{"id":26,"date":"2021-06-14T01:44:48","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T05:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=26"},"modified":"2021-09-06T17:51:13","modified_gmt":"2021-09-06T21:51:13","slug":"unit-3-principles-and-objectives-of-ecological-restoration","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/chapter\/unit-3-principles-and-objectives-of-ecological-restoration\/","title":{"raw":"Unit 3: Principles and Objectives of Ecological Restoration","rendered":"Unit 3: Principles and Objectives of Ecological Restoration"},"content":{"raw":"<h2>Introduction to Unit 3<\/h2>\r\nIn this unit we will be listening to a presentation by Dave Polster, a plant ecologist with over 40 years of experience in vegetation studies, ecological restoration and invasive species management.\r\n\r\nThe purpose of this unit is to understand the importance of ecological restoration and be able to look for answers to the following questions:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>What is ecological restoration practice?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>What is the importance of a \"reference ecosystem\"?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>What are the common mistakes restorationists make?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>What should we look for?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nAfter successfully completing this unit, you will be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Describe and explain the purpose of ecological restoration<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Recognize importance of UN Declaration of Decade of Ecological Restoration<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAs you watch and listen to the presentation, think about how ecological restoration impacts, or could impact, your work now and in the future. While some of the case studies may not pertain to the work you do now, the principles behind the practice are fundamental and inform work on all scales.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/hiFrMk4luVQ\r\n<h6>Video attribution: \u201c<a class=\"ytp-title-link yt-uix-sessionlink\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hiFrMk4luVQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=player-title\">Let Nature Do the Work<\/a>\u201d\u00a0is licensed under\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CC BY-NC-ND 4.0<\/a>.<\/h6>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">Summary of key points<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<h5>What is Ecological Restoration Practice?<\/h5>\r\nEcological restoration is the process of assisting in the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.\u00a0 (SER 2004).\u00a0 A fundamental distinction between ecological restoration and other forms of ecosystem repair is that ecological restoration seeks to \u2018assist recovery\u2019 of a natural or semi-natural ecosystem rather than impose a new direction or form upon it.\u00a0 That is, the activity of restoration places an ecosystem on a trajectory of recovery so that it can persist and its species can adapt and evolve.\u00a0 (SER 2016).\r\n<h5>What is the importance of a \u201creference ecosystem\u201d?<\/h5>\r\nA fundamental principle of ecological restoration is the identification of an appropriate reference model, commonly called a \u2018reference ecosystem\u2019, taking environmental change into account.\u00a0 The reference ecosystem is meant to represent the site\u2019s ecosystem as it would have been had degradation or damage not occurred, while incorporating the capacity for the ecosystem to adapt to existing and anticipated environmental or climatic change.\u00a0 The reference ecosystem serves as a target for a restoration project, a target based on analysis of local plant and animal species and other biotic and abiotic conditions.\u00a0 A shared vision of restoration targets and specific ecological attributes of the restoration site provides the basis for setting goals and objectives and monitoring and assessing restoration outcomes over time.\r\n<h5>What are the common mistakes?<\/h5>\r\nA common mistake in selecting a reference ecosystem is to look at a later successional stage ecosystem and its species, and to then plant species from that late successional stage.\u00a0 Reference ecosystems did not start out with the species that exist there now \u2013 those species evolved over time and many generations.\u00a0 To properly take the first steps of ecological restoration, look at starting with the early successional species first, and plan to work toward the later successional species and ecosystems over time.\r\n<h5>What should we look for?<\/h5>\r\nNature has been restoring itself on drastically disturbed sites for millennia, and can show us a natural path or trajectory of ecosystem recovery over time.\u00a0 Observe on a disturbed site the following processes: what pioneering species are arriving, and through what means?\u00a0 What may be preventing natural ecological recovery?\u00a0 What natural processes are assisting in the recovery?\u00a0 The next steps are to remove impediments to natural recovery, and to assist (if necessary) in establishing the pioneer species that will start the ecosystem trajectory into recover over time.\u00a0 And allow time and patience to be present, and be open to unexpected positive change\r\n<h5>The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030<\/h5>\r\nThe\u00a0United Nations Decade\u00a0on\u00a0Ecosystem Restoration\u00a02021\u20132030 was conceived as a means of highlighting the need for greatly increased global cooperation to\u00a0restore\u00a0degraded and destroyed\u00a0ecosystems, contributing to efforts to combat climate change and safeguard biodiversity, food security, and water supply.\u00a0 How can First Nations peoples, citizens and professionals working around the globe become involved with the goals and objectives of the upcoming UN Decade on Ecological Restoration?\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;","rendered":"<h2>Introduction to Unit 3<\/h2>\n<p>In this unit we will be listening to a presentation by Dave Polster, a plant ecologist with over 40 years of experience in vegetation studies, ecological restoration and invasive species management.<\/p>\n<p>The purpose of this unit is to understand the importance of ecological restoration and be able to look for answers to the following questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is ecological restoration practice?<\/li>\n<li>What is the importance of a &#8220;reference ecosystem&#8221;?<\/li>\n<li>What are the common mistakes restorationists make?<\/li>\n<li>What should we look for?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>After successfully completing this unit, you will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Describe and explain the purpose of ecological restoration<\/li>\n<li>Recognize importance of UN Declaration of Decade of Ecological Restoration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As you watch and listen to the presentation, think about how ecological restoration impacts, or could impact, your work now and in the future. While some of the case studies may not pertain to the work you do now, the principles behind the practice are fundamental and inform work on all scales.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"oembed-1\" title=\"Let Nature Do the Work\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hiFrMk4luVQ?feature=oembed&#38;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h6>Video attribution: \u201c<a class=\"ytp-title-link yt-uix-sessionlink\" tabindex=\"-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hiFrMk4luVQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-sessionlink=\"feature=player-title\">Let Nature Do the Work<\/a>\u201d\u00a0is licensed under\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CC BY-NC-ND 4.0<\/a>.<\/h6>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">Summary of key points<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<h5>What is Ecological Restoration Practice?<\/h5>\n<p>Ecological restoration is the process of assisting in the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.\u00a0 (SER 2004).\u00a0 A fundamental distinction between ecological restoration and other forms of ecosystem repair is that ecological restoration seeks to \u2018assist recovery\u2019 of a natural or semi-natural ecosystem rather than impose a new direction or form upon it.\u00a0 That is, the activity of restoration places an ecosystem on a trajectory of recovery so that it can persist and its species can adapt and evolve.\u00a0 (SER 2016).<\/p>\n<h5>What is the importance of a \u201creference ecosystem\u201d?<\/h5>\n<p>A fundamental principle of ecological restoration is the identification of an appropriate reference model, commonly called a \u2018reference ecosystem\u2019, taking environmental change into account.\u00a0 The reference ecosystem is meant to represent the site\u2019s ecosystem as it would have been had degradation or damage not occurred, while incorporating the capacity for the ecosystem to adapt to existing and anticipated environmental or climatic change.\u00a0 The reference ecosystem serves as a target for a restoration project, a target based on analysis of local plant and animal species and other biotic and abiotic conditions.\u00a0 A shared vision of restoration targets and specific ecological attributes of the restoration site provides the basis for setting goals and objectives and monitoring and assessing restoration outcomes over time.<\/p>\n<h5>What are the common mistakes?<\/h5>\n<p>A common mistake in selecting a reference ecosystem is to look at a later successional stage ecosystem and its species, and to then plant species from that late successional stage.\u00a0 Reference ecosystems did not start out with the species that exist there now \u2013 those species evolved over time and many generations.\u00a0 To properly take the first steps of ecological restoration, look at starting with the early successional species first, and plan to work toward the later successional species and ecosystems over time.<\/p>\n<h5>What should we look for?<\/h5>\n<p>Nature has been restoring itself on drastically disturbed sites for millennia, and can show us a natural path or trajectory of ecosystem recovery over time.\u00a0 Observe on a disturbed site the following processes: what pioneering species are arriving, and through what means?\u00a0 What may be preventing natural ecological recovery?\u00a0 What natural processes are assisting in the recovery?\u00a0 The next steps are to remove impediments to natural recovery, and to assist (if necessary) in establishing the pioneer species that will start the ecosystem trajectory into recover over time.\u00a0 And allow time and patience to be present, and be open to unexpected positive change<\/p>\n<h5>The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030<\/h5>\n<p>The\u00a0United Nations Decade\u00a0on\u00a0Ecosystem Restoration\u00a02021\u20132030 was conceived as a means of highlighting the need for greatly increased global cooperation to\u00a0restore\u00a0degraded and destroyed\u00a0ecosystems, contributing to efforts to combat climate change and safeguard biodiversity, food security, and water supply.\u00a0 How can First Nations peoples, citizens and professionals working around the globe become involved with the goals and objectives of the upcoming UN Decade on Ecological Restoration?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":120,"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-26","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/120"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/26\/revisions\/89"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/26\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/ecosystemsfuture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}