Ecological Restoration: Principles, Values and Structure of an Emerging Profession

In the field of natural resources, we view a world of damaged or destroyed ecosystems in desperate need of attention. For scholars, practitioners, and decision makers the emerging field of ecological restoration has the attractive appeal of a discipline that focuses specifically on dealing directly with these issues. Unfortunately, environmental problem solving is not that easy and it is evident that long-term project success requires more than a consideration of the dynamics and interactions of plant and animal biology and ecology. An understanding of underlying current and historic dynamics, cultural origins and barriers, even economics may be essential for a project’s success. Even the seemingly simple task of defining the project goal is convoluted by the choice to repair, restore, or regenerate the site. Consequently, these complexities of ecological restoration are frustrating, even overwhelming. Not surprisingly, there is an opening for a text which consolidates, or at least overviews, the wealth of material needed to come to terms with the required multidisciplinary approach. Clewell and Aronson’s Ecological Restoration, Principles, Values and Structure of an Emerging Profession is the latest response to this call which so far has been left wanting. The authors claim to offer an account of underlying principles of ecological restoration to those involved in its practice from designers to managers, and also to other professions such as conservation and ecological engineering which may be directly or indirectly associated with the principles of restoration. Consequently, the language style is directed to those who do not necessarily have a strong background in natural resources. For example, the authors do not delve into the details of the science of ecology, but they do an admirable job of describing those ecological principles which underpin successful restoration such as: alternative states, ecosystem disturbance and dynamics, ecosystem trajectories, invasive species, even the slippery discussion of the relevance of native species. Similarly, from a sociological perspective, there is a useful discussion of the holistic nature of ecological restoration which links personal, cultural and socio-economic values to the site ecology. The book is separated into five sections: Introduction and Essential Background, Elements of Restoration Projects, Values that Restoration Addresses, Structure of an Emerging Profession and Holistic Ecological Restoration. In each section, there are accompanying case studies or “virtual fieldtrips” which help to loosely place the discussed topics into a realworld context. These case studies vary from direct intervention of ecosystem processes, piling of cut brush along contours for arid land restoration in Australia; to the encouragement of revised cultural practices through the introduction of agroforestry techniques to improve ranchland sustainability in Chile; to wholesale restoration techniques involving plant reintroduction and reestablishment of former hydrology in a drained peatland in Germany. These are adequately illustrated and there is a fair spread of examples from both the developed and developing world. The holistic nature of ecological restoration is both appealing and daunting. There is little doubt that the evolution of the discipline will continue to rely heavily on the tight feedback loop between practice, science and principle, and for this reason any discussion must incorporate all three components. Clewel and Aronson accomplish this very effectively and present an excellent introduction for scholars, practitioners and decision makers. Through its very nature, ecological restoration is forcing a multidisciplinary approach to environmental problem solving, and this book successfully prepares the reader for the spectrum of issues needed to be considered for project success.