Ecological restoration in the light of ecological history.
Ecological history plays many roles in ecological restoration, most notably as a tool to identify and characterize appropriate targets for restoration efforts. However, ecological history also reveals deep human imprints on many ecological systems and indicates that secular climate change has kept many targets moving at centennial to millennial time scales. Past and ongoing environmental changes ensure that many historical restoration targets will be unsustainable in the coming decades. Ecological restoration efforts should aim to conserve and restore historical ecosystems where viable, while simultaneously preparing to design or steer emerging novel ecosystems to ensure maintenance of ecological goods and services.
Jackson
Stephen T
ST
Department of Botany and Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA. Jackson@uwyo.edu
Hobbs
Richard J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D055907:Climatic Processes; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors