Find the Best Revegetation Companies Near You

Just like it sounds, revegetation is the natural and sustainable process of 'rewilding' disturbed land and soil. There is a specific focus on returning the soil's pH levels, fertility, and productivity so the land can support plant life once more and rebuild the topsoil's nutrient levels.

This is achieved through a variety of natural processes and strategic planting techniques that make up a complete revegetation management plan. This may include:

• Planting cover crops like clover to protect the soil from wind, water, and sunlight erosion.
• Using nitrogen fixers such as legumes to increase soil productivity.
• Planting grass seed and fertiliser for the establishment of a deep, fibrous root system.
• Using mycorrhizal fungi to improve nutrient uptake for plants.

Though there are many benefits to speak of that deeply and positively affect ecosystems within the area, the main goal of revegetation is to prevent erosion on land that has been disturbed, either due to manmade activities or through repair damage from natural events like floods and wildfires. However, revegetation also supports local wildlife species and helps native pollinators fulfil their role in a biosphere, to name just a few added advantages. These are just some of the ways in which revegetation can bring disturbed land back to life.

Revegetation solutions used as a specific tool against erosion are a smart and sustainable method. It calls for the use of a revegetation management plan that describes which types of grasses and cover crops to use. The idea is to clear the area of nutrient-sucking weeds, preparing the land, and then spreading topsoil with the right amount of seeds that will germinate.

These seeds germinate into the right types of crops — such as clover, sedge grasses, turfgrasses, and even pasture grass seeds — which then reach deep into the soil and form roots. The roots then stabilise the soil and support the soil's productivity, protecting it from wind, rain runoff, and harsh sunlight conditions. Protecting the soil from water erosion is particularly important when the land sits on a slope.

There are multiple direct and indirect ways that revegetation solutions help to rehabilitate and rebuild soils. This includes:

• Rehabilitating degraded land
• Restoring the native flora and fauna
• Enhancing biodiversity
• Providing shelter and food for livestock
• Reducing land and water degradation
• Minimising saline groundwater levels
• Reducing waterlogging of soils

Revegetation contractors that you work with will always start with a plan. This is known as a revegetation management plan. It takes into account the project's location, the history of the landscape, and a tracked record of the vegetation that existed, either on the road or in the area.

This is the site evaluation, which contractors can then create custom revegetation plans around. Revegetation management plans outline details about the following areas:

• Weed control
• Topsoil management
• Fauna management
• Rainfall
• Machinery needed
• Species list for revegetation
• Ongoing maintenance and monitoring

It's helpful to understand restoration, rehabilitation, and revegetation as parts in a system with one goal: environmental repair.

Revegetation is the practice of using strategic plantings to stabilise the soil. As such, the main objective is to protect disturbed soils from erosion by the elements.

Rehabilitation is the extension of revegetation. Over time, the goal of rehabilitation is to make sure that the soils subjected to revegetation are stable and that the hydrology around the site is adequate to support a natural ecosystem that is fairly native to the area aligns with future land use. In that way, rehabilitation recognises that the vegetation in the area may be permanently 'altered,' but the main goal is to return the land to its self-sustaining state.

Restoration goes in the opposite direction of rehabilitation. It attempts to return local flora, fauna, water sources, and landforms back to their original state.

However, this may or may not be entirely achievable — sometimes, landforms, soils, and hydrology are significantly altered because of impactful activities. As such, they may never return to their 'original' state. That's why revegetation contractors working in some industries that have obligations to 'fix' the land will first do a site survey and decide which strategy best serves the land.

Revegetation employs various methods tailored to the project's environmental conditions and goals. Key methods include the following techniques:

• Hydroseeding: A cost-effective technique for large areas, mixing seed, mulch and fertilisers in a slurry, which is then sprayed over the land.
• Direct Seeding: Involves scattering seeds directly onto the soil, suitable for native species restoration.
• Manual Planting: Precise planting of specific species, often used in sensitive ecological areas.
• Aerial Seeding: Efficient for inaccessible areas, seeds are dispersed from the air.

Each method has benefits, chosen based on soil type, climate and project size.

The cost of a revegetation project can vary significantly based on its scale, location and methods used. Basic seed broadcasting might range from $500 to $800 per hectare. On the other hand, more complex methods like hydroseeding or native plantings can cost between $800 to $2,500 per hectare.

Additional costs include soil testing, site assessment, specialist consultation and ongoing maintenance. Budgeting should consider these factors to ensure a comprehensive and practical approach.

Effective revegetation planning should consider:

• Soil Quality: Analysing soil composition to determine the need for amendments or fertilisers.
• Climate and Topography: Assessing the local climate and landform to choose suitable planting strategies.
• Native Species Selection: Opting for native plants ensures better survival and ecological integration.
• Project Goals: Whether it’s for ecological restoration, erosion control, or aesthetics.
• Long-term Maintenance: Ensuring resources for ongoing care and monitoring of the revegetated area.