21 Mar 2025

Engineering With Nature: Integrating Plant Communities into Engineering Practices. A Guidance Manual

Abstract: Applying native plant communities in environmental engineering practices can profoundly enhance the establishment and sustainment of natural ecosystems, which is imperative for the success of healthy habitats and the wildlife communities they support. The objective of this manual is to stimulate interest in applying native plants in a wide variety of settings, including inland, upland, coastal, riparian, and grassland. The information presented in this manual illustrates natural plant communities and sustainable strategies using native vegetation. This manual discusses the application of vegetation in US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) projects. Additional case studies incorporate Engineering With Nature® (EWN®) principles into the design and development of existing infrastructural facilities within a military installation. Specifically, the manual identifies desirable plant species suitable for propagation in various states based on historic plant communities and ecological composition and lists invasive species to avoid with suggested native alternatives. Further, it discusses the use of native vegetation in biotechnical applications. Intended users are USACE districts, local, state, and federal agencies, contractors (specialists), and other users (generalists) engaged in EWN projects. Finally, the publication helps practitioners think creatively about using native plant species before, during, and after project design phases.