The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the science, practice, and policy of ecological restoration. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., SER is the principal global professional body for ecological restoration, with regional chapters, thematic sections, and individual and institutional members in more than 100 countries.
SER’s work spans six core program areas. It develops and maintains the SER International Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration — the globally accepted benchmark for restoration project design, implementation, and monitoring — and a companion set of Standards for Mine Site Restoration. SER publishes the peer-reviewed journal Restoration Ecology and runs a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program that is the recognized credential for the field. Its education portfolio includes a free MOOC, an annual webinar series, and a forthcoming Assisted Natural Regeneration Practitioner Training Course.
SER is a founding partner of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and works closely with IUCN on restoration policy, including through the Bonn Challenge and the Global Biodiversity Framework. The Society’s contributions to the standards, science, and professional practice of restoration make it a central node in the global effort to reverse ecosystem degradation.
