BIOCRUST RESTORATION MANUAL

The purpose of this manual is to synthesize current information about biological soil crust restoration for
resource managers making decisions on the ground. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are communities
of photosynthetic organisms (mosses, lichens, cyanobacteria, and/or microalgae) with accompanying
populations of bacteria, archaea and fungi, that occupy the upper few millimeters of dryland or other
sparsely vegetated soils across the globe. These communities play several fundamental roles in the
functioning of ecosystems, being critical for soil stabilization and erosion prevention. Biocrusts may also
affect vascular plant success, help dictate soil hydrology, and can be the dominant force for sustained
fertility in some dryland soils. This manual is based on the experience gathered through work conducted
as part of a Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) project focused on elucidating the role of climate
adaptation in biocrust restoration practice on the Colorado Plateau, as well as a Strategic Environmental
Research and Development Program (SERDP) project assessing best practices for biocrust restoration
carried out in the Chihuahuan and Great Basin deserts. The manual starts by introducing biocrusts, why
biocrusts matter for ecological function of dryland ecosystems, and discussing the need for restoration
of this important component of drylands in the face of anthropogenic pressures. The manual also
explicitly addresses new options for biocrust restoration, including information about climate-adapted
biocrust restoration, farm-grown biocrust inoculum sources, opportunities to acquire biocrust sources
through salvage, and mechanizing the harvesting of biocrust. Methods for monitoring biocrust growth,
development, and organismal composition are also provided. Finally, the operational manual ends with
practical findings and potential areas that could benefit from further investigation as we progress in
our understanding of best biocrust restoration practices for a changing world. Our understanding of
biocrust restoration is rapidly improving, and this manual is expected to be a “living document” with
improvements and updates made as our knowledge advances.