Introduction to Restoration & Reclamation Review

摘要: Restoring ecosystems is regarded as one of few ways to reverse trends environmental degradation caused by unsuitable land uses. Attempts cultivate marginal lands, intensively graze arid and urbanize unstable lands have resulted in landscapes possessing cultural or natural benefits society. There growing interest restoring improve water quality, increase biodiversity, reduce soil loss, minimize catastrophic flooding. Successful restoration entails re-establishing soil, hydrologic, vegetative characteristics that existed on a site prior disturbance. Some these may be regained over time through processes whereas others rely interventions. Drastically altered sites within highly disturbed often exhibit the least resiliency almost entirely active measures such amendments revegetation. Developing effective strategies depends our ability predict rates outcomes ecosystem recovery via determine how best intervene stimulate recovery. However, with exceptions, only weak predictions can advanced because scientific basis for scant. Consequently, prone failure. Restoration ecology has been slow develop discipline, although implemented projects potential rich experimental opportunities. How actually comes far more complex than well-controlled experiment. Social perception, economic feasibility, project administration/regulation are important optimizing examples restorations were primarily driven what known structure function very rare. Moreoften, reflect many compromises undocumented. For experimentation, then, lack cannot clearly tracked flawed assumption. The Reclamation Ecology class (Hort 5015) at University Minnesota compiled case-studies during Spring 1996. These case studies augmented lectures concepts relevant restoration. By documenting studies, students explored extent which conceptual understanding implementation. Each study describes location, goals people responsible restoration, interventions planned done, success will evaluated. assembled format an electronic journal. This issue journal remain Web until June 30, 1996 so download copy reappear future terms when taught. Next year's produce second