Transition from individual plants to a holistic managed ecosystem

Transition from individual plants to a holistic managed ecosystem

The DREVO project starts with individual plants, but does not end with their planting and individual accounting.

Every tree, shrub, or herbaceous plant is an independent living organism. At the same time, it is part of a larger system of connections:

with soil;

water;

mushrooms;

microorganisms;

neighboring plants;

insects;

birds;

animals;

climate;

human.

As the area develops, individual plants should gradually be combined into plant communities, natural zones and a single managed ecosystem.

Basic transition sequence:

individual plant → plant group → functional guild → natural community → natural zone → network of natural zones → integrated managed ecosystem.

Over time, the main unit of control becomes not a single tree, but a system of relationships between living organisms and the environment.

1. From planting a tree to creating a system

At the first stage, each plant requires individual attention.

The following are determined for it:

origin;

landing site;

soil condition;

availability of water;

illumination;

wind protection;

compatibility with neighboring species;

expected ecological role;

care regimen.

However, planting a large number of healthy trees does not in itself create a sustainable forest.

If plants:

not connected by a common water system;

compete for the same resources;

are the same age;

belong to a small number of species;

do not form soil cover;

do not support pollinators and animals;

are completely dependent on artificial care,

then the territory remains a set of plantings, and not an ecosystem.

The real transition begins when plants begin to perform complementary functions.

2. Levels of ecosystem organization

Level I - Single Plant

At this level, the individual viability of the plant is assessed.

The following are taken into account:

health;

height;

root system;

crown condition;

origin;

genetic characteristics;

climate resistance;

ecological and economic value.

At the early stages of the project, the plant receives a preliminary card, and after 16 years of sustainable development, a permanent ecological passport.

Level II - Plant Group

Several plants are combined spatially or functionally.

This could be:

a group of oak trees;

protective strip;

fruit group;

shrub island;

anti-erosion planting;

coastal community;

pioneer plant group;

seed grove.

At this level, not only the condition of each plant is assessed, but also their combined impact on the area.

Level III - Functional Guild

The guild unites plants and organisms that perform different but interconnected functions.

For example, around a young oak tree there may be:

bushes that protect it from the wind;

Legumes that support the nitrogen cycle;

groundcover plants that reduce evaporation;

flowering species that attract pollinators;

deep-rooted herbs that improve soil structure;

fungi involved in wood processing;

birds that regulate insect numbers.

A guild is considered successful if its members not only coexist, but also enhance the overall stability of the system.

Level IV - Natural Community

Plant groups and guilds gradually form more complex communities:

meadow;

shrub zone;

young grove;

forest clearing;

forest-steppe area;

wetland community;

multi-tiered forest garden section;

remediation biocomplex.

At this level appear:

internal microclimate;

own organic circulation;

natural regeneration;

spatial structure;

strong bonds with animals;

local water regime.

Level V - Natural Zone

Several communities are united into a territorial unit with defined boundaries and a governance regime.

A natural zone can be:

nature-forming forest;

forest-steppe;

sustainable forest garden;

watershed forest;

seed territory;

coastal zone;

meadow;

remediation sector;

zone of natural succession;

old-growth natural core.

The natural zone receives its own passport, map, development goals and protection regime.

Level VI - Network of Natural Areas

Individual zones are connected to each other through:

forest corridors;

river and coastal strips;

hedges;

chains of reservoirs;

meadow transitions;

seed corridors;

animal migration routes;

common water system;

unified soil and environmental monitoring.

At this level, the territory ceases to be a set of isolated areas.

It becomes an interconnected landscape system.

Level VII – Integrated Managed Ecosystem

The highest level represents a territory where natural and economic processes are united by common long-term management.

It includes:

forests;

forest-steppe;

forest gardens;

meadows;

water zones;

remediation areas;

nurseries;

seed groves;

old-age kernels;

economic infrastructure;

educational and research sites.

Management is carried out not for individual objects, but for the state of the entire system.

3. Individual passport as a basis for ecosystem accounting

Individual plant certification is necessary at the early stages, as it allows for the preservation of information about:

origin;

genetic line;

age;

viability;

stability;

ecological functions;

care histories;

reactions to drought, disease and frost.

However, as the project develops, data from individual plants should be combined into higher-level passports.

Sequence of accounting:

passport of an individual plant;

plant group passport;

functional guild passport;

natural community passport;

natural zone passport;

ecological corridor passport;

a unified passport for a managed ecosystem.

In this way, information about an individual tree is not lost, but becomes part of the overall picture.

4. Plant group passport

A group passport is created for plants united by:

common function;

origin;

territory;

age;

environmental challenge;

general care regimen.

It records:

group composition;

number of plants;

age structure;

origin of planting material;

square;

density;

tiering;

soil condition;

water regime;

level of natural regeneration;

degree of competition;

disease resistance;

ecological function;

need for thinning or supplementation.

A group is considered stable if the loss of one plant does not destroy its main function.

5. Passport of the functional guild

The guild passport describes not only the plant species, but also the relationships between them.

It specifies:

the main nature-forming plant;

protective plants;

nitrogen-fixing species;

ground cover crops;

biomass sources;

honey plants;

deep-rooted species;

vines;

mushrooms;

related animals;

household products;

potential conflicts.

For each guild the following is assessed:

how completely the soil is covered;

Is there continuous flowering?

is organic matter being formed;

is water retained;

is there enough light;

is there excessive competition?

Are there natural pest control mechanisms?

The guild shouldn't become a fixed structure. Its composition changes as the trees grow and the light levels fluctuate.

6. Transition from individual care to systemic management

In the first years, individual plants may require:

individual irrigation;

protection from animals;

garters;

crown formation;

treatment;

local mulching.

As the system develops, individual care should be gradually reduced.

It is replaced by:

total catchment area;

protective microclimate;

natural shade;

continuous soil cover;

working mushroom net;

natural pollination;

biological pest control;

self-renewal;

internal circulation of organic matter.

The transition to systemic management can be considered successful when the viability of plants depends less and less on constant manual maintenance and more and more on the health of the surrounding community.

7. Manage functions, not just types

A holistic ecosystem must be managed through functions.

For each natural zone it is necessary to determine which components provide:

water retention;

wind protection;

slope stabilization;

accumulation of organic matter;

soil formation;

nitrogen fixation;

mycorrhiza support;

continuous flowering;

food base for animals;

natural regeneration;

reducing fire risk;

food production;

genetic preservation.

If only one species performs a particular function, the system remains vulnerable.

Therefore, important functions should, whenever possible, be duplicated by several species and natural mechanisms.

For example, soil protection can be simultaneously ensured by:

ground cover plants;

herbs;

leaf litter;

wood mulch;

shrubs;

stone elements;

mosses.

This functional duplication is the basis of sustainability.

8. Connectivity of the territory

Even healthy natural areas can remain vulnerable if they are isolated from each other.

A holistic ecosystem requires ecological connectivity.

It provides:

movement of animals;

seed dispersal;

exchange of genetic material;

restoration of species after local disturbances;

water movement;

maintaining wet routes;

expansion of fungal and soil communities.

Connectivity is created through:

forest belts;

shrub corridors;

tree chains;

river banks;

ditches with vegetation;

hedges;

meadow strips;

wet areas;

green bridges;

areas of natural overgrowth.

The breakdown of ecological connections must be considered as a serious damage to the system, even if individual plants remain alive.

9. The water system as a unifying framework

Water connects all parts of the ecosystem.

Therefore, territorial management should begin not with the distribution of individual crops, but with the overall water architecture.

It includes:

places of precipitation receipt;

surface runoff;

infiltration zones;

water collection lines;

ponds;

marshy areas;

overflows;

drainage;

storage tanks;

underground moisture;

zones of increased evaporation.

Each plant is included in the general water system.

When planning, the following is taken into account:

how much water does the plant consume;

what proportion of precipitation is intercepted by its crown;

How do roots affect infiltration?

whether it creates a shadow;

does it reduce wind speed;

is it capable of protecting more sensitive species?

In a mature system, water is distributed not only by engineering structures, but also by the vegetation structure itself.

10. The soil network as a hidden basis of the ecosystem

On the surface, individual plants may appear separate, but underground they interact through:

root secretions;

microorganisms;

mushroom nets;

water;

nutrient exchange;

decomposition of organic matter;

activities of soil animals.

Therefore, the transition to a holistic ecosystem is impossible without restoring the continuous soil environment.

Necessary:

minimize deep processing;

avoid constant movement of heavy equipment;

preserve root remains;

maintain organic cover;

leave some of the wood to decompose;

separate contaminated and clean soil flows;

prevent compaction;

restore mycorrhizal connections.

The soil should be considered not as a support for individual plants, but as a single living organ of the territory.

11. Long-lived trees as ecosystem nodes

Oak, linden, maple, ash, beech, elm, cedar pine, chestnut, walnut and other nature-forming species become the main long-term nodes of the system.

Around them are formed:

stable plant guilds;

fungal communities;

feeding zones;

nesting sites;

shady areas;

seed centers;

soil fertility islands;

successor trees.

After certification, such trees are considered not only as individual objects, but also as centers of influence.

For each nature-forming tree, its ecological zone of influence can be determined:

crown area;

estimated root zone;

associated undergrowth;

natural regeneration zone;

related species;

tree or group of successors.

Over time, individual centers of influence unite, forming a nature-forming framework for the entire territory.

12. Age diversity as a condition of continuity

A complete ecosystem should not consist of one generation of plants.

It must simultaneously contain:

seeds;

shoots;

young plants;

undergrowth;

middle-aged trees;

mature trees;

old-growth specimens;

standing and lying dead wood;

decaying wood.

Each age stage performs its own function.

Young plants provide renewal. Mature trees create the main canopy and seed base. Old trees form complex habitats. Dead wood supports fungi, insects, and soil formation.

Management must ensure not the preservation of one age, but a continuous change of generations.

13. Transition from external control to adaptive management

In the early stages, the recovery system is controlled primarily by the individual.

Human:

selects species;

controls water;

protects the soil;

plants plants;

regulates competition;

removes hazardous contaminants.

As the ecosystem matures, the role of natural processes increases:

self-seeding;

natural selection;

migration of species;

soil formations;

biological regulation;

natural change of tiers.

Complete relinquishment of control is not the goal.

The goal becomesadaptive control, in which a person:

observes;

analyzes;

intervenes only when necessary;

maintains the main direction of development;

does not suppress beneficial natural processes;

corrects errors;

prepares the system for future climate changes.

14. Digital twin of a managed ecosystem

All plant, group, and natural zone passports can be combined into a digital twin of the territory.

It includes:

plant map;

boundaries of natural zones;

age structure;

tree tiers;

soil types;

areas of andosols and regolith;

pollution;

water flows;

humidity level;

ecological corridors;

state of biodiversity;

history of interventions;

development forecast.

A digital twin doesn't replace field observation. It helps us see the connections and consequences of decisions.

With its help you can model:

crown growth;

increase shading;

need for water;

risk of erosion;

spread of fire;

change of tree generations;

development of a forest garden;

the impact of removing or planting individual species;

changes on the horizon of 25, 50, 100 and 150 years.

15. Levels of management maturity

Level 0 - a set of landings

Plants exist separately and are completely dependent on care.

Level 1 - Organized Groups

Protective belts, groves, guilds and ground cover communities appear.

Level 2 – functional natural zones

Individual areas begin to perform sustainable ecological functions.

Level 3 - Connected Landscape System

Natural areas are connected by water, forest and biological corridors.

Level 4 - Self-sustaining ecosystem

Natural renewal, organic circulation and biological regulation are in effect.

Level 5 – Mature Managed Ecosystem

Natural processes and economic use are coordinated within the framework of a long-term strategy.

Such a system:

preserves the natural framework;

produces safe products;

renews generations of plants;

withstands violations;

is documented;

is being modernized;

is passed on to future generations.

16. Conditions for recognizing a territory as an integral ecosystem

An area can receive the status of an integrated managed ecosystem if:

its boundaries have been established;

a unified water plan has been created;

connected natural zones have been formed;

different types of habitats are present;

the soil has a continuous biological cover;

a nature-forming wooden framework has been formed;

several age generations are present;

natural renewal works;

the main ecological functions are duplicated;

pollution control is carried out;

food and remediation flows are separated;

there are ecological corridors;

the passport system is working;

the regime of protection and economic use has been determined;

A plan for 25, 50, 100 and 150 years has been developed.

17. Managing the entire system

For a mature ecosystem, a general management plan is created, including:

Water Management

accumulation;

distribution;

infiltration;

drainage;

protection of water sources.

Soil management

restoration of organic matter;

erosion prevention;

pollution control;

formation of new soils on regolith;

protection of valuable andosols.

Vegetation management

maintaining tiering;

density regulation;

preservation of long-lived trees;

introduction of new generations;

invasive species control;

formation of forest garden zones.

Biodiversity management

habitat conservation;

protection of pollinators;

support for birds and animals;

preservation of dead wood;

creation of ecological corridors.

Economic management

production of safe food;

fruit and nut collection;

nursery activities;

processing of organic matter;

regulated use of wood;

recreation and education.

Risk management

droughts;

fires;

floods;

diseases;

pollution;

loss of key species;

violation of water regime.

18. The main principle of transition

The transition to a holistic ecosystem occurs not when a large number of plants are planted, but when stable connections have formed between them.

An individual plant becomes part of an ecosystem when it:

participates in the water cycle;

affects soil formation;

associated with other organisms;

performs a specific function;

included in the age and spatial structure;

capable of participating in natural renewal;

is taken into account not in isolation, but in the context of the entire territory.

Basic sequence:

individual planting → observation → certification → unification into groups → creation of guilds → formation of natural zones → connection by ecological corridors → unified adaptive management → mature self-renewing ecosystem.

19. Final definition

The DREVO holistic managed ecosystem is a connected network of plants, soils, water bodies, fungi, animals, and natural areas that develops according to a unified long-term strategy, maintains the ability to naturally regenerate, and simultaneously allows for controlled, safe, and restorative human use.

In such a system, a person stops managing each plant separately.

He begins to control:

conditions;

connections;

streams of water;

soil condition;

age structure;

functional diversity;

risks;

direction of centuries-old development.

Individual plants are elements of the project. Natural communities become its structure. The connections between them form an ecosystem. Responsible management turns it into a legacy.