Challenges of ecological restoration: lessons from forests in northern Europe
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Challenges of ecological restoration : lessons from forests in northern Europe. / Halme, Panu; Allen, Katherine A.; Aunins, Ainars; Bradshaw, Richard H.W.; Brumelis, Guntis; Cada, Vojtech; Clear, Jennifer L.; Eriksson, Anna-Maria; Hannon, Gina; Hyvärinen, Esko; Ikaunice, Sandra; Irsenaite, Reda; Jonsson, Bengt Gunnar; Junninen, Kaisa; Kareksela, Santtu; Komonen, Atte; Kotiaho, Janne S.; Kouki, Jari; Kuuluvainen, Timo; Mazziotta, Adriano; Mönkkönen, Mikko; Nyholm, Kristiina; Oldén, Anna; Shorohova, Ekaterina; Strange, Niels; Toivanen, Tero; Vanha-Majamaa, Ilkka; Wallenius, Tuomo; Ylisimiö, Anna-Liisa; Zin, Ewa.
In: Biological Conservation, Vol. 167, 2013, p. 248-256.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges of ecological restoration
T2 - lessons from forests in northern Europe
AU - Halme, Panu
AU - Allen, Katherine A.
AU - Aunins, Ainars
AU - Bradshaw, Richard H.W.
AU - Brumelis, Guntis
AU - Cada, Vojtech
AU - Clear, Jennifer L.
AU - Eriksson, Anna-Maria
AU - Hannon, Gina
AU - Hyvärinen, Esko
AU - Ikaunice, Sandra
AU - Irsenaite, Reda
AU - Jonsson, Bengt Gunnar
AU - Junninen, Kaisa
AU - Kareksela, Santtu
AU - Komonen, Atte
AU - Kotiaho, Janne S.
AU - Kouki, Jari
AU - Kuuluvainen, Timo
AU - Mazziotta, Adriano
AU - Mönkkönen, Mikko
AU - Nyholm, Kristiina
AU - Oldén, Anna
AU - Shorohova, Ekaterina
AU - Strange, Niels
AU - Toivanen, Tero
AU - Vanha-Majamaa, Ilkka
AU - Wallenius, Tuomo
AU - Ylisimiö, Anna-Liisa
AU - Zin, Ewa
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - The alarming rate of ecosystem degradation has raised the need for ecological restoration throughout different biomes and continents. North European forests may appear as one of the least vulnerable ecosystems from a global perspective, since forest cover is not rapidly decreasing and many ecosystem services remain at high level. However, extensive areas of northern forests are heavily exploited and have lost a major part of their biodiversity value. There is a strong requirement to restore these areas towards a more natural condition in order to meet the targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Several northerncountries are now taking up this challenge by restoring forest biodiversity with increasing intensity. The ecology and biodiversity of boreal forests are relatively well understood making them a good model for restoration activities in many other forest ecosystems. Here we introduce northern forests as an ecosystem, discuss the historical and recent human impact and provide a brief status report on the ecological restoration projects and research already conducted there. Based on this discussion, we argue that before any restoration actions commence, the ecology of the target ecosystem should be established with the need for restoration carefully assessed and the outcome properly monitored. Finally, we identify the most important challenges that need to be solved in order to carry out efficient restoration with powerful and long-term positive impacts on biodiversity: coping with unpredictability, maintaining connectivity in time and space, assessment of functionality, management of conflicting interests and social restrictions and ensuring adequate funding.
AB - The alarming rate of ecosystem degradation has raised the need for ecological restoration throughout different biomes and continents. North European forests may appear as one of the least vulnerable ecosystems from a global perspective, since forest cover is not rapidly decreasing and many ecosystem services remain at high level. However, extensive areas of northern forests are heavily exploited and have lost a major part of their biodiversity value. There is a strong requirement to restore these areas towards a more natural condition in order to meet the targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Several northerncountries are now taking up this challenge by restoring forest biodiversity with increasing intensity. The ecology and biodiversity of boreal forests are relatively well understood making them a good model for restoration activities in many other forest ecosystems. Here we introduce northern forests as an ecosystem, discuss the historical and recent human impact and provide a brief status report on the ecological restoration projects and research already conducted there. Based on this discussion, we argue that before any restoration actions commence, the ecology of the target ecosystem should be established with the need for restoration carefully assessed and the outcome properly monitored. Finally, we identify the most important challenges that need to be solved in order to carry out efficient restoration with powerful and long-term positive impacts on biodiversity: coping with unpredictability, maintaining connectivity in time and space, assessment of functionality, management of conflicting interests and social restrictions and ensuring adequate funding.
KW - Faculty of Science
U2 - 10.1016/j.biocon.2013.08.029
DO - 10.1016/j.biocon.2013.08.029
M3 - Journal article
VL - 167
SP - 248
EP - 256
JO - Biological Conservation
JF - Biological Conservation
SN - 0006-3207
ER -
ID: 50665570