Course Overview
Terrestrial Ecosystem Restoration covers the principles (science) and practice (art) of restoration of terrestrial ecosystems with particular reference to problems and procedures in the Pacific Northwest and BC. The course focuses on a regional overview of the biogeography and environmental history of the Pacific Northwest. The process of ecological restoration, from goal setting and project planning through to monitoring and adaptive management will be discussed. Intensive examination of ecological restoration of the major ecosystems of the region will be conducted, along with managing natural areas in urban environments, invasive species, climate change, and management at different scales. Students will use this information to design (and present to fellow students and clients) a restoration plan for a specific BC ecosystem, including: identifying a `degraded', `damaged', `destructed', or `transformed' ecosystem; identify (through sampling and background research) their `reference ecosystem'; setting goals and objectives; design a restoration plan and monitoring (adaptive management) protocol; and their planned public education activities.
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Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course the student will be able to:
- Interpret the importance of ecological restoration in relation to human activities and survival.
- Relate ecosystem health to global environmental problems and sustainability issues.
- Differentiate among the terminology used in ecosystem restoration: degraded, damaged, destructed, & transformed ecosystems; reference ecosystems; and, restore, reclaim, & rehabilitate ecosystems.
- Discuss the primary ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest, including their ecosystem structural and functional processes; their restoration issues, challenges, and techniques.
- Evaluate methods and approaches to restoring specific terrestrial ecosystems (i.e. identifying the problem, referencing the ecosystem, and selecting appropriate methods to meet planned objectives).
- Monitor, assess, and adapt management options for restored ecosystems Research, design, and implement a restoration project by applying underlying principles of ecosystem restoration.
- Critically analyze the inter-relatedness of ecosystem components in order to interpret, evaluate, and solve complex ecological problems.
- Crtically assess an ecosystem restoration project and defend its choice compared to alternatives such as impact avoidance,rehabilitation, do nothing, etc. .
- Collaborate effectively within teams and with a partner in analyzing and presenting discussions of important concepts and papers.
Effective as of Fall 2009
Related Programs
Terrestrial Ecosystem Restoration (RENR 8101) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Construction and the Environment
- Ecological Restoration
Bachelor of Science Full-time/Part-time
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