Canada
As one of many approaches to restore ecosystems, assisted natural regeneration (ANR) offers a wide range of environmental and social benefits. Compared to restoration programs focused primarily on planting, assisting or facilitating natural regeneration can offer greater benefits for the recovery of local native biodiversity, improve ecological connectivity within landscapes, and increase resilience to environmental stressors at lower cost. ANR practices provide unique opportunities for communities to engage in restoration activities that enhance both ecological and cultural memory. Major global environmental institutions and community-led efforts are embracing ANR implementation as a cost-effective restoration strategy when implemented under suitable conditions. The GEF8 Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program (ERIP) has a strong emphasis on ANR, with many of the 20 countries proposing ANR implementation in different ecosystem types. But these efforts are limited because few restoration project staff receive training to implement ANR. Although knowledge products and guidance documents regarding practice of ANR are now available to practitioners, no formal training program on ANR exists.
The ANR Alliance, together with the Society for Ecological Restoration and Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program Global Coordination Project are pleased to offer this free eight-week course to ecosystem restoration practitioners. Course materials include five factsheets and six guidance briefs focused on ANR practices. The course will be offered annually in 2026, 2027 and 2028 in four languages.