Habitat Restoration

Habitat Restoration

Habitat restoration is increasingly a component of many remediation and development projects. This is, in part, because of its popularity as a viable option for providing compensation for contamination that has resulted in a loss of habitat resources, or for offsetting or mitigating anticipated changes in land use as a result of redevelopment. Innovative and cost-effective solutions are at the center of Windward’s habitat restoration services, and our staff are skilled in providing cost-effective and feasible options for habitat restoration. Windward’s habitat restoration approach focuses on assessing both the historical and current conditions of potential restoration sites, considering the larger, overall context of how the restoration project will complement and benefit the conservation goals of the local government and foster good will within the local community. We then develop a design that best suits the current conditions of a site while ensuring long-term success. Our staff are skilled in using Habitat Equivalency Analysis (HEA) to assess and compare habitat value, and in determining and negotiating potential restoration or mitigation benefits with regulatory agencies to satisfy regulatory requirements. In some cases, additional restoration credits can be “banked” for future use or for sale to other entities in search of mitigation options. Much of Windward’s success in habitat restoration stems from our long-standing relationships with natural resource trustees and our ability to accurately gauge their needs and priorities.