Keynote Presentations of the SER2010 Conference
-abstracts and full presentations-
Restoring natural capital – a priority for global society: getting scientists,
economists and politicians to work together
Dr. James Aronson
Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, (CEFE/CNRS-UPR 5175) Montpellier, France and Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. james.aronson@cefe.cnrs.fr
no full presentation available
ABSTRACT
Increasing human population growth and resource consumption place ever-greater stresses and demands on all ecosystems to deliver goods and services from them. Thus, we must alter consumption patterns and increase our ability and our will to restore impaired ecosystems and enhance their ability to maintain biodiversity and provide goods and services. This will require new paradigms about our relationship with Nature, and long-term investments in restoring natural capital (RNC). Like conservation, restoration should be seen as an investment rather than a cost. And, both of them pay well, when total economic value is considered, and when human wellbeing and true wealth are given greater priority than GDP or other measures of non-economic growth. Examples from the Mediterranean region, the European Community, and elsewhere, will be used to show that economists, engineers, applied ecologists and everyone concerned with ecosystem services and the environment need to – and can – work together and seek the way forward towards a sustainable and desirable future. By making explicit the mutually-reinforcing linkages between environmental and economic well-being, the multiple benefits achieved through RNC can play a crucial role in bridging ideological or professional divides and can open a promising road toward policies of sustainability.
Eco-biogeographical features and threats within the Mediterranean
Basin biodiversity hotspot
Pr. Dr. Frédéric Médail
Mediterranean Institute of Ecology and Palaeoecology (IMEP, UMR CNRS-IRD 6116), Aix-Marseille University (University Paul Cézanne), Europôle méditerranéen de l’Arbois, BP 80, F 13545 Aix-en-Provence cedex 04. France. f.medail@univ-cezanne.fr
Full presentation after the link (20,91 MB)
ABSTRACT
The biotic originality of Mediterranean ecosystems can be explained by complex interaction between a highly heterogeneous historical biogeography and unique ecological processes. If the Mediterranean Basin is among the 34 hotspots of species diversity in the world, this ecoregion constitutes also an hotspot of human population density and growth, which inevitably raises serious conservation problems. What characterises Mediterranean landscapes and habitats much more than in any other region in the world is their long-lasting common history with humans. Most of the ups and downs in Mediterranean biodiversity are therefore closely linked with human population pressures, which have changed many times through the long common history of ecological systems and human societies. At present, the Mediterranean ecoregion is faced to rapid and previously unknown global environmental changes, with important repercussions in structure and function. Since one century, habitat destruction and fragmentation are increasing, notably along the coasts inducing severe population depletion and profound changes in the dynamics of biological interactions. The 10 regional hotspots of plant biodiversity are indeed seriously threatened by the severity of the current and forecasted environmental changes. Due to the quickness of these impacts, it is necessary to launch a conservation biogeography framework at the Mediterranean Basin scale. Biogeography can furnish the requisite tools to identify crucial conservation areas in today’s context of global change. This is the case of the about fifty “glacial” refugia that have provided suitable habitats for plants during unfavourable climatic periods. Refugia preservation may be critical for an optimal evolutive conservation, because they encompass the bulk of genetic diversity and endemism of Mediterranean plants. Thus, a better understanding of ecological processes of the past, including the less often studied local persistance of species, should improve management decisions related to conservation and restoration ecology.
Restoring forest wilderness areas in Europe: over passing oxymorons
to face well-founded stakes
Dr. Daniel Vallauri(1), Erika Stanciu(2)
(1) WWF, 6 rue des Fabres, 13001 Marseille, dvallauri@wwf.fr
(2) WWF Danube Carpathian program office and Europark federation, Str. Lunga 39, RO-500035 Brasov, Romania, erikas@zappmobile.ro
Full presentation after the link (8,63 MB)
ABSTRACT
In a motion voted in Febuary 2009, the European Parliament calls the Commission to develop actions on wilderness areas, including the goal of “where necessary restoration of Europe’s last wilderness areas (…)”. A conference hosted during the Czech presidency of the Council of EU (Prague, May 2009) followed and aimed to “(i) raise the profile of wilderness and wild areas in Europe; (ii) recommend an agenda for protection and restoration of such areas (…)”. On a scientific and practical point of view, the problem of aiming to restore wilderness in Europe has been criticised by some as an oxymoron, for two main reasons (i) the common culture in the Old World, especially western and mediterranean countries of Europe, emphasises the millenary-long history of nature transformation. The questions of a European definition of wilderness (ecologically and culturally relevant, aims for such policy and also how much wilderness is left today), require some development and clarifications in order to avoid mis-understandings and (ii) considering main bioengineering and restoration approaches implemented in some part of Europe, in terms of goals chosen (rehabilitation or reallocation > restoration ; cultural landscapes > spontaneaous dynamics) and methods implemented (active > passive), the compatibility between restoration science and wilderness could question restorationists. In the paper, based on forest ecosystems, we will first synthesise and discuss 1) the available data on forest wilderness areas in Europe ; 2) the multiple concepts behind wilderness (gradient of naturalness, of human footprint, of wildness ; maturity, ancientness, spontaneous dynamics, connectivity, functional integrity…) ; 3) develop links with ecological restoration concepts (reference ecosystem, irreversibility threshold, target ecosystem, restoration trajectory, landscape approach) ; 4) present some european or global field examples to discuss the variety of stakes, goals and approaches for forest lansdcape restoration. WWF believe those developments could help to find a way out from these apparent oxymorons and help developing the scientific basis of a EU policy on wilderness areas.
Making Science happen. Linking research and practice to restore
degraded drylands
Dr. Jordi Cortina Segarra
Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Alicante. Apartado de correos 99. 03080 Alicante, España.jordi@ua.es
Full presentation after the link (14,58MB)
ABSTRACT
Drylands cover 41% of the Earth’s land surface and sustain 38% of the global population. Their extent will probably increase in the next future following climatic change and increased human pressure, specially in developing countries. The surface area of drylands affected by desertification is estimated at 10-20% of this land, making this one of the worst environmental problems worldwide, often closely related to poverty. Numerous actions to prevent and combat desertification have been launched in recent decades. Among them, ecological restoration actions show great potential to recover landscape ability to provide goods and services, and contribute to human welfare. Recent advances in our understanding of dryland ecology have improved traditional restoration techniques and fostered the development of new technology. But scientific progress and restoration programs often run in different directions. While the former deepens our knowledge on the composition and dynamics of dryland ecosystems, the later are frequently anchored on old paradigms and driven by unsupported approaches. This is the result of failures on both sides. A compromise between researchers, practitioners and policy makers is urgently needed to fill this gap and develop integrated participative and adaptive management programs built on sound scientific grounds. Various tools may help to bridge the gap between science and practice and improve the efficiency and the social impact of ecological restoration. These include (1) new socio-ecological approaches, where cost-effectiveness of ecological restoration is evaluated considering both biophysical and social impacts; (2) networks of pilot and demonstration projects, where technologies are tested at a management scale and the most successful implemented in representative well documented projects can be used as examples, (3) stakeholder platforms to develop collaborative management, (4) accessible data bases and ICT tools, to reciprocally exchange knowledge, and (5) the design and implementation of new funding schemes that will make these efforts sustained and worth. We will illustrate this framework by introducing PRACTICE, an EC action to try addressing these issues for a large range of desertification syndromes worldwide.
Perspectives in restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem services
in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes
Pr. Dr. José Mª Rey Benayas
Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Alcalá, E-28871 – Alcalá de Henares (España), josem.rey@uah.es
Full presentation after the link (11,44 MB)
ABSTRACT
Ecological restoration is widely used to reverse the environmental degradation caused by human activities. A meta-analysis of 89 restoration assessments in a wide range of ecosystem types across the globe indicates that ecological restoration increased provision of biodiversity and ecosystem services by 44% and 25%, respectively. However, values of both remained lower in restored than in intact reference ecosystems. At this global scale, increases in biodiversity and ecosystem service measures following restoration were positively correlated. Cultivation and cropping are major causes of degradation and destruction of natural ecosystems throughout the world, and farmland currently extends on more than 40% of the land’s surface. ‘Passive restoration’, whereby abandoned agricultural land undergoes secondary succession, is often slow owing to biotic and abiotic limitations. ‘Active restoration’ by planting trees can be very expensive if large areas are to be restored. We suggest “woodland islets” as an alternative approach to designing ecological restoration in extensive agricultural landscapes, particularly in low productivity environments. This approach allows conciliate farmland production, conservation of values linked to cultural landscapes, enhancement of biodiversity and provision of a range of ecosystem services. If “further research is needed”, “action is desperately needed”. Thus, we are implementing demonstrative restoration projects of this conciliation in Mediterranean areas. Restoration actions are accompanied by a variety of social and educational values including citizen science.
Restoration of degraded Mediterranean rangelands
Pr. Dr. Vasilios P. Papanastasis
School of Forestry and Natural Environment. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. vpapan@for.auth.gr
Full presentation after the link (6,74 MB)
ABSTRACT
Rangelands amount to 52% of the Mediterranean basin countries thus making the largest land use type of the region. They are characterized by a large variety of plant communities and a high biodiversity. At the same time, they are considered as the most degraded natural resources as a result of misuse by human activities, particularly livestock husbandry. Their degradation is mainly attributed to overgrazing which leads to elimination of plant cover and soil erosion. For restoration of degraded rangelands total banning of livestock grazing is generally proposed so that they are converted to woodlands though natural succession or reforestation is practised so that animals are excluded from their use. Research findings over the last few decades however suggest that Mediterranean ecosystems and rangelands in particular have been evolved with the presence of livestock and grazing exclusion may result in more serious degradation than overgrazing. As a matter of fact, undergrazing and land abandonment may also result in rangeland degradation due to fuel accumulation and the subsequent devastated wildfires. Restoration of degraded grazing lands can be achieved by adjusting the grazing management rather than by totally excluding livestock, in case that only the biotic function of rangelands has been damaged. However, if the abiotic function has been also affected then additional measures besides adjusted grazing management is needed. In any case, grazing management should be an essential part of the restoration plan. The various options of restoration of degraded rangelands are analyzed and discussed and case studies from several parts of the Mediterranean region are provided.
Biogeochemical constraints and restoration perspectives after
degradation by atmospheric nitrogen deposition
Dr. Roland Bobbink
B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, P.O. Box 6558, 6503 GB Nijmegen, The Netherlands, r.bobbink@b-ware.eu
Full presentation after the link (6,62 MB)
ABSTRACT
Atmospheric nitrogen deposition, from both oxidised (NOy) and reduced (NHx) compounds, is nowadays one of the main threats for biodiversity in European (semi-) natural ecosystems of high conservational value. Long-term nitrogen input from the atmosphere may cause eutrophication, soil acidification and/or ammonium toxicity. The severity of these impact depends on the biogeochemistry of the particular ecosystem, but is especially severe under oligo- to mesotrophic, weakly buffered soil conditions. Long-term field trials have been set up in deteriorated dry grassland and heathland sites since the early 1990s to counteract the severe impacts of N pollutants. The first aim was to restore former soil conditions, as we feel that rehabilitation of ecosystems should start with recreating appropriate abiotic conditions. Removal of the vegetation and top soil (‘sod cutting’), liming or a combination of measures were used depending on the actual biogeochemical constraint after the degradation. The effectiveness was evaluated by following the soil chemistry and plant composition during a 10-12 years period. In this presentation an overview of the experimental restoration measures and the main factors of success or failure are presented. Several (combination of) measures proved to be successful in restoring appropriate soil conditions and a low productive sward. A full recovery of plant diversity was, however, seriously limited when the characteristic species had already disappeared, especially in dry conditions or when it was impossible to increase the soil buffer capacity after acidification. Additional measures to counteract the dispersal limitation of many endangered species may be needed.
A global approach to ecological restoration in protected areas
Karen Keenleyside
Ecological Integrity Branch, Parks Canada, 25, rue Eddy, 4ième étage (25-4-S) Gatineau (Québec) K1A 0M5, Canada, Karen.Keenleyside@pc.gc.ca
Full presentation after the link (8,04 MB)
ABSTRACT
The establishment and effective management of well-connected networks of protected areas are seen as a major part of the solution to global conservation challenges such as biodiversity loss, land use conversion, over-exploitation of resources, and climate change. However protected areas rarely contain complete unaltered ecosystem, particularly in densely populated regions. Despite growing international attention to the values and practice of ecological restoration and its scientific and policy context, the global protected area community lacks clear, consistent decision-making guidance for ecological restoration. In recognition of this gap, the IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas is developing best practice guidance for ecological restoration in protected areas. This guidance will be based on the Canadian approach, which builds upon the foundation work of the Society for Ecological Restoration International and is described in Principles and Guidelines for Ecological Restoration in Protected Natural Areas. IUCN members have agreed that the global guidance should support ecological restoration activities in protected areas that ensure ecological success (i.e., are effective), are practical and affordable (i.e., efficient), enable and encourage meaningful participation, support and commitment of indigenous and local communities, and recognize and embrace interrelationships between people, culture and nature (i.e., are engaging). This presentation highlights challenges and issues being addressed through this work, and invites conference participants to offer suggestions to further its objectives.