Ecological Restoration

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

During the pre-teaching period, students will be required to research and prepare an advanced draft of the first Assessment task, and read a journal article in preparation for a workshop.

There is a cost for one nights accommodation (~$40) associated with the main field trip in the second week of the subject.

170 hours

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. This course requires all students to enrol in subjects where they must actively and safely contribute to field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Disability Liaison http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/ students email: disability-liaison@unimelb.edu.au

Ecological Restoration examines the principles and practices needed to restore terrestrial ecosystems in a range of modified landscapes from settled to agricultural to forested. Its focus is ecological, although consideration is also given to socio-economic factors that influence restoration programs. Lectures and field trips explore ecological principles and projects from site to landscape scales, encompassing biodiversity values and ecosystem services.

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
• Benefits of ecological restoration

An assignment of maximum 1,250 words (25%; due 3/10/15),

A group project including oral presentation (30%; 3-4 per group; individual presentation for 10 minutes; due 9/10/15),

An assignment of maximum 2,750 words (45%; due 20/11/15).

None

• 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.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.