That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology,
but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.
- Aldo Leopold
but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics.
- Aldo Leopold
Introduction
Edited by Kristy Butts and Ellen McWade
In 1935, Leopold and his family initiated what is considered the first conscious ecological restoration experiment. It took place on a washed-out sand farm of 120 acres along the Wisconsin River near Baraboo, Wisconsin. Planting thousands of pine trees, restoring prairies, and documenting the ensuing changes in the flora and fauna inspired Leopold to write A Sand Country Almanac. This collection of essays is considered to be a landmark book in the American conservation movement. It has had over two million copies printed and has been translated into nine languages. Ecological Restoration is the study and action of renewing a degraded, damaged and or destroyed ecosystem through human intervention. The scientific field of restoration ecology was first identified and coined in the late 1980s by John Aber and William Jordan. The study of restoration ecology has become a robust and independent scientific discipline only over the last two decades. This chapter contains articles that introduce readers to the theories and practices of ecological restoration founded on the principles of Aldo Leopold. The following articles and chapters will outline what defines the practice of restoration ecology, and what it takes to successfully restore an ecosystem. These articles will also give readers a better understanding of the concepts of restoration theory and how they can be involved, as well as lay out examples of successful case studies that will highlight the positive and profound, effects of restoration work.
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Articles
Article 1: World Changing: A User's Guide for the 21st CenturyArticle 2: Ecological Restoration: Guidance from Theory
Article 3: Restoration Ecology: Theory and Practice
Article 4: Towards an Ecological Restoration Network: Reversing Land Degradation in Latin America
Article 5: Guidelines for Developing and Managing Ecological Restoration Projects
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Conclusion
By Alexandra LukensEdited by Kristy Butts and Ellen McWade
Anyone can be involved and experience inspiring transformations through ecological restoration. Now that you have an understanding of the history, theory, and practice of restoration ecology, you can now continue on to the next chapters for a more detailed explanation of the many aspects that go into the processes of ecological restoration.
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Discussion Questions
1. What challenges will be faced in restoration projects?
2.Who is already engaged in restoration projects and how can we involve more people?
3.How does ecological restoration relate to other aspects of environmentalism?
4.What if a restoration project fails to meet the goals?
5.How can restoration projects be made accessible to everyone (special needs, etc.)?
6.Are we really responsible for the damage of these ecosystems?
7.Why should we restore sites if they are just going to get trampled on again?
8.How can we be sure to care for our own selves, while also repairing damaged land, without burning out?
9. How do we bridge the gulf between ecological restoration theory and practice?
10. What are the major challenges behind ecological restoration?
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