Since its emergence in the past decades, restoration ecology has demonstrated an astounding growth as a new discipline of applied science. At the same time, this young discipline has been criticized for its retrospective goals largely based on the past, its fragmented approach, and its idealistic goals, which do not relate to the real world context. Restoration with past-focused, idealistic, and/or ad hoc goals may not work in the future because an ecosystem that is restored for the past environment is not likely to be sustainable in the changing environment of the future, simple recomposition of isolated and fragmented naturalistic patches is not likely to restore ecosystem functions, and unrealistic goals and work plans are not likely to gain public support. We advocate directing the principles and practice of ecological restoration to the future. Futureaimed restoration should acknowledge the changing and unpredictable environment of the future, assume the dynamic nature of ecological communities with multiple trajectories, and connect landscape elements for improving ecosystem functions and structures. In this paper, we discuss the predictability of restoration trajectories under changing environmental conditions, the application of ecological theories to restoration practice, the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and human interventions in ecosystem recovery, and the social context of ecological restoration. Keywords: ecology, environment, future, restoration, sustainability.Résumé : Depuis son émergence dans les dernières décennies, la restauration écologique a démontré une croissance phénoménale en tant que nouvelle discipline scientifique appliquée. En même temps, cette jeune discipline a été critiquée pour ses objectifs rétrospectifs, son approche fragmentaire et ses idéaux qui ne sont pas toujours réalistes. Il est fort possible qu'une restauration orientée vers le passé, avec des objectifs idéalistes et/ou ad hoc ne sera pas fonctionnelle dans l'avenir. En effet, un écosystème restauré en fonction d'un environnement passé ne sera peut être pas viable dans un futur en changement, la réhabilitation vers un aspect naturel de parcelles isolées et fragmentées ne restaurera probablement pas les fonctions de l'écosystème et des objectifs et plans de travail irréalistes ont peu de chance d'obtenir la faveur du public. Nous recommandons d'orienter les principes et la pratique de la restauration écologique vers le futur. Cette restauration tournée vers l'avenir devrait prendre en compte que les environnements futurs seront changeants et imprévisibles, considérer la nature dynamique des communautés écologiques ayant des trajectoires multiples et assurer la connectivité des éléments du paysage pour améliorer les fonctions et structures des écosystèmes. Dans cet article, nous discutons de la prévisibilité des trajectoires de restauration dans des conditions environnementales changeantes, de l'application des théories écologiques à la pratique de la restauration, de l'importance de l'approche mul...

Rapid accumulation of toxic products from reactions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with lipids and proteins significantly contributes to the damage of crop plants under biotic and abiotic stresses. Here we have identified a stress-activated alfalfa gene encoding a novel plant NADPH-dependent aldose/aldehyde reductase that also exhibited characteristics of the homologous human enzyme. The recombinant alfalfa enzyme is active on 4-hydroxynon-2-enal, a known cytotoxic lipid peroxide degradation product. Ectopic synthesis of this enzyme in transgenic tobacco plants provided considerable tolerance against oxidative damage caused by paraquat and heavy metal treatment. These transformants could also resist a long period of water deficiency and exhibited improved recovery after rehydration. We found a reduced production of lipid peroxidation-derived reactive aldehydes in these transformed plants under different stresses. These studies reveal a new and efficient detoxification pathway in plants.

Transgenic tobacco plants that synthesize alfalfa ferritin in vegetative tissues--either in its processed form in chloroplasts or in the cytoplasmic nonprocessed form--retained photosynthetic function upon free radical toxicity generated by iron excess or paraquat treatment. Progeny of transgenic plants accumulating ferritin in their leaves exhibited tolerance to necrotic damage caused by viral (tobacco necrosis virus) and fungal (Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea) infections. These transformants exhibited normal photosynthetic function and chlorophyll content under greenhouse conditions. We propose that by sequestering intracellular iron involved in generation of the very reactive hydroxyl radicals through a Fenton reaction, ferritin protects plant cells from oxidative damage induced by a wide range of stresses.