Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
What do you do when your land is disturbed, abandoned, or slowly turning back into forest? In this Q&A, Geoff digs into the realities of ecological succession and the ethical choices behind when to restore, when to let go, and when nature should take the lead. He shares subtropical examples, shows why “hard-working immigrant species” often spark recovery, and even crawls into a lantana thicket to reveal how soil rebuilds itself from the forest edge outward. If you’re unsure when to intervene or how to work with emerging ecosystems, this session offers a clear, grounded framework.
Geoff’s Online Permaculture Design Course includes weekly Q&A videos like this one from the 2019 archive. Learn more at https://www.discoverpermaculture.com.
Key Takeaways:
- 00:00–00:31: If untouched long enough, all disturbed landscapes eventually move back toward forest. The question is how damaged the site is and what role you should play.
- 00:31–00:57: Open land is generally easier to co-create with, but the real question is the quality of the regrowth and what stage of succession you’re stepping into.
- 00:57–01:35: Low-quality regrowth under about 20 years old may be replaced with higher-functioning systems like dams, swales, and water bodies. Older regrowth often crosses a line Geoff won’t disturb.
- 01:35–02:07: If young regrowth is already becoming quality rainforest, it stays. Old-growth forest is absolutely off-limits in permaculture design.
- 02:07–02:32: If someone wants full food self-sufficiency on a small block of old-growth forest, Geoff flips the script—he protects the forest and advises the client to change sites.
- 02:32–03:05: If you own old-growth forest, the best path is tiny footprints, conservation orders, or choosing land that’s already degraded for future development.
- 03:05–03:51: Early-stage regrowth usually depends on non-native “hard-working immigrants” that rebuild fertility. Nature isn’t sentimental; diversity drives recovery.
- 03:51–04:15: Today’s ecosystems are more mixed than ever before. Novel combinations of species are part of the planet’s modern healing process.
- 04:15–04:47: The edge between forest and open land is incredibly fertile. It’s a dynamic zone you can work with to guide succession.
- 04:47–05:14: Lantana and similar species shade out grass and push the forest outward. You can let it happen or intervene depending on your goals.
- 05:14–05:42: At this stage, humans can direct the process or simply get out of the way. Either path is valid, depending on context and ethics.
- 05:42–06:12: Inside the tangle is a thin but rich layer of leaf litter, droppings, habitat, and life—nature’s compost factory rebuilding soil.
- 06:12–06:36: This natural mulch layer is exactly how soil assembles. It’s a template designers can learn from and accelerate.
- 06:36–End: Humans can tune, support, or accelerate what nature is already doing—but it’s always a choice, never an obligation.
To support us in creating more videos:
► Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/geofflawtononline
► Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/geofflawtononline
► Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL_r1ELEvAuN0peKUxI0Umw/?sub_confirmation=1
► And most importantly, enjoy your permaculture journey!
About Geoff:
Geoff is a world-renowned permaculture consultant, designer and teacher who has established demonstration sites in many of the world’s major climates. He’s dedicated his life to sharing permaculture design and inspiring people to care for the earth, care for each other and return the surplus.
About Permaculture:
Permaculture weaves land, resources, people and the environment into a single, supportive system. It mirrors how nature works—no waste, no shortcuts, just smart relationships. The tools are wide-ranging: water harvesting, soil building, energy systems, forestry, natural building, aquaculture, appropriate technology, community development and more. Whether you’re on acreage or in an apartment, these principles scale beautifully.
#permaculture #regeneration #conservation #ecology #succession #regrowth #landrestoration #rewilding #ethicaldesign #forest #forestedge #nature #discoverpermaculture
What do you do when your land is disturbed, abandoned, or slowly turning back into forest? In this Q&A, Geoff digs into the realities of ecological succession and the ethical choices behind when to restore, when to let go, and when nature should take the lead. He shares subtropical examples, shows why “hard-working immigrant species” often spark recovery, and even crawls into a lantana thicket to reveal how soil rebuilds itself from the forest edge outward. If you’re unsure when to intervene or how to work with emerging ecosystems, this session offers a clear, grounded framework.
Geoff’s Online Permaculture Design Course includes weekly Q&A videos like this one from the 2019 archive. Learn more at https://www.discoverpermaculture.com.
Key Takeaways:
- 00:00–00:31: If untouched long enough, all disturbed landscapes eventually move back toward forest. The question is how damaged the site is and what role you should play.
- 00:31–00:57: Open land is generally easier to co-create with, but the real question is the quality of the regrowth and what stage of succession you’re stepping into.
- 00:57–01:35: Low-quality regrowth under about 20 years old may be replaced with higher-functioning systems like dams, swales, and water bodies. Older regrowth often crosses a line Geoff won’t disturb.
- 01:35–02:07: If young regrowth is already becoming quality rainforest, it stays. Old-growth forest is absolutely off-limits in permaculture design.
- 02:07–02:32: If someone wants full food self-sufficiency on a small block of old-growth forest, Geoff flips the script—he protects the forest and advises the client to change sites.
- 02:32–03:05: If you own old-growth forest, the best path is tiny footprints, conservation orders, or choosing land that’s already degraded for future development.
- 03:05–03:51: Early-stage regrowth usually depends on non-native “hard-working immigrants” that rebuild fertility. Nature isn’t sentimental; diversity drives recovery.
- 03:51–04:15: Today’s ecosystems are more mixed than ever before. Novel combinations of species are part of the planet’s modern healing process.
- 04:15–04:47: The edge between forest and open land is incredibly fertile. It’s a dynamic zone you can work with to guide succession.
- 04:47–05:14: Lantana and similar species shade out grass and push the forest outward. You can let it happen or intervene depending on your goals.
- 05:14–05:42: At this stage, humans can direct the process or simply get out of the way. Either path is valid, depending on context and ethics.
- 05:42–06:12: Inside the tangle is a thin but rich layer of leaf litter, droppings, habitat, and life—nature’s compost factory rebuilding soil.
- 06:12–06:36: This natural mulch layer is exactly how soil assembles. It’s a template designers can learn from and accelerate.
- 06:36–End: Humans can tune, support, or accelerate what nature is already doing—but it’s always a choice, never an obligation.
To support us in creating more videos:
► Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/geofflawtononline
► Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/geofflawtononline
► Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL_r1ELEvAuN0peKUxI0Umw/?sub_confirmation=1
► And most importantly, enjoy your permaculture journey!
About Geoff:
Geoff is a world-renowned permaculture consultant, designer and teacher who has established demonstration sites in many of the world’s major climates. He’s dedicated his life to sharing permaculture design and inspiring people to care for the earth, care for each other and return the surplus.
About Permaculture:
Permaculture weaves land, resources, people and the environment into a single, supportive system. It mirrors how nature works—no waste, no shortcuts, just smart relationships. The tools are wide-ranging: water harvesting, soil building, energy systems, forestry, natural building, aquaculture, appropriate technology, community development and more. Whether you’re on acreage or in an apartment, these principles scale beautifully.
#permaculture #regeneration #conservation #ecology #succession #regrowth #landrestoration #rewilding #ethicaldesign #forest #forestedge #nature #discoverpermaculture
