Abstract

Restoration Ecology: Living According to Nature

Restoration of ecosystems goes beyond the traditional environmental focus on preserving nature or identifying and mitigating the pollution of ecosystems. Instead, it seeks to improve or even to recreate damaged or destroyed forests, marshes, riverbanks and other natural areas. From the California redwoods to the industrial rivers of New England, local residents are working to rehabilitate areas that have suffered the ravages of modern civilization. The ecology movement must insure that restoration is carried out with local support, including a commitment from inhabitants of restored regions to practice logging methods, farming techniques or urban planning, that will keep the restored ecosystems in good health. Lasting restoration cannot be achieved by just throwing government programs at the landscape.