Ecological Restoration, Remediation, and Reconciliation. By: Victoria Rodriguez Rella Firat Claudia Rodriguez

Ecological Restoration It is when we try to restore a habitat or ecosystem to its previous state. We often do not know how the area looked before it was damaged. There might have been changes in climate, soil, and species composition which make it difficult to restore an area to its earlier state. It is when we try to restore a habitat or ecosystem to its previous state. We often do not know how the area looked before it was damaged. There might have been changes in climate, soil, and species composition which make it difficult to restore an area to its earlier state.

Confusion Ecological restoration is often confused with ecological rehabilitation which is the attempt to turn a degraded ecosystem back into functional or useful ecosystems without trying to restore it to its original condition. ? ?

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Ecological Remediation. Remediation is the clean up of chemical contaminants from a site by physical or chemical methods, to protect human health and as a first step towards redevelopment of a site for human use.

An example of ecological remediation is : an abandoned and polluted industrial plant (a brownfield), can be cleaned up and then made into various things such as office buildings, apartments, a sports field, or a park.

Reconciliation What is Reconciliation? – Reconciliation Ecology Involves finding new ways to share the places we dominate with other species. What is Reconciliation? – Reconciliation Ecology Involves finding new ways to share the places we dominate with other species.

To put things in effect Some creative ideas: Placing some monoculture yards in neighborhoods using plant species adapted to local climates. This makes the neighborhood more biologically diverse and interesting Keeps down insects pests Requires less use of noisy polluting lawnmowers In Berlin, Germany people planted gardens on many large roof tops. These roofs can be designed to support a variety of species by varying the depth and type of soil and their exposure to the sun. Some creative ideas: Placing some monoculture yards in neighborhoods using plant species adapted to local climates. This makes the neighborhood more biologically diverse and interesting Keeps down insects pests Requires less use of noisy polluting lawnmowers In Berlin, Germany people planted gardens on many large roof tops. These roofs can be designed to support a variety of species by varying the depth and type of soil and their exposure to the sun.

Case Study Protecting the Bluebirds Bad news: – Bluebird pop declining in the eastern United States Two reasons – These birds only live is tree holes of a certain size, dead or dying trees are great. Timber companies cut the trees off for house companies – Other aggressive birds take over the Bluebirds nest and food need for them during the winter Good news: – People designed nest boxes for the Bluebirds Bad news: – Bluebird pop declining in the eastern United States Two reasons – These birds only live is tree holes of a certain size, dead or dying trees are great. Timber companies cut the trees off for house companies – Other aggressive birds take over the Bluebirds nest and food need for them during the winter Good news: – People designed nest boxes for the Bluebirds

5 things you MUST know about ecological restoration, remediation & reconciliation : 1- Remediation is the cleanup of chemical contaminants on a site so humans can use the land. 2- We need to learn how to share the spaces we dominate with other species. 3- Reconciliation helps endangered animals survive. 4- Habitat loss is the leading cause for both, species extinction and ecosystem service decline. 5- The restored ecosystem will not recover its former state, since some constraints and conditions may cause it to develop along an altered trajectory.

Restoration Picture References oto2.jpg oto2.jpg