Framework for Ecological Restoration - Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration - page 4

implementation of the project. The Plan Review Checklist (appendix 8) in the implementation
phase is the result of numerous projects over many years as well as input from several individuals.
Project Planning
The foundations of a project are established in the planning phase, which will greatly facilitate
project development through completion. The process of coordinating with the stakeholders
and obtaining a consensus among project sponsors is critical to the project development pro-
cess. Building this foundation is crucial for the successful operation of the project. Whether it is
practiced consciously or unconsciously, project management is the foundation of all successfully
implemented projects.
We encourage developing a well-crafted mission, goals, and objectives for your project (chap-
ter 3). Enumerating and clarifying the project goals has several advantages. They can be recorded
and remembered for use in future projects. They can be communicated to team members, spon-
sors, stakeholders, key decision makers, and regulatory agencies and argued in these settings as
appropriate.
Goals and objectives will form the basis of many decisions, starting with design strategies,
design approach, plant materials, and installation schedule. The process of developing goals and
objectives will require thoughtful evaluation and coordination among the stakeholders. Consen-
sus among project sponsors is critical in the project development process. All permitting or other
regulatory agencies should actively participate in this important initial step of the process. Agency-
permitted projects often add additional constraints to a project with specific conditions that need
to be considered as early as possible because they will directly affect the process of identifying
and quantifying the evaluation criteria used to judge the performance of the restoration effort. In
addition, the conditions may add features not previously considered and could impact the budget
and materials required.
Initially, goals and objectives can be identified in a small group, with participants who are more
knowledgeable about the project site or the circumstances. This is the time to explore the maximum
opportunities, to test the “what-ifs.” Brainstorming ideas will set the initial foundation for the consid-
ered discussion that will follow. To help the initial brainstorming, it is important to conduct an initial
site analysis. Results of a site analysis provide the basis for action steps. Some actions will be short
term, and the results will be immediately noticeable. However, a thorough approach to restoration
also focuses on the actions that have long-term implications. Once the approach has been initially
laid out for the stakeholders and project sponsors, it will now be possible to conduct a more thor-
ough site analysis and a SWOT-C analysis (a process of evaluating various factors identified during
site analysis; see chapter 4), which will allow the final goals and objectives to be developed. Once
agreed upon, the goals and objectives are then finalized and will establish the project requirements
from which project plans and actions can be created. This systematic framework approach encour-
ages the restoration practitioner to examine all of the factors that are at work on the project site that
can influence the outcome of the restoration effort. The site analysis process introduced in chapter
4 requires a thorough, analytical approach to understanding the forces at work on the project site.