Large-Scale Ecological Restoration

The Fastest Way to Restore Nature Is at Scale

Across North America, millions of hectares of land have been altered by infrastructure, agriculture, resource extraction, and urban expansion. While small restoration projects play an important role in reconnecting people with nature, the reality is that the largest environmental gains come from restoring landscapes at scale.

Industrial ecological restoration focuses on large land transformations—road corridors, transmission lines, mine sites, agricultural transitions, infrastructure developments, and watershed rehabilitation. When restoration happens across hundreds or thousands of hectares at once, the ecological impact can be immediate and measurable.

Scale Changes Everything

Large-scale restoration is where the fastest progress for biodiversity, climate resilience, and ecosystem recovery can occur. When restoration is applied across large landscapes, the effects multiply. Instead of isolated pockets of habitat, large-scale restoration creates connected ecological systems that support wildlife movement, genetic diversity, and long-term ecosystem stability.

Large restoration projects can:

Rebuild entire habitat networks, not just fragments
Restore watershed function and soil health
Rapidly increase native plant biodiversity
Create climate-resilient landscapes that can adapt to changing conditions

The difference between restoring one hectare and restoring one thousand hectares is not simply size—it is the difference between patches of nature and functioning ecosystems.

Infrastructure and Industry Shape the Landscape

Some of the most significant opportunities for ecological recovery exist in places shaped by infrastructure and industry.

Roads, highways, pipelines, solar fields, wind farms, transmission corridors, stormwater systems, and construction projects collectively affect enormous areas of land. When these projects integrate ecological restoration from the beginning, they can transform disturbed landscapes into productive ecological corridors.

By incorporating native plant systems and ecological design, industrial projects can:

Stabilize soils and reduce erosion
Improve stormwater infiltration and water quality
Support pollinators and wildlife
Reduce long-term maintenance costs
Increase landscape resilience

Infrastructure development does not have to mean ecological loss. When designed properly, it can accelerate ecological recovery at scale. Large-scale restoration requires:

Ecologically designed species mixes
Genetically appropriate, regionally adapted native seed & plant material
Reliable large-volume supply with sufficient leadtimes

Without scalable native plant production, large restoration efforts cannot happen.

From Degraded Land to Living Systems

Ecological restoration is not simply landscaping. It is the process of rebuilding living ecosystems. When restoration is implemented across large areas, the benefits extend far beyond the site itself:

Pollinator populations recover
Wildlife corridors reconnect fragmented habitats
Soils store more carbon
Flood risks decrease
Landscapes become more resilient to climate extremes

These changes can begin within just a few growing seasons when restoration is implemented correctly.

The Role of Restoration Leaders

Achieving restoration at scale requires collaboration between:

Ecological restoration specialists
Native plant nurseries and seed producers
Landscape architects and engineers
Government agencies and infrastructure developers
Conservation organizations

Together, these partners make it possible to restore ecosystems across entire regions rather than isolated sites.

Examples of completed restoration work:

Over the past 10+ years, we've been fortunate to take part in many exciting projects and opportunities with our clients and partners, like:

Habitat restoration for National and Provincial Parks such as Point Pelee National Park, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Rouge Park, and more
Supply and services for conservation organizations, including invasive management, site preparation, seeding and planting grasslands, meadows, wetlands, and forests
Contract grow projects for cities and municipalities across Ontario, including Toronto, London, Mississauga, Sudbury, & Ottawa

The Opportunity Ahead

The coming decades will see unprecedented investment in infrastructure, climate resilience, and biodiversity recovery. If ecological restoration is integrated into these projects, we have the opportunity to restore millions of hectares of landscape.

Industrial-scale restoration represents one of the most powerful tools we have to repair ecological systems quickly. By thinking bigger, planting smarter, and restoring landscapes at scale, we can transform degraded land into living ecosystems that support biodiversity, climate stability, and resilient communities.