10. Restoring Balance: The Role of Native Plants in Ecological Restoration

The sources explore the complexities of native plant restoration, focusing on the debate surrounding the definition of "native" and its implications for conservation practices. The first source examines how professionals and non-professionals perceive plant nativity, highlighting inconsistencies in definitions and emphasizing the need for clarity in conservation efforts. The second source delves into several controversies within native plant restoration, particularly regarding the use of single or multiple sources for seed materials, source distance, and the use of native plant selections. It argues that while some controversies can be resolved through research, others require a clear understanding of project objectives and philosophical perspectives, all while emphasizing the importance of a restoration-oriented definition of "native" to ensure successful and sustainable conservation.