Restoration Ecology Program

The �� Restoration Ecology Program offers a one-of-a-kind experience for undergraduate women to engage with the growing field of restoration ecology.

Can you dig it?

The era of restoration ecology is here — on campus — working to restore the health of the beloved �� lake system, including its plant and animal life. Undergrads — working in partnership with Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Kate Ballantine — are digging in, designing experiments, answering questions, monitoring progress, and taking the lead in reversing ecosystem degradation and damage. Real-world problems, meet real-world solutions.

About Restoration Ecology

Restoration Ecology vs. Ecological Restoration

Restoration ecology is the scientific study that supports the practice of ecological restoration — assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.

The earth’s ecosystems support the functions upon which humans depend for survival, including functions that provide water, food, and breathable air. Unfortunately, centuries of unsustainable activities have damaged terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems. The field of restoration ecology assumes that solutions exist to improve the health and functioning of ecosystems that have been damaged by human activities. While conservation biology seeks to minimize permanent habitat and species losses, restoration ecology aims to improve health and functions of natural systems and to foster the future of habitats and populations in the face of environmental change.

Restoration is a young field

Billions of dollars are spent every year restoring millions of hectares in the United States and around the world, but the field of restoration ecology is young and only just beginning to investigate essential questions such as:

What ecological principles should guide restoration, how can we assess efficacy, and what can we learn about ecosystems from restoration sites? (the science of restoration)
What techniques can we use to restore ecosystems that meet functional goals within acceptable timeframes? (the practice of restoration)
How do the processes and products of ecosystem restoration affect humans, and how can we include people from all sectors of society to improve the efficacy and success of restoration projects? (the human dimension of restoration)

Guidelines for Restoration Practice

Prioritize process-based restoration
Identify and address limiting factors or stressors in the ecosystem
Increase ecosystem complexity
Focus on restoration trajectories, rather than end-points
Strive for a self-sustaining ecosystem

Program Philosophy

Graphic displaying the cyclical nature of integrataing science, practice and social dimensions in restoration.

Integrating science, practice, and social dimensions in restoration

Our practice decisions are informed by the ecological theories that help us understand ecosystem development and function
We view restoration practice as an acid test for our science and understanding of ecosystems
We believe in using restored sites to inform science and improve future restoration projects
We approach the science and practice of restoration as mutually informing
We study social dimensions of restoration projects around the world, and consider these dimensions central to our work here on campus
We do all of this by involving students and community members in real world projects with tangible impacts

Happening at Mount Holyoke