Science Services
Restoration Ecology Research
Ecological restoration is a science based on altering an area of land or water to emulate or copy a current or former local ecosystem. Reasons for doing this range from stemming the tide of biodiversity loss to both plants and the animals for which they provide habitat, research into the functioning of ecosystems, and compliance with public mandates (Jackson et al. 1995).
Humans depend on ecosystems to provide clean air, clean water, productive soils, and a diversity of plant and animal species. When over-exploited, ecosystems degenerate. Because of population growth, we have de-forested lands, mined mineral resources, exploited grasslands, drained wetlands, and leveed floodplains, Rivers have been diverted, and dammed for water supply, transportation, flood control, hydropower, and recreation. The sustainability of our soil, water and air resources depends on the health of ecosystems.
More effective measures are needed for implementing restoration activities at small and large scales. It is imperative that resources be directed to developing tools for restoring the physical and biological attributes of ecosystems, as well as evaluating their acceptability from economic and sociological perspectives.
Science Services is involved in various aspects of restoration ecology. These areas include:
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