Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ing backwards, with one eye, while looking steadfastly
forward with the other one! Finally, on the right-hand
y -axis of Fig. 17.3, we present the hypothesis that the
benefit/cost ratio of an ecosystem (or socio-economic
system) undergoing reorientation increases with time
from the initiation of restoration.
In closing this section, we suggest that despite
cost and difficulty of set-up, an over-arching series
of needs - for practitioners, far-sighted stakeholders
and researchers alike - is to collaborate on the devel-
opment and maintenance of:
C
Reference C
B
Reference B
Reference A
A
Initiation of ER
• large and long-term ecological research sites;
• long-term gradient studies encompassing one or
several ecotones or ecoclines; and
• demonstration and experimental sites for selection,
and presentation of species selected for projects and
the various field techniques available.
Time
Fig. 17.3 A new approach to ecosystem restoration.
See text for discussion.
schemas of this sort, wherein biodiversity, ecosystem
functioning and the like were utilized separately to
describe this dimension of the graph. For the sake of
brevity and simplicity, the presence or absence of
significant threshold-crossings (see Fig. 16.2) has
been ignored here. Further, it should be noted that
the ecosystem under manipulation is depicted as a
simple circle, and is considered as an emerging eco-
system, moving inexorably towards the future, as
mentioned above. It changes, over time, in terms of
composition, rate of functioning and, above all,
relative degree of ecological and socio-economic
integration with its broader setting. Loss or addition
of outer, concentric circles relate to the relative degree
of linkages between the ecosystem and its surround-
ings. To date, the most common usage of this term,
when applied to parks and other protected areas, has
been geographical, physical and biological in nature.
Yet the notion of linkages must be extended to a wider
and more comprehensive usage, including socio-
economic as well as other ecological connections.
From the point where a decision is taken to engage
the process, and for each stage or phase (A, B, C, etc.)
of ecological restoration, an appropriate reference
can theoretically be found, or constructed from the
previous or presumed time-space in which the system
showed both higher degrees of linkages, and also higher
levels of health and natural capital in the sense that
these terms were used in Chapter 16. In this scenario,
the restorationist is, like a chameleon, always look-
Ecological restoration takes much time and space,
and lots of people. It is absolutely essential that local
people, especially stakeholders and young people, are
incorporated into the process. Similarly, appropriate
spatial scales need to be embraced, with a nested
hierarchical or landscape perspective to the complex
problems of ecological restoration and CMR. We will
address these questions further in the following
section.
17.4 Missing tools
17.4.1 Specific methods and general
strategies
The statement 'think globally and act locally' applies
well to ecological restoration. However, ecological
restoration projects are essentially local, in terms of
the constraining physical and biological conditions, and
especially in terms of local social and cultural link-
ages, or absence thereof. This fact frequently explains
difficulties in communication among researchers
and practitioners coming from culturally and socio-
economically distinct countries. The refinement of
biome-specific methods and broad strategies for
fine-tuning or adjustments of a technical or engineer-
ing nature is very much required, as highlighted in
almost every chapter of Part 3 of this topic, and in
 
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