Empirical and Theoretical Ecology as a Basis for Restoration: An Ecological Success Story

Within this chapter, some samples of the contributions of ecological science to the process of disturbed system restoration are discussed. At nearly every stage of the development of restoration science, ecological studies have made significant contributions to developing more effective restoration procedures. Increasingly, ecosystem science and its intellectual approaches are being adopted by restorationists. Whole-system perspectives are now commonly included in restoration plans, modelling as a knowledge-organizing activity appears in many projects, especially those of large areal extent, and attention to such ecosystem processes as cycles of chemicals and not merely the list of component species is evolving.