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Global warming may warrant new approaches to ecosystem restoration

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16.06.2006

Ecosystems behave in unpredictable ways and, because of this, restoration ecologists are often faced with unforeseen challenges.

Researchers, in a recent article published in Restoration Ecology, argue that restoration methods of the past may not always be applicable in the future They see the largest potential challenge ahead is restoring environments undergoing the most rapid rate of change in the earth's history. This global climate change is likely to have important regional consequences for biota and ecosystems.

Ecological restoration, including reafforestation and rehabilitation of degraded land, may be a common response to the effects of climate change, but the implications of this changing environment must be considered. Using past ecosystem conditions as targets and references may be ineffective under new conditions. In addition, there may be less support in the future for longer-term, traditional restoration projects. The authors suggest that, "more consideration and debate needs to be directed at the implications of climate change for restoration practice."

Jill Yablonski | Source: EurekAlert!
Further information: www.blackwellpublishing.com

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