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  3. Ecological Restoration

Ecological Restoration (FRST90034)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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August
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Ecological Restoration examines the principles and practices needed to restore terrestrial ecosystems in a range of modified landscapes from settled to agricultural to forested. The subject’s focus is ecological, although consideration is also given to socio-economic factors that influence restoration programs. Lectures and field trips explore ecological principles and projects from site to landscape scales, encompassing biodiversity values and ecosystem services. The subject is delivered via a compressed-semester model including a one-week intensive in the mid-semester break, which will aim to include an overnight two-day field trip to north-eastern Victoria.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Recognise the drivers and consequences of environmental degradation, and the associated need for ecological restoration;
  • Describe the principles that underpin sound ecological restoration with a focus on ecology but also with a strong awareness of the social and economic aspects of ecological restoration;
  • Apply inter-disciplinary skills and knowledge to develop sound and realistic goals for ecological restoration at site to landscape scales;
  • Demonstrate practical skills and strategies for ecological restoration including harnessing natural processes and planning for climate change;
  • Assess the uncertainties of ecological restoration and develop strategies for addressing those uncertainties;
  • Explain what constitutes successful ecological restoration and the associated ecological, social and economic benefits.

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Apply independent critical thought, rational inquiry, and self-directed learning and research;
  • Synthesise environmental knowledge and propose solutions in applied situations;
  • Communicate complex environmental knowledge and research effectively to a range of audiences;
  • Work effectively in cross-disciplinary teams;
  • Plan work, use time effectively, and manage small projects;
  • Apply technical skills for professional practice and research in field of specialisation.

Last updated: 14 August 2024