Natural Resources Conservation 590RE - Restoration Ecology

Restoration ecology is the returning of damaged ecosystems or particular properties of a desired state of ecological health. For purposes of this course, this field can be divided into four topics: 1) remediation of damaged sites where no return to original conditions is possible (e.g. strip-mined sites), 2) restoration of missing natural processes (fire, flood cycles, etc.), 3) return of missing native species or protection of declining native species, and 4) elimination or management of damaging invasive species. Skills for preparation of goals and implementation plans for individual sites will be developed. At the landscape level, knowledge of wildlife restoration, as well as use of tools for management of damaging invasive species (including especially the role of biological control) will be explored.