Applied Ecological Services: Reinvest, Reassemble, Restore

By Janie Pritchett-Clark

“There is a better way,” says Steven Apfelbaum, internationally renowned leader in ecological system restoration and conservation development. “We have to change the way we behave. We have to make better decisions. It’s not more expensive, or more difficult, but it is more complex.”

Making progress in today’s world doesn’t require war with nature, or its domination. It doesn’t necessarily require more money, resources or time. With planning and applied technology, ecological and conservation design principles, the developments we make in our communities can be places of the heart. They can be environments that actually increase ecological functionality, improve public perception and generate award-winning outcomes – all while saving money in the short and long term.

These places of the heart are real. “If you gave the people of your community a heart sticker and a map of the area and asked them to mark their favorite places – their places of the heart – you would see them drawn to parks, open spaces, town squares, rivers and reservoirs,” Apfelbaum says. “You wouldn’t see hearts at buildings, commercial areas or retail centers. These nature places are the glue of our communities.”

As founder, president, and senior ecologist of Applied Ecological Services based in Wisconsin, Apfelbaum has conducted ecological research, designed award-winning projects, navigated regulatory programs and contributed his unique scientific expertise to over 1,500 projects throughout North America and beyond. He has been involved in the industry for over 30 years.

“Back then,” he says, “‘tree hugger’ was the nicest thing people called you.” Today he is a leading ecological consultant who provides technical restoration advice where ecological and land-development conflicts arise.

Apfelbaum, a sought after speaker in environmental event circles, is a featured speaker at the NWA Green Expo. His recently published book, Nature’s Second Chance, is available at Sam’s Club and Walmart. He will be at Sam’s Club in Fayetteville, Thursday, May 7, to autograph copies of the book Publishers Weekly calls a “page-turner for nature lovers.”