ecological restoration

1. Ecological RestorationEcological Restoration

2. ECOSYSTEM APPROACHECOSYSTEM APPROACH
 Ecosystem approachEcosystem approach – focus on protection of– focus on protection of
whole ecosystems not just individual specieswhole ecosystems not just individual species
 We can help sustain terrestrial biodiversity by:We can help sustain terrestrial biodiversity by:

Identifying and protecting severely threatened areasIdentifying and protecting severely threatened areas
(biodiversity hotspots), sustaining ecosystem(biodiversity hotspots), sustaining ecosystem
servicesservices

Restoring damaged ecosystems (using restorationRestoring damaged ecosystems (using restoration
ecology)ecology)

Sharing with other species much of the land weSharing with other species much of the land we
dominate (using reconciliation ecology)dominate (using reconciliation ecology)

3. ECOSYSTEM APPROACHECOSYSTEM APPROACH
 Map global ecosystems and identify speciesMap global ecosystems and identify species
 Identify resilient and fragile ecosystemsIdentify resilient and fragile ecosystems
 Protect the most endangeredProtect the most endangered
 Restore as many degraded ecosystems asRestore as many degraded ecosystems as
possiblepossible
 Make development biodiversity friendlyMake development biodiversity friendly

4. BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTSBIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS
 34 biodiversity hot spots are rich in plant34 biodiversity hot spots are rich in plant
speciesspecies

2% of earth’s surface, but 50% of flowering plant2% of earth’s surface, but 50% of flowering plant
species and 42% of terrestrial vertebratesspecies and 42% of terrestrial vertebrates

1.2 billion people1.2 billion people

5. Case Study: Madagascar – AnCase Study: Madagascar – An
Endangered Center of BiodiversityEndangered Center of Biodiversity
 The world’s fourth largest islandThe world’s fourth largest island
 Roughly 90% of species found there are uniqueRoughly 90% of species found there are unique
 Severe habitat lossSevere habitat loss
 Population growthPopulation growth
 Less than 3% of land areaLess than 3% of land area
is officially protectedis officially protected

6. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATIONECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
 RestorationRestoration – returning to as close to– returning to as close to
original state as possibleoriginal state as possible
 RehabilitationRehabilitation – attempting to turn a– attempting to turn a
degraded ecosystem back to being functionaldegraded ecosystem back to being functional
 ReplacementReplacement – replacing a degraded– replacing a degraded
ecosystem with another type of ecosystemecosystem with another type of ecosystem
 Creating artificial ecosystemsCreating artificial ecosystems – such as– such as
artificial wetlands for flood reduction andartificial wetlands for flood reduction and
sewage treatmentsewage treatment

7. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATIONECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
 Five basic science-based principles forFive basic science-based principles for
ecological restoration:ecological restoration:

Identify causeIdentify cause

Stop abuse - eliminate or reduce factorsStop abuse - eliminate or reduce factors

Reintroduce species if necessaryReintroduce species if necessary

Protect area form further degradationProtect area form further degradation

Use adaptive management to monitor efforts,Use adaptive management to monitor efforts,
assess successes and modify strategiesassess successes and modify strategies

8. Will Restoration Encourage FurtherWill Restoration Encourage Further
Destruction?Destruction?
 There is some concern that ecologicalThere is some concern that ecological
restoration could promote furtherrestoration could promote further
environmental destruction and degradationenvironmental destruction and degradation

Suggests that any ecological harm can beSuggests that any ecological harm can be
undoneundone

Preventing ecosystem damage is far cheaperPreventing ecosystem damage is far cheaper
than ecological restorationthan ecological restoration

9. WHAT CAN WE DO?WHAT CAN WE DO?
 Eight priorities for protecting biodiversity:Eight priorities for protecting biodiversity:

Take immediate action to preserve world’sTake immediate action to preserve world’s
biological hot spotsbiological hot spots

Keep intact remaining old growthKeep intact remaining old growth

Complete mapping of world’s biodiversity forComplete mapping of world’s biodiversity for
inventory and decision makinginventory and decision making

Determine world’s marine hot spotsDetermine world’s marine hot spots

Concentrate on protecting and restoring lake andConcentrate on protecting and restoring lake and
river systems (most threatened ecosystems)river systems (most threatened ecosystems)

10. WHAT CAN WE DO?WHAT CAN WE DO?

Ensure that the full range of the earth’sEnsure that the full range of the earth’s
ecosystems are included in global conservationecosystems are included in global conservation
strategystrategy

Make conservation profitableMake conservation profitable

Initiate ecological restoration products to healInitiate ecological restoration products to heal
some of the damage done and increase share ofsome of the damage done and increase share of
earth’s land and water allotted to the rest ofearth’s land and water allotted to the rest of
naturenature

It is not how much it will cost to restore the system,It is not how much it will cost to restore the system,
it is how much not restoring the system will costit is how much not restoring the system will cost

11. WHAT CAN WE DO?WHAT CAN WE DO?
 Reconciliation ecologyReconciliation ecology – invent and– invent and
maintain habitats for species diversity wheremaintain habitats for species diversity where
people live, work, and playpeople live, work, and play
 Community-based conservationCommunity-based conservation ––
incorporate improvement of lives of localincorporate improvement of lives of local
people while conserving areaspeople while conserving areas

12. Fig. 10-27, p. 219
• Adopt a forest.
• Plant trees and take care of them.
• Recycle paper and buy recycled paper products.
• Buy sustainable wood and wood products.
• Choose wood substitutes such as bamboo furniture
and recycled plastic outdoor furniture, decking, and
fencing.
• Restore a nearby degraded forest or grassland.
• Landscape your yard with a diversity of plants
natural to the area.
• Live in town because suburban sprawl reduces
biodiversity.
Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity
What Can You Do?