Why People Matter in Ecological Restoration

Ecological restoration requires value-laden choices about what goals, references, and methods to use in a particular area. The restoration ecology literature has identified a number of interrelated dilemmas pertaining among others to the use of historical references or the creation of novel ecosystems and to the selection of appropriate measures of intervention. In this study, we investigate the narratives that Dutch professionals in ecological restoration use to justify these choices and we analyze the values, beliefs, and human-nature relationships they reflect. Based on our analysis, we identify three interrelated sets of values, beliefs, and human-nature relationships, which we call here narrative clusters. These are: (1) virtuous stewardship, which foregrounds human responsibility to care for nature; (2) autonomous nature, which foregrounds the self-regulating capacities of nature; and (3) pragmatic wise use, which foregrounds the use of nature by humans and the importance of practical considerations. These narrative clusters connect well with established sociological and philosophical classifications of nature and human-nature relationships. However, our analysis also shows that in the navigation of the different dilemmas of conservation, practitioners draw on a wide variety of arguments to justify their practices. In doing so, they blur the boundaries between different views of nature, between ethical and pragmatic arguments, and between nature and culture. We conclude the article by reflecting on the implications of these findings for the conceptualization and practice of restoration. Key words: environmental philosophy and sociology, narrative analysis, restoration practice, views of nature Conceptual Implications• Main dilemmas in restoration revolve around the question of why to restore, what to restore (to), and how to restore. • Restorationists draw on multiple beliefs, values, and nature-human relationships to justify their choices and decisions. • Decisions in the practice of ecological restoration are not only grounded in ethical considerations but also justified by pragmatic arguments. • Although naturalness is an important concept guiding restoration, its meaning is ambiguous. • The justification of restoration involves a blurring of boundaries between ecocentric and biocentric values, between ethics and pragmatism, and between nature and culture.

Section: Reflectionssupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Intrinsic value here refers to the opinion that nature has a value of itself, which should be preserved and restored. However, ecological restoration can be also seen as an economic investment in the ecosystem services that an area can deliver (Hull et al ; Egan et al ). Some authors (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ideals and pragmatism in the justification of ecological restoration

Hertog

Turnhout

2018

“…It stresses a stewardship perspective that recognizes the multiple layers of meaning in our natural landscapes (Hourdequin & Havlick ). Welchman (, p 303), for example, defines environmental stewardship as “responsible management of human activity affecting the natural environment to ensure the conservation and preservation of natural resources and values for the sake of future generations of human and other life on the planet.” The value of linkages between social and ecological objectives is recognized in many restoration projects (Egan et al ) and in nature conservation initiatives, such as Integrated Conservation and Development Programs, Community Conservation Plans (see, e.g. Salafsky & Wollenberg ; Brown ; Berkes ), and Payment for Environmental Services (Engel et al ), to cite some examples.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilitarian and nonutilitarian valuation of natural resources: a game‐theoretical approach

Swart

Zevenberg

2017

Ecological services such as food, fresh water, fuel, minerals, and flood control-to name only a few-are essential conditions for human well-being. Many of the areas that provide such services-wetlands, coastal areas, and deserts-are common pool resources, which are characterized by nonexcludability and subtractability that makes them vulnerable to collective action problems such as the prisoner's dilemma, where individual and collective interests collide and ultimately result in overexploitation and degradation. Damaged areas that provide ecological services are increasingly recognized as targets for ecological restoration. However, restored areas run the risk of backsliding to the previous state if their common pool characteristics are ignored. Collective action problems are often analyzed from a game-theoretical perspective that usually assumes rational, self-interested individuals, who do not take collective and nonutilitarian perspectives into account. However, people do not value natural resources just for utilitarian reasons but also because of ethical nonutilitarian ones. This paper develops a multiple-actor game-theoretical approach to one's "value achievement" by taking into account both utilitarian and nonutilitarian perspectives. It demonstrates that someone's value achievement is contingent on choices made by others and that considering nonutilitarian perspectives may avoid the prisoner's dilemma. Accordingly, this model was empirically tested and confirmed by a survey among life sciences and biology students by presenting them a hypothetical case of a restored natural area. Based on these results, it is argued that emphasizing nonutilitarian considerations may be an important additional strategy in conservation and restoration projects.

“…Stakeholder participation has gained increasing interest in environmental disciplines, including ecological restoration. During the last decades, a growing number of restoration initiatives have incorporated participatory approaches (Egan et al ). However, such initiatives still face a variety of hurdles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A proposed framework for participatory forest restoration in semiarid areas of North Africa

Derak

Cortina

Taïqui

et al. 2017

Ecological restoration is a suitable tool to revert land degradation in semiarid areas. Social participation is increasingly considered as a guarantee for the long‐term success and sustainability of restoration projects. In rural areas of North African countries, experiences of participatory restoration are still not frequent, and poverty and illiteracy with top‐down approaches boost land‐use conflicts and raise skepticism toward restoration programs. We developed a framework for forest restoration based on knowledge share, trust, and active stakeholder participation in all restoration steps. The framework was tested through a demonstrative project aimed at restoring Tetraclinis articulata forests in a semiarid area of North Morocco, in which scientists, managers, and local stakeholders were involved in all steps of the restoration process: identification of restoration priorities, assessment of land‐use options, definition of the restoration procedure, participatory plantation, evaluation, surveillance, and monitoring. In a 1 ha plot, 250 plants were planted by 90 participants in a spirit of knowledge exchange, mutual aid, environmental education, and social solidarity. After 2 years, the plot remains intact, free of any act of vandalism and grazing, and shows signals of improved ecosystem functioning. A wider application of the proposed framework in current restoration strategies will enhance our understanding of the factors behind social acceptance and support for restoration projects.