Restoration Ecology

Restoration Ecology
Nick carson at English Wikipedia · Public domain · source
Name	Restoration Ecology
Focus	Ecological restoration, habitat rehabilitation, biodiversity recovery
Related	Conservation biology, Restoration ecology

Contents

Restoration Ecology Restoration Ecology is the scientific practice of repairing ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed, combining fieldwork, experimental science, and applied policy to reestablish ecological structure and function. It draws on principles from conservation biology, landscape ecology, restoration practice, and environmental management to guide projects conducted by organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, International Union for Conservation of Nature, United Nations Environment Programme, and governmental agencies like the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environment Agency (England). The field interacts with landmark initiatives and events including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ramsar Convention, the Paris Agreement, the Rio Earth Summit, and programs such as REDD+, Natura 2000, and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

Definition and Scope

Restoration Ecology defines objectives for restoring ecosystems by integrating knowledge from researchers and practitioners affiliated with institutions like Smithsonian Institution, Royal Society, National Academy of Sciences (United States), Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and European Environment Agency. Scope ranges from local projects managed by groups such as Monarch Watch, Coastal Restoration Trust, and Society for Ecological Restoration to multinational efforts involving European Commission, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and African Union. Work spans habitats prominent in conservation discourse—wetlands exemplified by Everglades, Okavango Delta, and Doñana National Park; forests including Amazon Rainforest, Boreal Forests, and Daintree Rainforest; grasslands like the Great Plains (North America), and marine systems such as the Great Barrier Reef, Chesapeake Bay, and Gulf of Mexico.

The modern movement traces intellectual roots through figures and events associated with Aldo Leopold, the Dust Bowl, and early restoration projects like the Yellowstone National Park conservation efforts and reforestation after the Industrial Revolution. Scientific maturation was influenced by seminal meetings and publications linked to Society for Ecological Restoration International, conferences at Smithsonian Institution, and texts promoted by institutions such as University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, University of Oxford, Wageningen University, Yale University, and University of Queensland. Policy drivers include international accords like the Convention on Biological Diversity and national laws such as the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and restoration programs under the European Union Common Agricultural Policy. Funding and implementation tied to agencies and foundations such as the National Science Foundation (United States), Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and multilateral banks shaped practice and research priorities.

Core principles draw on ecological theory developed by scientists associated with Charles Darwin-inspired evolutionary theory, G. Evelyn Hutchinson's ecosystem concepts, Eugene Odum's ecosystem ecology, and landscape ideas advanced by Aldo Leopold and Ian McHarg. Approaches vary: passive restoration employed in projects coordinated by groups like National Trust (United Kingdom) and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; active restoration used by agencies such as United States Forest Service and organizations like The Nature Conservancy; and adaptive management frameworks promoted by Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and researchers from Stanford University and Imperial College London. Planning often references benchmarks from historical ecology studies at institutions like British Ecological Society and Australian Academy of Science and integrates indigenous knowledge recognized by bodies such as United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and tribal authorities including the Navajo Nation.

Common techniques include revegetation practiced in projects like Loess Plateau rehabilitation and Great Green Wall (Africa); invasive species control used in sites impacted by species tracked by International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List assessments; hydrological restoration exemplified by work in the Everglades and Mekong Delta; soil amelioration methods applied in post-mining reclamation overseen by agencies like Mine Rehabilitation Trusts and projects funded by European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Practices incorporate assisted migration debated among scientists at Royal Society forums, rewilding promoted by organizations like Rewilding Europe and advocates such as George Monbiot, and ecological engineering approaches used in urban contexts by planners from UN-Habitat and universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Monitoring and metrics derive from frameworks developed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Convention on Biological Diversity indicators, and long-term studies coordinated by networks such as Long Term Ecological Research Network.

Goals include biodiversity recovery aligned with targets set under the Convention on Biological Diversity and Aichi Biodiversity Targets, ecosystem service restoration emphasized in reports by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and IPBES, carbon sequestration relevant to the Paris Agreement, and social outcomes such as livelihoods promoted by agencies like Food and Agriculture Organization and United Nations Development Programme. Outcomes are assessed through metrics used by International Union for Conservation of Nature, academic programs at University of Cambridge and University of British Columbia, and monitoring initiatives like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Successful examples are cited in restoration of Prairies, Mangroves in Bangladesh and Philippines, and coral recovery projects on Great Barrier Reef reefs, while socioeconomic benefits are documented in community-led programs supported by World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Key challenges involve reconciling goals outlined by bodies such as the Convention on Biological Diversity with land-use policies influenced by European Union farming subsidies and national development agendas from entities like the Department of Agriculture (United States). Controversies include debates over assisted migration discussed at symposiums hosted by Royal Society and National Academy of Sciences (United States), conflicts between rewilding advocates like George Monbiot and local stakeholders represented in forums by International Union for Conservation of Nature, and ethical questions raised by cases such as species reintroductions associated with Yellowstone National Park wolf restoration. Other issues involve funding priorities set by foundations like the Gates Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation, measurement disputes debated in journals affiliated with Ecological Society of America and British Ecological Society, and governance complexities spanning international agreements including the Ramsar Convention and regional plans like Natura 2000.