This special session will focus on strategies to increase the integration of current research in invasion biology and restoration ecology with on the ground protected area management. Protected area managers, park staff, and consulting restoration ecologists are on the front lines of restoration ecology in their attempts to manage land and restore systems. Thus it is vital that academic scientists generating new knowledge and resource managers applying this knowledge be intimately connected. In addition, the act of managing lands often brings to light ecological questions that need to be answered in order to improve conservation and management. Despite the need for close integration, there is a frequent disconnect between on the ground managers and research scientists. In this session we will discuss the causes of this disconnect and brainstorm strategies for increasing integration between invasion biology and restoration ecology and protected area management. Specifically, we will: highlight examples of protected area managers using experimental approaches to solve on the ground problems; discuss opportunities for collaboration between academic research scientists and protected area managers; brainstorm tools for increasing communication between managers and scientists; and consider how best to meet the research needs of on the ground managers.