Restoring Ecosystems

Human activities, such as deforestation and overharvesting of resources, can destabilise ecosystems
Conservation efforts at the ecosystem level aim to improve ecosystem stability by restoring natural ecosystem processes
- This type of ecosystem restoration project is sometimes known as rewilding
Restoration strategies may involve
- Species reintroductions
  - Reintroduction of apex predators will control populations of herbivores and allow the restoration of habitat vegetation; this can increase the diversity of plant species, which will in turn boost overall biodiversity
  - Reintroduction of keystone species can alter the structure of an ecosystem
- Improving habitat connectivity
  - The establishment of wildlife corridors, e.g. by planting hedgerows throughout farmland, can connect small pockets of habitat
  - When habitats are connected organisms can roam over larger areas; this gives access to more resources and allows populations to increase in size
- Limiting human influence
  - This may involve preventing the harvesting of resources by, e.g. logging, fishing, or agriculture
  - Ecological management techniques, e.g. controlled grazing or burning, may be used to restore a habitat

Hinewai Reserve was once farmland, but is now privately owned, with the aim of restoring the natural ecosystem of the area
Some initial human intervention was involved, with the removal of non-native species, but the area is now managed with minimal human intervention to allow native communities to be restored by succession
Human activities are limited in the area, though the public can enjoy walking in the Reserve

CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hinewai Reserve in New Zealand is considered to be a an example of successful rewilding

Restoring Ecosystems (SL IB Biology)