Restoration Ecology and Sustainable Development

Paperback  352 pp, 75 diags, 9 illus, 3 colour plates  ISBN 0521337283      £30.00

The problem of ecosystem damage is international; a recent estimate suggests that 43% of the earth's terrestrial surface has a reduced capacity to supply benefits to humanity because of recent direct impacts of land use. The discipline of restoration ecology aims to provide a scientifically sound basis for the reconstruction of degraded or destroyed ecosystems and to produce self-supporting systems which are, to some degree, resilient to subsequent damage. This book looks at the main issues with a broad perspective, using case studies where appropriate and considering the economic and social context in which restoration is carried out. It is essential to reverse current trends by developing and using our knowledge of how to restore ecosystems. The book is therefore important for scientists, professionals in ecological restoration, landscape architects and environmental engineers, and more generally for those involved in sustainable development.

Contents

Foreword Pehr Enckell; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Why restoration? Krystyna M. Urbanska, Nigel R. Webb and Peter J. Edwards; 2. What do we mean by restoration? Anthony D. Bradshaw; Part I. Ecological Basis of Restoration: 3. Restoration as an ecosystem process: implications of the modern ecological paradigm V. Thomas Parker and Steward T. A. Pickett; 4. Importance of soil ecology in restoration science A. D. Bradshaw; 5. Soil microorganisms, mycorrhiza and restoration ecology Kurt Haselwandter; 6. Safe sites - interface of plant population ecology and restoration ecology Krystyna M. Urbanska; 7. The role of plant-animal mutualism in the design and restoration of natural communities Steven N. Handel; 8. The development of criteria for ecological restoration Nigel R. Webb; Part II. The Implementation and Assessment of Restoration Schemes: 9. Restoring alpine ecosystems in the United States: environmental constraints, disturbance characteristics and restoration success Jeanne C. Chambers; 10. Restoration of eroded areas in Iceland Sigurdur H. Marnusson; 11. Invertebrates assist the restoration process: an Australian perspective Jonathan D. Majer; 12. Terrestrial arthropods as ecological indicators of habitat restoration in southwestern North America K. S. Williams; 13. Tidal wetland restoration and creation along the east coast of North America William A. Niering; 14. Options for restoration and management of coastal salt marshes in Europe Jan P. Bakker, Peter Esselink, Rene van der Wal and Kees S. Dijkema; Part III. Ecological Restoration, Economics and Sustainability: 15. Ecological engineering and sustainable development Peter J. Edwards, and Cyrus Abivardi; 16. Ecological restoration - the magnitude of the challenge: an outsider€s view Michael Clark; Part IV. Conclusions: 17. Restoration ecology: science, technology and society Peter J. Edwards, Nigel R. Webb, Krystyna M. Urbanska and Reinhard Bornkamm; Taxonomic index; Subject index.