Course Catalogue

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The current biodiversity and climate crises have created an urgent need for ecosystem restoration. In this course, we will explore the theoretical foundations, goals, and approaches to restoration across different ecosystems, and highlight recent research on designing effective projects that maximise biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and resilience. Students will critically examine real-world case studies and restoration strategies, considering ecological and social dimensions. We will also discuss the challenges and opportunities of restoring ecosystems within a rapidly changing world, and hear a range of perspectives from researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

1-2 hrs per week of lectures/seminars

3 x Field days

Students must have achieved a D or better in the Level 2 Environmental Science and Sustainability courses to be admitted to this course.

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Case study report (50%) (ILOs - 1,2,3,4,5) - Students will prepare a written case study report (~2000 words) examining a real-world ecological restoration project. 

Poster (40%) & elevator pitch (10%) (ILOs: 1, 2, 4, 5) - Students will design an academic poster summarising current theoretical and empirical research on the restoration of a degraded ecosystem. At a poster presentation, students will deliver a two-minute elevator pitch summarising the key points of their poster.

The overall aim of this course is to develop an understanding of the need for ecological restoration, the scientific and societal goals that guide it, the range of approaches used, and the theoretical and practical challenges involved in restoring ecosystems. The specific aims are to:

1. Examine the different foundational theories, goals, and approaches for restoration of a range of habitat types.

2. Explore scientific evidence that informs the design of restoration projects aimed at maximising biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the resilience of native habitats.

3. Analyse the importance of long-term management and monitoring in achieving restoration goals and targets.

4. Consider the social dimension of ecological restoration, including the roles of communities, stakeholders, and policy in shaping restoration outcomes.

5. Evaluate the challenges and opportunities of restoring ecosystems within a rapidly changing world, including those presented by climate and land-use change.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Explain key principles of restoration ecology, including the foundational theories that underpin it, the diversity of restoration goals and targets, and the advantages and limitations of different approaches across a range of habitat types.

2. Critically assess evidence used to design restoration projects, in order to maximise biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the resilience of native habitats.

3. Evaluate the role of long-term management and monitoring in achieving restoration goals and targets, including the ability to assess monitoring strategies and interpret evidence of restoration success or failure.

4. Discuss the social dimension of ecological restoration and apply this knowledge to reflect on challenges of implementation across different socio-ecological contexts, including the roles of stakeholders and policymakers in shaping restoration outcomes.

5. Evaluate the challenges and opportunities related to ecosystem restoration in the context of changing climate and land-use, and critically assess how these pressures influence restoration feasibility, design, and outcomes.