Ecological restoration for future sustainability in a changing environment

Abstract

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...

Alternative Approaches to Urban Natural Areas Restoration: Integrating Social and Ecological Goals

“…Some have argued that the term restoration should be reserved only for uses that most closely parallel what I have referred to here as classical restoration (Jordan 2003 ) . But in their own unique ways each of these approaches contributes to the idea that in order to be successful, ecological restoration must respond to diverse and evolving social and ecological goals (e.g., Choi et al 2008 ;Hobbs et al 2004 ;Palmer et al 2004 ) . My aim here is to clarify rather than confuse, and together these examples suggest that there are many approaches to natural areas management that provide promising foundations for restoration in urban areas (Hull 2006 ) .…”

“…In light of these impending changes, a growing group of ecologists (e.g., Choi et al 2008 ) argues that restoration efforts should not be constrained by classical notions of historical authenticity but should look toward future-oriented approaches that will continue to sustain critical ecosystem functions.…”

“…While this classical approach to management has led to many successful restoration projects, ecologists and other environmental professionals are increasingly questioning its ef fi cacy in dealing with severely disturbed landscapes (e.g., Martínez and López-Barerra 2008 ) and unpredictable trajectories (e.g., Choi et al 2008 ) . These concerns might be especially apparent in urban areas, where landscape fragmentation, soil and hydrologic alterations, and microclimatic patterns introduce novel and often substantially different effects than what may have occurred historically.…”

Managed Migration of Coast Redwoods: Subjectivity of Stakeholders in Oregon’s Land Use Planning Community

“…Traditional practices of conserving and restoring biodiversity by direct appeal to historical conditions are being reconsidered in the light of rapid environmental change (Seastadt, Hobbs, & Suding, 2008;Choi et al, 2008;McClanahan, 2008). For a species to survive the projected climate change in their current ranges they must tolerate the new conditions, or successfully colonize new areas with suitable conditions.…”

La restauración ecológica clásica y los retos de la actualidad: La migración asistida como estrategia de adaptación al cambio climático

“…En los 90's se hicieron varias propuestas como: el retorno de un sitio degradado a una condición ecológica exacta existente antes del disturbio (Munshower, 1994), o el proceso de inducción y asistencia a los componentes bióticos y abióticos de un ambiente para devolverlos a su estado no deteriorado u original en que se encontraban (Bradshaw, 1997), y una definición similar plantea que la restauración es la creación de un ecosistema con la misma composición de especies y características funcionales del sistema que existía previamente (Urbanska Webb & Edwards, 1997). Queda en evidencia en las anteriores definiciones un dogma central ampliamente retrospectivo y enfocado en el pasado, donde se intenta reconstruir ecosistemas o hábitats que alguna vez existieron (Choi et al, 2008;J. Stanturf, Palik, Williams, Dumroese, & Madsen, 2014).…”