Ecological Restoration

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the principles underlying restoration ecology and ecological restoration in local, national and global contexts
• Identify the environmental and biological controls on plant community composition and ecosystem structure
• Describe the mechanisms underlying natural successional patterns in vegetation communities, as well as human-induced changes in habitat-type
• Evaluate suitable technologies for the remediation of different types of contaminated land
• Relate habitat management to ecosystem function
• At different scales, plan ecosystem creation or restoration based on the biotic and abiotic context of the area
• Design and assess the feasibility and appropriateness of a habitat restoration scheme.

• The principles of ecological restoration
• Abiotic and biotic controls on community composition
• Practical techniques for effective habitat creation and restoration
• Habitat management for faunal conservation
• Effects of changes in climate and land use on conservation practices
• Habitat case studies; for example wetland, grassland, woodland, heathland, riparian buffer strips
• Contaminated land and remediation technologies
• Contaminated land issues and market size
• Monitoring and modelling contaminants
• Hazard appraisal and risk assessment
• Importance of scale for reconstruction of habitats.