What is restoration?

Question 1

What is the meaning of “actions to speed up the return of an

ecosystems’ INTEGRITY”?

Answer 1

Characteristic BIODIVERSITY and normal ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING

Question 2

What is the meaning of “actions to speed up the return of an

ecosystems’ “HEALTH”?

Answer 2

Functions NORMALLY relative to its ecological stage of development (reference site)

Question 3

What is the meaning of “actions to speed up the return of an

ecosystems’ “RESISTANCE”?

Answer 3

Ecosystem’s ability to maintain structure and function in the face of STRESS and DISTURBANCES

Question 4

Intact mangrove and seagrass ecosystem

Degraded mangrove and seagrass ecosystem

Answer 4

See slide 13 and 14

Question 5

NOT DEGRADED mangrove and seagrass ecosystem

Answer 5

1. Integrity: high diversity of native plants and
   animals, high ecosystem functioning.
2. Health: good water quality, high storm
   buffer capacity, high biomass production.
3. Resistance: fishing and tourism offers
   sustainable income; protection against
   storms.

Question 6

DEGRADED mangrove and seagrass ecosystem

Answer 6

1. Integrity: low plant and animal diversity,
   low biomass production
2. Health: bad water quality, low storm buffer
   capacity.
3. Stability: Tourism and fishing reduced, socio economical changes for local population.

Question 7

What is RESTORATION?

Answer 7

Return of previous STRUCTURE AND SPECIES DIVERSITY

• Plant original tree species,
• Erosion protection, and
• Allow for the reestablishment of original fish, possibly reintroduce them.

Question 8

What is REHABILITATION?

Answer 8

Return of PRODUCTIVITY

• Plant profitable species
• Introduce aquaculture

Question 9

What is REGENERATION?

Answer 9

Return of NATIVE SPECIES with or without help

Question 10

Graph of Ecosystem function vs Species and complexity

Answer 10

See slide 21

Question 11

Possible sources for a reference ecosystem:

Answer 11

• Description, species lists, maps before the disturbance
• Historical and new aerial photos
• Remaining areas
• Description of similar undisturbed ecosystems
• Herbarium and museum samples
• Paleoecological evidence: pollen analysis, tree rings, marcrorests.

Question 12

Problem with reference ecosystem :

Answer 12

• Climate change:
Hemlock forests

• What is the goal? Pristine?
• Extensive cultural landscape? From when?
• Nothing left…..

Question 13

Ecology ↔ Restoration

Answer 13

• In order to restore an ecosystem, you must understand it very well
• During a restoration project, you learn a lot about the ecosystem