Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Work is also needed to develop models of governance suited to restoring social and
ecological systems. Treating restoration as a social as well as an ecological endeavor
implies that the systems in need of restoration are integrated and function at multiple
spatial and temporal scales. Many scholars claim that interdisciplinary and coopera-
tive approaches are needed for addressing such complex systems (Holling and Meffe
1996; Folke et al. 2005). They argue that the governance and management of socio-
ecological systems—that is, the interaction between user groups and ecosystem goods
and services—must necessarily be participatory, equitable, and accountable (Lebel et
al. 2006).
Regardless of their weaknesses, integrating the social and ecological concepts of
capital, community, and resilience may yield a useful conceptual framework for res-
toration. These concepts help describe relationships between ecosystem restoration
and community development. They have utility in that they may direct research agen-
das to address human values, equity, power, access, and control in relation to decision
making and distribution of the benefits of ecological restoration. Such a framework
would make it possible for restoration initiatives to consider the stocks of social and
natural capital that foster the adaptive capacity of the ecosystems they are working
with. Practical applications that could foster social capital and socioecological re-
silience could include hiring community organizers on restoration projects to con-
duct community trainings or coordinate networks, or building collaborative planning
or applied education components into restoration projects.
Conclusion
In our view, ecological restoration is a value-driven social process. It requires not only
a firm foundation of sound ecological science but also a critical understanding of the
dynamic interactions and relationships among people and between people and the
landscapes they inhabit. Its success depends on being compatible with social as well as
ecological realities, and on effective mobilization of human and social capital. It
might follow that through such mobilization, socially conscious ecological restoration
could promote development of greater stores of human and social as well as natural
capital.
We close with a brief checklist of questions and considerations to help the practic-
ing ecological restorationist apply the lessons of this chapter when contemplating eco-
logical restoration:
1. Question received wisdom about local ecological history. Critically analyze
available historical data. Ask, who is privileged in this telling of history? Who is
left out? Whose interests are served? Whose are not?
2. Consider how changing human use has shaped the existing landscape. What
cultural values are evident in the landscape?
3. Question prevailing assumptions about the existing landscape and its current
use. In addition to considering the ownership pattern, what patterns of access
and use can be detected? Who is making use of various landscape elements?
What is valued by whom?
