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Review article2019Peer reviewed

Restoration dilemmas between future ecosystem and current species values: The concept and a practical approach in Estonian mires

Remm, Liina; Lohmus, Asko; Leibak, Eerik; Kohv, Marko; Salm, Juri-Ott; Lohmus, Piret; Rosenvald, Raul; Runnel, Kadri; Vellak, Kai; Rannap, Riinu

Abstract

Ecosystem restoration is gaining political and economic support worldwide, but its exact targets and costs often remain unclear. A key issue, both for predicting restoration success and assessing the costs, is the uncertainty of post-restoration development of the ecosystem. A specific combination of uncertainties emerges when ecosystem restoration would negatively affect pre-restoration species conservation values. Such dilemma appears to be common, but largely ignored in restoration planning; for example, in historically degraded forests, wetlands and grasslands that provide novel habitats for some threatened species. We present a framework of linked options for resolving the dilemma, and exemplify its application in extensive mire restoration in Estonia. The broad options include: redistributing the risks by timing; relocating restoration sites; modifying restoration techniques; and managing for future habitats of the species involved. In Estonia, we assessed these options based on spatially explicit mapping of expected future states of the ecosystem, their uncertainty, and the distribution of species at risk. Such planning documentation, combined with follow-up monitoring and experimentation, can be used for adaptive management, by funding organizations and for academic research.

Keywords

Ecological restoration; Precautionary principle; Protected areas; Risk assessment; Uncertainty; Threatened species

Published in

Journal of Environmental Management
2019, Volume: 250, article number: UNSP 109439
Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

      SLU Authors

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Ecology
    Environmental Sciences

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109439

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/102941