L11 Ecological Restoration

Question 1

What is ecological restoration?

Answer 1

Is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed by humans (SER 2002 & Gann et al. 2019)

Question 2

What are the aims of ecological restoration? (Quote)

Answer 2

“To move a degraded ecosystem to a trajectory of recovery that allows adaptation to local and global changes, as well as persistence and evolution of its component species” Gann et al, 2019

Question 3

What are the aims of ecological restoration?

Answer 3

-Replacement
-Enhancement
-Rehabilitation
-Restoration

Question 4

What does NbS stand for?

Answer 4

Natural-based solutions

Question 5

What are natural-based solutions?

Answer 5

Actions that
-Protect
-Sustainably manage
-Restore natural or modified ecosystems
that also address societal challenges, providing benefits for human wellbeing and biodiversity benefits

Question 6

What are key points regarding ecological restoration?

Answer 6

1. Creating conditions that result in natural recovery
2. Returning an ecosystem to it’s historical trajectory, not its past condition necessarily

Question 7

What are the benefits to ecological restoration?

Answer 7

-Protects biodiversity
-Improves human health and wellbeing
-Increases food and water security
-Ecosystem goods, services and prosperity
-Supports climate change mitigation and resilience

Question 7

What does SER stand for?

Answer 7

Society of Ecological Principals

Question 8

What is P1 of SER?

Answer 8

Engagement should occur at the beginning allowing stakeholders to help define the vision, targets, goals, objectives and methods of implementation and monitoring
-Engagement of all stakeholders important

Question 8

What is P2 of SER?

Answer 8

Combines expertise (scientific discovery) and traditional (spiritual, beliefs, cultural memories, generational values) and local ecological knowledge of the land

Question 9

What is P3 of SER?

Answer 9

Identifying reference sites (trajectory) for planning and communicating a shared vision of project targets and goals

Question 10

What is P4 of SER?

Answer 10

Enhances and assists natural recovery

Question 11

What is P5 of SER?

Answer 11

Projects scope, vision targets, goals and objectives are clearly identified + specific indicators to measure progress over timer

Question 12

What is P6 of SER?

Answer 12

Achieve the highest practical levels of ecosystem recovery possible appropriate to the circumstances

Question 13

What is P7 of SER?

Answer 13

Scaling-up restoration actions is required to address ecological, climate and global sustainability needs

Question 14

What is P8 of SER?

Answer 14

Restorative continuum offers a holistic approach to repairing the world’s ecosystems, and applies the most appropriate and effective treatment when considering the ecological, social and financial condition

Question 15

What is the definition of ecosystem restoration?

Answer 15

-Focuses solely on the delivery of ecosystem services

Question 16

What is ecosystem integrity?

Answer 16

Ability of an ecosystem to support and sustain characteristic ecological functioning and biodiversity

Question 17

What is ecosystem resilience?

Answer 17

Degree, manner and pace of recovery of ecosystem properties after natural or human disturbance

Question 18

What is rehabilitation?

Answer 18

Management actions that aim to reinstate a level of ecosystem functioning on degraded sites, where the goal is renewed and ongoing provision of ecosystem services

Question 19

What is reclamation?

Answer 19

Process of making severely degraded land fit for cultivation or a state suitable for human use

Question 20

What is rewilding?

Answer 20

Planned reintroduction of a plant or animal species (keystone species) into a habitat from which it has disappeared in an effort to increase biodiversity and restore the health of an ecosystem

Question 21

What is the 5 star system?

Answer 21

-Evaluates and tracks degree of native ecosystem recovery over time compared to the reference site.
-Assesses changes from the baseline condition of the site

Question 22

What is an example of the 5-star system attribute (Absence of threats) at 1 star? Gann et al. 2019

Answer 22

-Further deterioration discontinued
-Site has tenure and management secured
-Gross physical and chemical problems remediated
-Excess nitrogen, pH imbalances etc

Question 23

What is an example of the 5-star system attribute (Absence of threats) at 2 stars? Gann et al. 2019

Answer 23

-Threats from adjacent areas beginning to be managed
-Substrate chemical and physical properties on track

Question 24

What is an example of the 5-star system attribute (Absence of threats) at 3 stars? Gann et al. 2019

Answer 24

-All adjacent threats managed or mitigated to low extent
-Substrate stabilised within natural range and supporting growth of characteristic native biota

Question 25

What is an example of the 5-star system attribute (Absence of threats) at 4 stars? Gann et al. 2019

Answer 25

-All adjacent threats managed or mitigated to intermediate extent
-Substrate securely maintaining conditions suitable for ongoing growth and recruitment of characteristic native biota.

Question 26

What is an example of the 5-star system attribute (Absence of threats) at 5 stars? Gann et al. 2019

Answer 26

-All threats managed or mitigated to high extent
-Substrate exhibiting physical and chemical characteristics highly similar to that of reference ecosystem with evidence they can indefinitely sustain species and processes

Question 27

What is the ecological recovery wheel?

Answer 27

Helps establish, visualize and communicate the level of recovery aspired to

Question 28

What is the Bonn Challenge?

Answer 28

Global challenge to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes into restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.

Question 29

Who launched the Bonn Challenge?

Answer 29

-By German Government and IUCN

Question 30

How many hectares of forest is lost each year?

Answer 30

13 million hectares

Question 31

How many hectares of land is degraded each year?

Answer 31

24 billion tonnes of fertile soil is lost

Question 32

How many countries have pledged to the Bonn Challenge?

Answer 32

61 countries involved, 74 pledges

Question 33

What are examples of ecosystem restoration?

Answer 33

-Erosion control
-Soil restoration
-Replanting

Question 34

What are examples of bad land management?

Answer 34

Deforestation
Industrial agriculture
Overgrazing