When looking at the data provided, the trends of native-species increase in the restored area and the abundance of exotic species seen in the degraded areas provides an idea of how effective the restoration efforts where at restoring them to the reference site. To begin, the data provided in table 5 gives an idea of the distribution of the number of species found at each site, and how much of a contrast is shown between the restored and degraded areas and how they compare to the reference site. If the success of this project was to be measured by the amount of native species restored to the area, and the reduction of exotic species, then the restored site would likely considered a success. However, to fully justify the efforts used to restore
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(Restoration in General)
The question of whether areas can truly be restored to their original state, and if it is worthwhile in the long term does not have a definite answer, but depends on the site in question. For example, the degraded site, which contains a majority of exotic species and a dwindling population of exotic species between 2003 and 2016. Based on this trend, it is likely that the remaining native species will likely be outcompeted by the exotic species in the long term, as they cannot compete with the growth and dispersal rate of the exotic species. This is a reason why ecological restoration and intervention is needed in sites degraded by human impacts such as farming. Studies such as conservation initiatives in Europe found that there was often contrasting impacts from degraded sites such as abandoned farmland, but the one impact that often reoccurs in degraded areas is biodiversity loss (Cibele Queiroz, 2014). It could be argued that if these degraded sites where a cause of human impacts, we should be responsible for restoring it to the state we found it in. In some cases, this is the proper course of action, because in order to facilitate the restoration of an areas native plant population, habitats may need human intervention in …show more content…
The removal of a small community of bull rushes may in turn impact the quality of a wetland causing it to lose its water content and flood a nearby plain and so on, showing how a series of small disturbances can lead to a large upset. Restoration can help to reduce the amount of current and future disruptions caused by ecosystem degradation and help to adapt these environments to the changes caused by human activities. However, restoration efforts require the effective functioning of ecological, social, political, and economic systems in order to be successfully implemented (JM Teal, 2005). While the reasons for why we should restore ecosystems are numerous, there are a few major ethical and ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬environmental motivations that inclines us to promote ecological restoration (AF Clewell, 2006). Ethically, some people may feel that environmental degradation is mainly a human caused disturbance or that humans should focus on protecting these areas as they gain a spiritual engagement with nature and they wish to preserve it. Environmentally, restoration helps with natural resource management, serves to keep the planet intact by maintaining ecosystems, and promotes species richness and biodiversity (Sacha
(Restoration in General)
The question of whether areas can truly be restored to their original state, and if it is worthwhile in the long term does not have a definite answer, but depends on the site in question. For example, the degraded site, which contains a majority of exotic species and a dwindling population of exotic species between 2003 and 2016. Based on this trend, it is likely that the remaining native species will likely be outcompeted by the exotic species in the long term, as they cannot compete with the growth and dispersal rate of the exotic species. This is a reason why ecological restoration and intervention is needed in sites degraded by human impacts such as farming. Studies such as conservation initiatives in Europe found that there was often contrasting impacts from degraded sites such as abandoned farmland, but the one impact that often reoccurs in degraded areas is biodiversity loss (Cibele Queiroz, 2014). It could be argued that if these degraded sites where a cause of human impacts, we should be responsible for restoring it to the state we found it in. In some cases, this is the proper course of action, because in order to facilitate the restoration of an areas native plant population, habitats may need human intervention in …show more content…
The removal of a small community of bull rushes may in turn impact the quality of a wetland causing it to lose its water content and flood a nearby plain and so on, showing how a series of small disturbances can lead to a large upset. Restoration can help to reduce the amount of current and future disruptions caused by ecosystem degradation and help to adapt these environments to the changes caused by human activities. However, restoration efforts require the effective functioning of ecological, social, political, and economic systems in order to be successfully implemented (JM Teal, 2005). While the reasons for why we should restore ecosystems are numerous, there are a few major ethical and ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬environmental motivations that inclines us to promote ecological restoration (AF Clewell, 2006). Ethically, some people may feel that environmental degradation is mainly a human caused disturbance or that humans should focus on protecting these areas as they gain a spiritual engagement with nature and they wish to preserve it. Environmentally, restoration helps with natural resource management, serves to keep the planet intact by maintaining ecosystems, and promotes species richness and biodiversity (Sacha