Ecological Restoration

Note:  This course is cross-listed and taught jointly with ESCI 470  Ecological Restoration.

Prereq:  Fair 206A or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

Long-term solutions to contemporary environmental problems involve not just conservation of the natural world, but increasingly the restoration of ecologically healthy landscapes and communities.  This course introduces students to the science and practice of restoring ecological systems.  We will examine the implications of ecological theory for understanding how natural landscapes change under the impacts of human activities.  We also will review case studies where shifts in natural resource use and environmental policies have helped restore the ecological health of forests, rivers, grasslands, and other ecosystems.  Students will gain practical skills by working collaboratively to plan, implement, and evaluate an ecological restoration project at a local field site.  As part of the interdisciplinary focus of this course, we also will connect our scientific understanding to social, philosophical, and psychological meanings of ecological restoration as experienced by individuals, communities, and cultures.        

Texts:  Reading assignments will be drawn from scientific journals and other primary texts, and distributed via Canvas. 

Credit/evaluation: Regular attendance and informed contribution to discussions is essential.  Evaluation will be based on each student’s grasp and understanding of the issues presented in the readings.  Students also will:  1) work in teams to research, plan, implement, and evaluate an ecological restoration project locally;  2) document their restoration work with a written final report and oral presentation;  and 3) complete at least 3 hours of service learning (i.e. one morning or afternoon) with a local or regional conservation organization involved in ecological restoration.