Rehabilitation
A degraded ecosystem is replaced with a different but productive ecosystem type
Partial restoration
At least some of the ecosystem functions and some of the original, dominant species are restored
-Focuses on dominant species or especially resilient species that are critical to ecosystem function
Complete restoration
The area is completely restored to its original species composition and structure by an active program of site modification and reintroduction of the original species
Remediation
The active removal of pollutants from the environment
Bioremediation
The use of certain species of plants and bacteria that accumulate heavy metals and other toxins to restore soil health
Reintroduction
The release of individuals that were produced in captivity or collected from other natural populations
Reinforcement
Releasing individuals into an existing population to increase its size and gene pool
Translocation
The intentional movement of individuals from one area to another, usually to areas that they have never before occupied
-Sometimes used to denote the movement of individuals from a location where they are about to be destroyed to another, more protected,
Hard release
Animals released in the wild without assistance such as food supplementation
Soft release
Special care and assistance given to reintroduced animals to increase survival prospects
Conditions to ensure success for reintroduction
-Must fix original cause of population decline
-Captive-bred animals need to learn some behaviors from parents
-Precise habitat needs have to be known
-The number of released individuals must be great enough to establish a population
-Genetic diversity mu
Success for reintroduction was greater...
-Success was greater for releases in excellent quality habitat (84%) than in poor quality habitat (38%)
-Success was greater in the core of the historical range (78%) than at the periphery of and outside the historical range (48%)
-Success was greater wit
Captive breeding programs
-Generally used for species that are on the brink of extinction
-Sometimes involves removing all remaining individuals of a species from the wild
-Expensive option that can only be used on a limited number of species
-Moral considerations as well
Rehabilitation
Capturing individuals from the wild, administering some sort of treatment that may include medical intervention, and then releasing the treated individuals back into the wild
-Range from nursing a bird with a broken wing back to health to de-oiling wildli
Ex situ (Zoos, aquariums, etc.) conservation
-As a source of conservation education (and dollars) for urban populations
-For research opportunities, as the rarity of the species makes it difficult or impossible to study the species in the wild
-As a last stronghold for species that are extinct or ne
Banking and cloning of genetic information
Large-scale projects are underway to bank genetic information of vulnerable, endangered, and extinct species
-Seeds, cell cultures, tissue samples, embryos, semen, ova, etc.
Novel ecosystems
Collections of species that have never before occurred together
-As humans increasingly modify environment, the definition of "natural" comes into question
-If viewed from an ecosystem function perspective, then novel ecosystems have value
-Perhaps this a
Management plan
A document that guides the sustainable management of a protected area
-Care must be taken to balance conservation priorities with ecosystem integrity
Important considerations for a management plan
-Protecting biodiversity
-Maintaining ecosystem services and health
-Maintaining historical landscapes
-Providing resources and experiences to local people and visitors
Management plans - Reserves
-Reserves that are unmanaged risk not achieving conservation goals
-Especially true for small reserves, which are subject to greater human influences
-Unmanaged reserves may also be "paper parks"
-Good plans will articulate conservation goals and include