| 1. |
- Hagen, Dagmar, et al.
(författare)
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Ecological and social dimensions of ecosystem restoration in the nordic countries
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ecology and Society. - 1708-3087. ; 18:4, s. 34-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An international overview of the extent and type of ecological restoration can offer new perspectives for understanding, planning, and implementation. The Nordic countries, with a great range of natural conditions but historically similar social and political structures, provide an opportunity to compare restoration approaches and efforts across borders. The aim of this study was to explore variation in ecological restoration using the Nordic countries as an example. We used recent national assessments and expert evaluations of ecological restoration. Restoration efforts differed among countries: forest and peatland restoration was most common in Finland, freshwater restoration was most common in Sweden, restoration of natural heathlands and grasslands was most common in Iceland, restoration of natural and semi-cultural heathlands was most common in Norway, and restoration of cultural ecosystems, mainly abandoned agricultural land, was most common in Denmark. Ecological restoration currently does not occur on the Faroe Islands. Economic incentives influence ecological restoration and depend on laws and policies in each country. Our analyses suggest that habitat types determine the methods of ecological restoration, whereas socio-economic drivers are more important for the decisions concerning the timing and location of restoration. To improve the understanding, planning, and implementation of ecological restoration, we advocate increased cooperation and knowledge sharing across disciplines and among countries, both in the Nordic countries and internationally. An obvious advantage of such cooperation is that a wider range of experiences from different habitats and different socio-economic conditions becomes available and thus provides a more solid basis for developing practical solutions for restoration methods and policies.
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| 2. |
- Nilsson, Christer, et al.
(författare)
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Ecological and social aspects of ecological restoration : new challenges and opportunities for northern regions
- 2013
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Ingår i: Ecology and Society. - 1708-3087. ; 18:4, s. 35-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interest in ecological restoration has recently intensified as scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders use restoration in management strategies to address and mitigate global climate change and biodiversity loss. Northern ecosystems offer special challenges to restoration managers because of their short growing seasons and long recovery periods. This special feature of Ecology and Society on ecological restoration in northern regions draws together 11 papers based on presentations from the conference "Restoring the North", convened in October 2011 in Selfoss, Iceland. We summarize two themes of this conference: ( 1) setting objectives and evaluating success in restoration, and ( 2) legislation, policy, and implementation of restoration. We conclude that northern countries altogether comprise a significant knowledge base and suggest five actions to enhance restoration practices within them: ( 1) improved documentation of restoration actions, including objectives, measures and results, ( 2) regular evaluation of restoration progress and outcome, ( 3) coordination of conservation actions among northern countries, including location of restoration actions to sites where they are most useful in a global context, ( 4) formation of a common platform to strengthen development of research about ecological, political, social, and technical aspects of ecological restoration, and ( 5) education of new generations of restoration actors who can work in diverse biogeographic settings and cultures.
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| 3. |
- Nilsson, Christer, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluating the process of ecological restoration
- 2016
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Ingår i: Ecology and Society. - 1708-3087. ; 21:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We developed a conceptual framework for evaluating the process of ecological restoration and applied it to 10 examples of restoration projects in the northern hemisphere. We identified three major phases, planning, implementation, and monitoring, in the restoration process. We found that evaluation occurred both within and between the three phases, that it included both formal and informal components, and that it often had an impact on the performance of the projects. Most evaluations were short-term and only some parts of them were properly documented. Poor or short-term evaluation of the restoration process creates a risk that inefficient methods will continue to be used, which reduces the efficiency and effectiveness of restoration. To improve the restoration process and to transfer the knowledge to future projects, we argue for more formal, sustained evaluation procedures, involving all relevant stakeholders, and increased and improved documentation and dissemination of the results.
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