Ecological Restoration

Subject FRST90034 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

September, Creswick - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Intensive teaching, Creswick and Burnley campuses and during field trips

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Equivalent of 24 hours lectures and 36 hours practical work, delivered in a two-week intensive teaching block.
Total Time Commitment: 60 contact hours over two weeks
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Lauren Bennett, Dr Sabine Kasel

Contact

Melbourne School of Land & Environment Student Centre
Ground Floor, Land & Food Resources (building 142)

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject covers principles and practices of the ecological restoration of terrestrial ecosystems from site to landscape scales. Its focus is ecological, although consideration is also given to socio-economic factors that influence restoration programs. Two field trips provide examples of ecological issues and restoration solutions throughout central Victoria, and are the basis for practical work.
Objectives:

At the end of this subject students will have an advanced understanding of:

  • Properties of degraded versus functioning ecosystems
  • Need for ecological restoration (Australia and elsewhere)
  • Types and goals of ecological restoration at site to landscape scales
  • Planning, legislation, incentive schemes relevant to restoration of native systems
  • Ecological restoration strategies and methods (including harnessing natural processes and planning for climate change)
  • Indicators of ecosystem function and restoration success at different scales (from molecular to plant/animal populations to landscape processes)
  • Benefits of ecological restoration
Assessment:

An assignment of 1000 words (20%), an oral presentation (30%), an assignment of 2500 words (50%).
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts:
  • Whisenant SG (1999) Repairing Damaged Wildlands. A process-orientated, landscape-scale approach. Cambridge University Press. 312pp.
  • Perrow MR, Davy AJ (Eds) (2002) Handbook of Ecological Restoration. Volume 1 Principles of Restoration. Cambridge University Press. 444pp.
  • Walker, L.R., Walker, J., Hobbs, R.J. (2007) Linking Restoration and Ecological Succession. Springer, New York, 190pp.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: http://www.forests.unimelb.edu.au/subjects.html
Related Course(s): Master of Forest Ecosystem Science
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Environmental Science
Environmental Science
Sustainable Forests

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