Environmental Rehabilitation

This unit Environmental Rehabilitation explores the principles, practices and perspectives that underpin traditional and contemporary restoration ecology. A variety of tools that assist in the rehabilitation of modified and degraded terrestrial environments and communities will be investigated. Topics include environmental policy, standards in restoration ecology, rewilding, novel ecosystems and the ecological parameters and processes for traditional and contemporary restoration of diverse environments. Rehabilitation projects based on approaches using ecological theory will be formulated using contemporary case studies. Practical activities will include hands-on experience in the use of frameworks to assess native reference ecosystems and develop, conduct and evaluate site specific ecological restoration programs.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Formulate and elucidate traditional (historical) and contemporary ecological principles to environmental rehabilitation practices with creativity and responsibility, contributing to local and global communities;
2. Create a restoration plan for the reintroduction of appropriate species to restore ecological habitats;
3. Articulate in oral and written form to professionals and peers on approaches to restoration based on complex ecological principles;
4. Critique traditional and contemporary methods for restoring ecological communities, species and habitats, exercising professional judgement; and
5. Evaluate, argue and implement the principles of restoration and reconciliation ecology to contemporary, environmental issues and propose creative and sound solutions.