Stephen Thomforde

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    • Summary of Research
      • Emergence of Grazing Ecosystems
      • Grazing and Biodiversity
      • Grazing and Environmental Impacts
      • Pasture Management for Productivity and Environmental Attributes
      • Policy, Programs and Research Needs
  • Planning a better future
    • Creating a Unified Pollinator Ecology
      • Pollinators Are Grazers
      • The Grazing Lawn
      • Cool season species
      • Increase graminoid diversity
      • Functional groups, niche theory
      • Revise Current Genotype Restriction
      • High Density Patch Planting
      • Nitrogen Pollution Issues
      • Hay Instead of Chemicals
      • More Frequent Burnings
      • Afforestation
      • Conclusion: Creating Unified Pollinator Ecology
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    • Grazing lawns as a model for urban lawns
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  • What Is Resilience?
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February 22, 2022 by S Thomforde

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH)

species diversity illustration

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) provides restoration ecology a framework for restoring processes that maintain / renew ecological function, biological diversity, and capacity for ecosystem services. In summary, IDH illuminates natural disturbances, such as herbivory and fire, that occurred in predictable cycles, pulses, and patterns, preventing widespread system decent into late succession, as characterized by declines […]

Filed Under: Education and Outreach, Environmental Preservation, Restoration Ecology

November 9, 2019 by S Thomforde

What happens when grazing animals are removed from grassland savannas?

Grassland – Savanna complex without grazing, millions of acres in the Midwest landscape perpetuated in the catastrophic state: Sick land: These pictures were taken in a regional park within the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Both sites are southwest aspects on well drained Hawick gravel glacial moraine soils, perfect aspect and soils for mesic-dry and dry grassland-savannas. […]

Filed Under: Environmental Preservation, More from Stephen, Restoration Ecology

November 9, 2019 by S Thomforde

Oak Forest Restoration Versus Savanna Resoration

Oak Forest Restoration Versus Savanna Restoration: Here’s an example of using an erroneous official vegetation label “Oak Forest” or “Oak Woodland” and even “Floodplain Forest”, instead of the more ecologically accurate concept “Savanna” for restoration target goals. What do we mean by the term forest, or the more nebulous term “woodlands”? These two sites are […]

Filed Under: Environmental Preservation, Restoration Ecology

November 9, 2019 by S Thomforde

Oaks are Grassland Trees, Not Forest Trees

Oaks are grassland trees, not forest trees

A Classic Example of Oak Mismanagement. Oaks are GRASSLAND trees / NOT forest trees! This tree, in a Bloomington Park, is 38″ dbh, in Hawick sand-gravel loams. The above ground structure, in these soils, can easily be 300 – 500 years old. Despite the good intentions of the land managers, to not disturb the oak […]

Filed Under: Environmental Preservation, Restoration Ecology

December 8, 2015 by S Thomforde

Last Farm in Bloomington: Save the Sheep for Ecological Restoration of the MN River Corridor

Bloomington sheep in the MN River Corridor

This sheep farm is one block from the Mall of America. It is the last working farm in Bloomington, MN. In the background you can see the Minnesota River Valley and 11,000 acres of publicly owned (Federal, State, and City) land that lays lifeless and barren outside a parvenu of rank inedible, non-flammable  species. The land […]

Filed Under: Environmental Preservation, Restoration Ecology

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