancing for a common purpose. However, their record of accomplishment remains to be established. Moreover, there is a pressing need for effective planning of restoration mega-projects. Restoration planning at large scales needs to identify fundamental approaches, methods for selecting goals and objectives, and ways to report progress.
