Course Overview
This course will provide an overview of the principles of ecological restoration and sustainability as they relate to industrial ecology (forestry, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, hydro-electric power), ecological restoration and succession, and urban world issues (e.g., climate change and sustainability). Case studies involving "real life" restoration scenarios will be examined to gain knowledge on issues and insights to problems and strategies for balancing environmental, social, and economic perspectives for each of the land development, resource extraction and climate change categories. Ecological restoration will also be discussed in the perspective of it being one of several options for responding to disturbance or degradation of ecosystems and to ensure sustainability objectives.
Prerequisite(s)
- Acceptance into the Ecological Restoration degree program or by departmental approval.
Credits
3.0
- Retired
- This course has been retired and is no longer offered. Find other Flexible Learning courses that may interest you.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Outline the concept of sustainability and restorative development as it relates to ecological restoration of both the built and natural environment.
- Classify the ecological stressors introduced to natural systems by industry and other human induced impacts such as climate change and how the removal or regulation of these stressors can restore the integrity of damaged ecosystems.
- Evaluate measures that can be implemented to enhance sustainability and restore ecological systems within the following land development, industrial or resource extraction and climate change activities.
- Discuss urban, commercial, and industrial land development (Smart Growth concepts, brownfield restoration, stream daylighting, riparian management etc.). Discuss urban sprawl and planning strategies for sustainable, smart communities.
- Discuss principles of sustainability and ecological restoration within our forestry management (over harvesting, pine beetle kill, road de-activation, watershed restoration, riparian management, etc.).
- Discuss principles of sustainability and ecological restoration within mining (end land use planning, reclamation projects, acid mine drainage etc.).
- Discuss principles of sustainability and ecological restoration within agriculture (soil erosion, aquifer and stream water quality, range and grassland restoration, riparian buffers).
- Discuss principles of sustainability and ecological restoration within oil and gas (stream crossing culverts, reclamation projects).
- Discuss principles of sustainability and ecological restoration within hydro-electric power (dam modification, decommissioning, fish & wildlife habitat restoration, changes to System Operations and downstream flows, reduction in elevated Total Gas Pressure, nutrient addition to reservoirs and streams to mitigate losses of marine derived nutrients).
- Assess an ecological restoration project from a variety of perspectives, including socio-economic, First Nations, health and safety, climatic changes and scientific.
Effective as of Fall 2012
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.