Course Overview
This course is a practical approach to give restorationists and would-be restorationists with little or no scientific training or background the "how to" information and knowledge they need to plan and implement ecological restoration activities. The course sets forth a step-by-step process for developing, implementing, monitoring, and refining on-the-ground restoration projects that is applicable to a wide range of landscapes and ecosystems. The first part of the course introduces the process of ecological restoration in simple, easily understood language through specific examples drawn from text book and local restoration sites. It offers systematic, step-by-step strategies along with inspiration and benchmark experiences. The second half of the course shows how that same "thinking" and "doing" can be applied to North America's major ecosystems and landscapes in any condition or scale. Class content is supported by numerous field tours.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
3.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the importance of: assessing the health of ecosystems, indicators of healthy ecosystems, importance of diversity.
- Describe and implement the ten-step process for ecological restoration.
- Step 1: Mapping and inventory
- Step 2: Investigate the history of the landscape
- Step 3: Interpretation of landscape change
- Step 4: Develop realistic goals and objectives
- Step 5: Prepare a plan
- Step 6: Develop and initiate a monitoring program
- Step 7: Implement the plan
- Step 8: Document change and maintain records
- Step 9: Periodically reevaluate the program
- Step 10: Communication and education
- Develop a restoration plan – a detailed coverage of steps 1 to 8.
- Detail the implementation of a restoration project.
- Working at the right scale
- Where to start
- Establishing desired future condition and using reference ecosystems
- Using ecological succession & natural disturbance in restoration
- Working with nature, not against her
- Recruiting volunteers and hiring professional
- Commonly employed techniques
- A management plan
- Monitor progress.
- Affirming measurable outcomes
- Basic monitoring techniques
- Other benefits of monitoring
- Apply restoration to different types of ecosystems.
- Grassland
- Forest ecosystems
- Wetland restoration
- Stream restoration
- Desert restoration
- Understand restoration needs and funding in B.C.
- Finding funding & stakeholder and community support
- Permits and approvals
- Aquatic and terrestrial restoration priorities in British Columbia
Effective as of Fall 2012
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.