The Society for Ecological Restoration – Eastern Canada (SER-EC) and the Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) are jointly hosting the conference from June 11th to 15th, 2023, at the third year of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). They are cooperating with the Ontario chapter of SER (SER-O), the Midwest Great Lakes Chapter of SER (SER-MWGL) the Canadian chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS Canada), the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) and the International Peatland Society (IPS) to provide an enlarged scientific and field program.

The proposed theme of the conference for 2023 is “From Reclaiming to Restoring and Rewilding”. It aims to stimulate discussions about the range of environmental management approaches advocated by the hosting societies. Reclaiming is recognized and practiced by many industries, including mining and petrol extraction. Restoring is recognized most broadly around the world, and has been the main focus of SER. Rewilding, or bringing back to nature, allows us to dream. These terms also imply ideas of industry, science, practice, society and imagination. They run from the practical to the creative.

Since 2000, economic development and climate change have accelerated in temperate, boreal and arctic regions of North America, and nature-based mitigation solutions, including ecological restoration, are in full expansion. As the boreal biome comprises close to 20% of wetlands in North America, it is important to bring together, experts from SWS Canada and IPS to join members from CLRA and SER, for stimulating exchanges of knowledge, best practices and new ideas. The conference will provide an excellent opportunity for all members, whether academic, private-sector or governmental stakeholders, to interact and to present the latest developments for reclaiming, restoring or rewilding diverse ecosystems, and to promote the understanding, the science-based management and the sustainability of organic soils use (wetlands, peatlands) in agriculture and soilless cultivation.