In this interdisciplinary specialist book, which bridges the gap between the natural and social sciences, both the scientific principles of renaturation ecology and practical aspects of ecosystem renaturation are comprehensively presented. The diversity of land use types with a focus on Central Europe is highlighted and case studies of practical renaturation projects are presented. The textbook offers both students who deal with the environment, scientists and practitioners a profound and up-to-date, but also critical overview of the state of knowledge. This book opens up the broad spectrum of degraded ecosystems of Central European natural and cultural landscapes. In further chapters, marine ecosystems and their renaturation as well as development potentials as well as the limits of renaturation are discussed in more detail. The ecological fundamentals are expanded through an interdisciplinary perspective taking into account environmental ethics, sociology, anthropology and economics. In addition to an up-to-date overview of the various areas and fields of activity in renaturation ecology and ecosystem renaturation, the textbook provides a valuable basis for studies, science and practice. The students also receive assistance in searching for literature and critical fact analysis, and the lecturers on teaching forms and interdisciplinary approaches to discussion in renaturation ecology. The ecological fundamentals are expanded through an interdisciplinary perspective taking into account environmental ethics, sociology, anthropology and economics. In addition to an up-to-date overview of the various areas and fields of activity in renaturation ecology and ecosystem renaturation, the textbook provides a valuable basis for studies, science and practice. The students also receive assistance in searching for literature and critical fact analysis, and the lecturers on teaching forms and interdisciplinary approaches to discussion in renaturation ecology. The ecological fundamentals are expanded through an interdisciplinary perspective taking into account environmental ethics, sociology, anthropology and economics. In addition to an up-to-date overview of the various areas and fields of activity in renaturation ecology and ecosystem renaturation, the textbook provides a valuable basis for studies, science and practice. The students also receive assistance in searching for literature and critical fact analysis, and the lecturers on teaching forms and interdisciplinary approaches to discussion in renaturation ecology. In addition to an up-to-date overview of the various areas and fields of activity in renaturation ecology and ecosystem renaturation, the textbook provides a valuable basis for studies, science and practice. The students also receive assistance in searching for literature and critical fact analysis, and the lecturers on teaching forms and interdisciplinary approaches to discussion in renaturation ecology. In addition to an up-to-date overview of the various areas and fields of activity in renaturation ecology and ecosystem renaturation, the textbook provides a valuable basis for studies, science and practice. The students also receive assistance in searching for literature and critical fact analysis, and the lecturers on teaching forms and interdisciplinary approaches to discussion in renaturation ecology.
This book is a translation of the original German 1st edition Renaturierung von Ökosystemen im Spannungsfeld von Mensch und Umwelt by Stefan Zerbe, , published by Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature in 2019. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation. Springer Nature works continuously to further the development of tools for the production of books and on the related technologies to support the authors.
Author(s): Stefan Zerbe
Publisher: Springer Spektrum
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 726
City: Berlin
Preface
Contents
About the Author
I: Fundamentals
1: Introduction to Restoration Ecology
1.1 Ecosystem Restoration and Restoration Ecology From a Historical Perspective
1.2 Ecological Terms and Key Concepts as a Basis for Ecosystem Restoration
1.2.1 Species and Populations
1.2.2 Ecosystems and Landscapes
1.3 Ecosystem Services
1.4 Degradation of Ecosystems
1.5 What Does Ecosystem Restoration Mean? A Definition
1.6 Scales of Restoration
1.7 Ecosystem Restoration in Relation to the Practice of Other Disciplines
2: Which Ecosystem Should Be Restored? Reference Systems for Restoration
2.1 Pristine or Historical Reference
2.2 Reference Ecosystems of the Present-Day Cultural Landscape
2.3 Potential or Hypothetical Reference State
3: Measures in the Practice of Ecosystem Restoration
3.1 Doing Nothing (Passive Restoration)
3.2 Stopping or Pushing Back Natural Succession
3.3 Removal or Reduction of Nutrients from Soil and Water
3.3.1 Terrestrial Sites, Wetlands, and Peatland
3.3.2 Lakes
3.4 Removal of Pollutants by Bioremediation
3.5 Restoration of the Water Balance, Rewetting, and Hydro-morphological Interventions
3.6 Erosion Control and Re-vegetation
3.7 Introduction and Re-introduction of Diaspores and Target Species
3.8 Inoculation with Mycorrhiza Fungi
3.9 Repression of Undesirable Species by Pesticides
3.10 Liming of Acidified Ecosystems
3.11 Fertilisation
3.12 Conclusion
4: Re-introduction of Plant and Animal Species
4.1 Re-introduction of Plant Species
4.2 Re-introduction of Animal Species
4.3 Case Study: Re-introduction of the Brown Bear in Trentino, Northern Italy (EU Project LIFE Ursus)
5: Dealing with Non-native Species in Ecosystem Restoration
5.1 Are Non-native Species Problematic?
5.2 Non-native Species in Ecosystem Restoration
5.3 Recommendations for Dealing with Non-native Species in Ecosystem Restoration
5.4 With Rationality and Objectivity for the Alien
6: Monitoring and Success Control
6.1 Ecological Monitoring: Basics and Recommendations for Practice
6.2 When Is a Restoration Project Successful?
6.3 Ecological and Nature Conservation Parameters for Monitoring and Success Control
6.4 Case Studies and Best Practice
II: Restoration of Specific Ecosystems and Land-Use Types in Central Europe and the Alps
7: Forests
7.1 Forest History in Central Europe Under Human Impact: From Natural Forests to Intensive Timber Production
7.2 Vegetation and Ecology of Central European Forests
7.3 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Provided by Forests
7.4 Degradation of Forests and the Need for Restoration
7.5 National and International Frameworks and Restoration Goals
7.6 The Concept of Differentiated Forest Management
7.7 Assessment of Forest Naturalness
7.8 Use of Natural Processes for the Restoration of Forests and Forest Sites
7.8.1 Regeneration of Anthropogenically Degraded Topsoil and Atmogenic Nitrogen Input
7.8.2 Natural Regeneration of Target Tree Species in Coniferous Monocultures
7.8.3 On the Importance of Short-Lived Tree Species for Forest Restoration
7.9 Restoration of Wetland Forests
7.10 Restoration of Forest Landscapes
7.11 Preservation and Revitalisation of Traditional Forest Uses
7.12 Case Study: New Forest and New Forest Landscapes After Open-Cast Lignite Mining in the Rhineland—Recultivation in the Südrevier
8: Peatland
8.1 From Natural to Degraded Peatlands: The History of Peatland Use in Central Europe
8.2 Ecology and Typology of Peatlands
8.3 Ecosystem Services of Peatland
8.4 Assessing the Degradation of Peatland
8.5 Regional, National, and International Peatland Protection Initiatives
8.6 Initiating Peatland Restoration and Restoration Objectives
8.7 Restoration Measures
8.7.1 Rewetting
8.7.2 Shallow Peat Removal (Flachabtorfung)
8.7.3 Introduction of Target Species and Nurse Plants
8.7.4 Dynamics of Phosphorus and Nutrient Removal
8.8 Protection Through Peatland Use: Integrative Peatland Restoration
8.8.1 Reed as Multipurpose Plant Species on Peatlands
8.8.2 Forestry on Fens
8.9 Monitoring and Success Control
8.10 Case Study: The Dosenmoor in Schleswig-Holstein
9: Subalpine and Alpine Grassland
9.1 The Alps as a Living and Economic Space
9.2 Ecological Site Conditions of the High Mountains
9.3 Alpine Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the European Alps
9.4 Challenges of the Restoration of High-Altitude Mountain Sites
9.5 Restoration Objectives for the High Altitudes of the Alps
9.6 Restoration Measures in the Subalpine and Alpine Mountain Sites
9.6.1 Suppressing Forest and Shrub Succession
9.6.2 Re-vegetation of Ski Slopes and Degraded Pastureland
9.6.3 Nutrient Removal on Eutrophicated Sites
9.6.4 Re-introduction of Animal and Plant Species
9.7 Avoiding Interventions in the High Altitudes of the Alps
9.8 Case Study: The Restoration of an Alpine Cultural Landscape Through Pasture Management in Styria
10: Rivers and Floodplains
10.1 Ecology of Rivers and Their Floodplains
10.2 History of Use and Degradation of Rivers and Floodplains
10.3 Ecosystem Services of Rivers and Floodplains
10.4 Ecological Status Assessment of Rivers
10.5 International Initiatives for the Restoration of Rivers
10.6 Measures for River Restoration
10.6.1 Interventions in the River Morphology
10.6.2 Improvement of Physical and Chemical Water Conditions
10.6.3 Re-introduction of Target Species
10.6.4 Removal of Undesired Plant Species
10.7 Success Control
10.8 Case Study: Elbe Floodplain Near Lenzen—Natural Dynamics in a Cultural Landscape Shaped by the River
11: Natural and Anthropogenic Lakes
11.1 Diversity of Lakes in Central Europe
11.2 Ecology of Lakes
11.2.1 Stratification, Zonation, and Sedimentation
11.2.2 Flora and Vegetation of Lakes and Lakeshores
11.3 Anthropogenic Impacts on Lakes
11.3.1 Eutrophication and Pollution
11.3.2 Temperature Increase in Lakes
11.3.3 Obstruction of Lakeshores
11.3.4 Non-native Species in Lakes
11.4 Ecological Status Assessment of Lakes
11.5 Ecosystem Services of Lakes
11.5.1 Habitat for Species and Biocenoses
11.5.2 Fishery
11.5.3 Self-Purification of Water
11.5.4 Carbon Storage in Lakes
11.5.5 Quality of Life and Human Health
11.5.6 Lakes as Archives for Landscape History and Environmental Change
11.6 Restoration Measures in Lakes and on Their Shores
11.6.1 Restoration of the Lakeshore
11.6.2 Interventions in the Lake Sediment
11.6.3 Interventions in the Water Body
11.6.4 Biomanipulation as an Intervention in the Food Web of Lakes
11.6.5 Biological Lake Management with the Zebra Mussel
11.6.6 Harvesting of Submerged and Floating Macrophytes for Nutrient Removal
11.7 Concluding Assessment of Lake Restoration Measures
11.8 Case Study: Lake Tegel in Berlin as an Urban Water Ecosystem
12: Coastal and Inland Salt Grassland
12.1 Coastal Salt Grassland
12.1.1 Ecology and Vegetation of Saline Coastal Habitats
12.1.2 Ecosystem Services of Coastal Salt Grassland
12.1.3 Land-Use History and Environmental Changes of Coastal Salt Grassland
12.1.4 Environmental Policy Framework for the Protection and Restoration of Coastal Habitats in Central and Western Europe
12.1.5 Measures for the Restoration of Salt Grassland
Deconstruction and Opening of Dikes and Its Ecosystem Effects
Grazing as an Anthropo-Zoogenic Restoration Strategy for Salt Grassland
Introduction of Target Species
12.1.6 Case Study: Restoration of Salt Grassland in the National Park Wadden Sea on the North Sea Island of Langeoog
12.2 Inland Saline Habitats
12.2.1 Occurrence, Ecology, and Nature Conservation of Natural Inland Saline Sites in Central Europe
12.2.2 Secondary Inland Saline Habitats
12.2.3 Land-Use History, Degradation, and Threats to Inland Saline Habitats
12.2.4 Restoration Measures on Inland Saline Habitats
12.2.5 Case Study: Inland Saline Habitat Altensalzwedel in Saxony-Anhalt—Initial Success of a Restoration Project
13: Marine Habitats in the North Sea and Baltic Sea
13.1 Marine Ecosystems of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
13.1.1 North Sea
13.1.2 Baltic Sea
13.2 Anthropogenic Evironmental Impacts on the Marine Ecosystems of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
13.3 Ecosystem Services and Threatened Marine Habitats
13.4 International Marine Protection Initiatives
13.5 An Overarching Concept for the Restoration of Marine Ecosystem Services
13.6 Measures for the Restoration of Marine Habitats
13.6.1 Interventions in the Biotic Ecosystem Compartments
13.6.2 Interventions in the Abiotic Conditions
14: Lowland and Mountain Heaths
14.1 Vegetation Formation Heath and Its Distribution in Europe
14.2 Origin and Land-Use History of Heathland
14.3 Ecology and Dynamics of Heathland
14.3.1 Climate, Soil, Vegetation, and Fauna
14.3.2 Development Phases of Calluna Heaths
14.4 Reasons for the Restoration of Heathland
14.5 Restoration Measures
14.5.1 Restoration and Management of Dry Sandy Lowland Heaths
14.5.2 Restoration of Wet Lowland Heaths
14.5.3 Restoration of Coastal Heaths
14.6 Particular Challenges for the Restoration and Management of Heaths
14.7 Case Study: Land Use and Nature Conservation Between Past, Present, and Future—Restoration of Mountain Heaths in the Hochsauerland
15: Mesophilic, Wet, and Calcareous Grassland
15.1 Land-Use History of Grassland in Central Europe
15.2 A Short Glimpse into the Ecology of Grassland
15.3 Degradation of Grassland
15.4 Ecosystem Services of Extensively Used, Species-Rich Grassland
15.5 Initiatives and Environmental Programmes for the Restoration of Species-Rich Grassland
15.6 Measures to Restore Grassland Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
15.6.1 Restoration of Grassland After Other Intermediate Land Uses
15.6.2 Grassland Restoration by Mowing, Grazing, and Shrub Removal
15.6.3 Topsoil Removal and Inversion
15.6.4 Lowering the Nutrient Level After Eutrophication (Aushagerung)
15.6.5 Rewetting for the Restoration of Wet Grassland
15.6.6 Re-introduction of Target Species and Diaspore Transfer
15.6.7 Inoculation with Mycorrhizal Fungi
15.7 Case Study: Grassland Restoration in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve—An Initiative for Cultural Landscape and Regional Rural Development
16: Coastal and Inland Sandy Dry Grassland
16.1 Occurrence and Historical Development of Sandy Sites in Central Europe
16.1.1 Coastal Dunes
16.1.2 Inland Sand Ecosystems
16.2 Ecology and Dynamics of Sandy Dry Grassland
16.3 Protection of Species, Habitats, and the Cultural Landscape and Reasons for Grassland Restoration
16.4 Restoration Strategies and Measures for Open Sand Habitats
16.4.1 Grazing
16.4.2 Topsoil Removal and Inversion
16.4.3 Application of Low-Nutrient Deep Sand
16.4.4 Long-Term Nutrient Removal (Aushagerung)
16.4.5 Manual and Mechanical Diaspore Transfer of Target Species
16.4.6 Allowing for Natural Dynamics
16.5 Case Study: The Former Military Training Area Döberitz—Megaherbivores and Sheep Replace Military Tanks
17: Species-Rich Arable Land
17.1 History: From a Sea of Flowers to a High-Performance Field
17.2 Flora, Fauna, and Vegetation of Arable Land
17.3 Nature Conservation and Restoration Strategies: Species-Rich Protective Fields and Marginal Strips
17.4 Case Study: Extensification for the Restoration of Species-Rich Arable Land in North-Eastern Germany
18: Traditional Agroforestry Systems
18.1 Traditional Orchards (Streuobstwiesen)
18.1.1 Land-Use History and Current Status
18.1.2 Ecosystem Services and Nature Conservation
18.1.3 Conservation and Restoration Initiatives
18.1.4 Case Study: Europe Promotes Bird Conservation in Orchards in Baden-Württemberg
18.2 Larch Meadows and Pastures in the Alps
18.2.1 Occurrence and Land Use
18.2.2 Ecosystem Services: Biodiversity and Carbon Storage
18.2.3 Maintaining an Element of the Traditional Cultural Landscape
18.3 Tree Meadows in Scandinavia and the Baltic Region
19: Urban Ecosystems
19.1 Ecological Characteristics of Urban Ecosystems
19.2 Urban Environment and Human Health
19.3 Motivation and National and International Initiatives for the Restoration of Urban Nature
19.4 Restoration Measures in Urban Environments
19.5 New Approaches to Urban Greening and the Restoration of Urban Nature
19.6 International Perspective on Sustainable Urban Development
19.7 Case Study: Wilderness in the City Centre—The Schöneberger Südgelände in Berlin
20: Mining Sites and Landfills
20.1 Ecological Characteristics of Mining Sites and Post-Mining Areas
20.1.1 Area Size
20.1.2 Geomorphology
20.1.3 Geology and Soils
20.1.4 Water Balance and Water Quality
20.1.5 Flora, Fauna, and Vegetation
20.2 Planning and Legal Framework for the Restoration of Mining Sites
20.3 Passive and Active Ecosystem Restoration on Mining Sites
20.4 Restoration of Mining Heaps
20.5 Restoration of Landfills
20.6 Case Study: Chalk Quarries on the Island of Rügen—Anthropogenic Diversity of Species and Habitats
III: Ecosystem Restoration Serving Nature and Humans: Aspects from the Social Sciences and Humanities
21: Reasons and Motivations for Ecosystem Restoration
21.1 Environmental Facts and Figures
21.2 Degradation and Ecosystem Services: Costs and Benefits
21.3 Legal Obligations and International Conventions and Agreements
21.3.1 National Requirements
21.3.2 International Conventions and Agreements
21.4 Justification and Motivation Derived From Environmental Ethics, Religion, and Emotions
22: Actors and Stakeholders and Their Role in Ecosystem Restoration: Conflict Resolution and Acceptance Through Participation
22.1 Actor and Stakeholder Analysis
22.2 Actors and Stakeholders in Nature Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration
22.3 Lack of Acceptance as a Limiting Factor of Ecosystem Restoration
22.3.1 Re-introduction of Large Carnivores
22.3.2 Rejection of Natural Processes
22.3.3 Promoting Acceptance Through Information
22.4 Science and Practice Pull Together: Transdisciplinary Approaches
23: Restoration Economy: Costs and Benefits
23.1 Methods for the Assessment of Costs and Benefits of Ecosystem Restoration
23.1.1 Market Price and Cost-Based Methods
23.1.2 Methods for the Economic Valuation of Non-market Goods
23.1.3 Habitat and Resource Equivalency Analysis
23.1.4 Benefit Transfer
23.2 Opportunity Costs
23.3 Comprehensive Cost-Benefit Analysis: From Degradation to Restoration
23.4 What Factors Influence Restoration Costs?
23.5 Funding Sources for Ecosystem Restoration
23.6 Costs and Benefits of Ecosystem Restoration with Examples from Europe
23.6.1 Grassland Restoration: Introduction of Target Species
23.6.2 Heathland Restoration and Management in North-West Germany
23.6.3 Grazing for the Restoration and Management of Open-Land Habitats
23.6.4 Ecosystem Restoration for Climate Protection
23.6.5 Wild and Honey Bees as Pollinators in Agriculture
23.7 First Calculate Costs and Benefits, Then Act
24: Norms and Values in Ecosystem Restoration
24.1 Environmental Ethics and Implications for Ecosystem Restoration
24.1.1 Faking Nature? Criticism on Ecosystem Restoration From Environmental Ethics
24.2 Ecosystem Restoration as an Implementation of Strong Sustainability
24.3 Traditional Ecological Knowledge
24.4 Environmental Anthropology
24.5 Ecosystem Restoration as Active Responsibility for Creation
24.6 Restoration Measures Put to the Ethical Test Bench
24.6.1 Application of Pesticides in Ecosystem Restoration
24.6.2 Controlled Burning to Restore and Preserve Open Land
24.6.3 Topsoil Removal
24.7 Non-native Organisms and Xenophobia
IV: Synthesis
25: Conclusions and Outlook
25.1 Limiting Factors for Ecosystem Restoration
25.2 Degradation in the Long Term and Restoration in the Short Term?
25.3 Restoration of Eutrophicated Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitats: A Sisyphean Task?
25.4 Limits to Planability, Uncertainties, and the Unforeseen: Allowing for More Dynamics
25.5 Ecosystem Restoration in the Light of Current Trends
25.6 Ecosystem Restoration at Any Price?
25.7 Scientific Knowledge, Knowledge Transfer, and Socio-Political Decisions
25.8 Final Conclusion
Appendix: List of Species
List of Animal Species Mentioned in the Book
List of Plant Species Mentioned in the Book
List of Fungi, Lichens, Bacteria, Viruses, and Other Species Mentioned in the Book
References
