Ecological Restoration in Practice

To which offered: (I/ III/ V) IV semester

Course Title: Ecological Restoration in Practice

Credits: 2 Credits

Course Code (new): SHE2ED310

Type of Course: Elective Yes Cohort MAED

Course Coordinator and Team: Dr Suresh Babu

Email of course coordinator: suresh@aud.ac.in

Pre-requisites: None

Aim: This course would be a continuation of Basic Principles of Restoration Ecology (SHE2ED305) to more advanced topics. The course would deal with the implementation of restoration programmes and try to develop an understanding and appreciation of the broad scope of societal and ecological issues associated with ecological restoration. The issues covered would include the role of economics and society in restoration decision making; and restoration planning and implementation strategies. The hands-approach would be central to this course as it would involve several case studies and field visits, with each student developing a restoration project through curriculum.

Learning objectives:

The emphasis of this course would be on challenges in implementing restoration programmes, with a hands-on approach. Field visits and Case Studies would be central to this course with an emphasis on individual attention and encouragement to develop site-specific restoration plans.

• Understand Restoration planning with extensive case studies
• Understand economic and social issues associated with ecological restoration
• Evaluate ethics and reasons for restoring ecosystems

Brief description of modules/ Main modules:

• Restoration education and community involvement
• Economics of restoring ecosystems and sustainability
• Ethics and ecological restoration
• Case Studies on Restoration Experiences

Indicative Reading List:

• Botkin, D. B. (1990). Discordant harmonies. A new ecology for the twenty-first century. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
• Clewell, A. F., & Aronson, J. (2007). Ecological Restoration: Principles, Values, and Structure of an Emerging Profession. Island Press, Washington, DC.
• Doyle, M., &Drew, C. A. (Eds). (2008). Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration. Island Press, Washington, DC.
• Davis, M. A., &Slobodkin, L. B. (2004). The science and values of restoration ecology. Restoration Ecology, 12, 1-3.
• Palmer, M. A., & Filoso, S. (2009). Restoration of ecosystem services for environmental markets. Science, 325, 575-576.
• Wallington, T. J., Hobbs,R. J. &Moore, S. A. (2005). Implications of current ecological thinking for biodiversity conservation: A review of the salient issues. Ecology and Society, 10, 15. http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol10/iss1/art15/
• Winterhalder, K., Clewell,A. F. & Aronson, J. (2004). Values and science in ecological restoration—A response to Davis and Slobodkin. Restoration Ecology, 12, 4-7.
• Young, T. P., Petersen,D. A. & Clary, J. J. (2005). The ecology of restoration: Historical links, emerging issues and unexplored realms. Ecology Letters, 8, 662-673.

Assessment with details of weightage:

There would be three assessments. First would be an Essay Submission based on the first 3 modules. Second would be a Short Quiz and End Semester Report based on a case study. The credit distribution of the assessments would be:

• Essay: 30%
• Short Quiz: 30%
• Case Study Report: 40%