Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chile, fynbos of South Africa and chaparral of Cali-
fornia. In the mediterranean basin, numerous
shrublands occur (garrigue, machia, phyrgana,
tomillares etc.), but there is much debate as to the
differences among them, and concerning the possi-
ble anthropogenic origins thereof. Some shrublands
are clearly derived from
woodlands
.
Socio - ecological system
An ecological system
largely dominated by humans, or in which cultural
activities are thoroughly integrated. It typically con-
sists of a mixture of natural ecosystems,
seminatural
ecosystems
as well as
production systems
, and land or
wetlands
allocated to residences, other buildings,
transport networks and so on all of which are func-
tionally interrelated at least in socio-economic
terms. More succinctly, an
ecosystem
, the manage-
ment of this ecosystem by actors and organizations,
and the rules, social norms, and conventions under-
lying this management (MA 2005).
Species pool
The overall number of biological
species in a biogeographic or climatic region
(regional species pool), a
landscape
(local species
pool) or a specifi c
ecosystem
(community species
pool). See also
assembly rules
.
Stakeholder
Any individual or group directly or
indirectly affected by, or interested in, actions per-
taining to a given resource.
Succession
Sequence of stages in an
ecosystem
' s
structure, species composition and functionality as
the system develops over time, or recovers from the
impact of a
disturbance factor
.
Sustainability
In an economic context, the capacity
of a system to remain productive indefi nitely for the
benefi t of future generations (cf.
sustainable develop-
ment
). Principles or 'rules' of sustainability are (1)
stocks of renewable resources must not be used
faster than they are renewed, (2) waste emissions
must not exceed waste absorption capacity and (3)
essential nonrenewable resources cannot be depleted
any faster than technology develops renewable sub-
stitutes (Daly 1990). It is increasingly recognized
that sustainability includes economic, social, eco-
logical and environmental components (see
sustain-
ability science
). From an individual or citizen
perspective, it depends on all people in a community
living responsibly, ethically and in an environmen-
tally conscious fashion.
Sustainability science
An integrated scientifi c
approach to investigate economic sustainability (see
sustainable development
), social sustainability (
resil-
ience
and shared awareness of responsibility of social
networks and cultural systems towards future gen-
erations) and environmental sustainability (
resil-
ience
of
ecosystems
) (Kates
et al
.
2001 ;
Clark
&
Dickson 2003 ).
Sustainable development
Economic development
that meets the needs of the present generation
without compromising the ability of future genera-
tions to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commis-
sion 1987 ).
Threshold
A point in a
trajectory
beyond which a
system changes dramatically (sometimes referred to
as a state change). Increasingly, managers, and
management communities, are seeking to identify
critical thresholds (e.g. in water quality) beyond
which it is diffi cult to restore an ecological system
without major
interventions
.
Ecological economics
teaches not to allow systems upon which society
depends to even approach critical thresholds of this
kind. Restorationists need to identify thresholds
beyond which
ecosystems
undergoing restoration
can self-restore without further intervention.
Threshold of irreversibility
A degree of impair-
ment to an
ecosystem
which, when it is surpassed, is
too severe to allow recovery of that ecosystem to its
former, intact state by unassisted
succession
. The eco-
system is
disturbed
and
ecological restoration
will be
required.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
Eco-
logical knowledge derived through societal experi-
ences and perceptions accumulated within
traditional societies during their interaction with
nature and natural resources. See also
Local Ecologi-
cal Knowledge
.
Trajectory
The sequence of biotic expressions along
a developmental pathway of an individual
ecosystem
over time. In restoration ecology, the trajectory
begins with the unrestored ecosystem and progresses
towards the desired state of recovery that is expressed
in the goals of a restoration project and embodied in
the ecological
reference system
. The trajectory
embraces all ecological attributes - biotic and abiotic
- of an ecosystem, and in theory can be monitored
by the sequential measurement of coherent suites of
ecological
indicators
(SER 2004 ).
Transdisciplinarity
refers to science and problem -
solving activities wherein scientists and professionals
from various backgrounds work together to tran-
scend their disciplinary habits and preconceptions.
They may also engage actively with nonscientists
