Overview

Abstract

Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed (SER 2004). From an ecological perspective, it is an intentional activity that reinitiates ecological processes that were interrupted when an ecosystem was impaired. From a conservation perspective, it recovers biodiversity in the face of an unprecedented, human–mediated extinction crisis. From a socioeconomic perspective, ecological restoration recovers ecosystem services from which people benefit. From a cultural perspective, ecological restoration is a way that we strengthen our communities, institutions, and interpersonal relationships by participation in a common pursuit. From a personal perspective, ecological restoration allows us to reconnect with the rest of Nature and restore ourselves as we restore impaired ecosystems. All of these perspectives on ecological restoration distill down to a simple truth: Nature sustains us; therefore, we serve our own interests when we reciprocate and sustain Nature.