But interestingly, in his masterpiece work, The Diversity of Life, 1992, he said this: “Here is the means to end the great extinction spasm: The next century will be the era of restoration in ecology.” That was twenty-seven years ago and still, more than ever, the prediction is profoundly correct. In the face of the ever-increasing global destruction of species and ecosystems, it has become obvious that protection efforts alone are not enough to mitigate the damage. Something more must be done to save our planet’s diversity of life. And native ecosystem restoration will serve as a critical tool for rescuing Earth’s vanishing biodiversity. Often ecosystem restoration starts and ends with the restoration of the native plant community, and that’s especially true of restorations on a smaller scale. So it’s largely a botanical pursuit. But by virtue of the existence of a healthy restored native plant community there follows an increase in numbers of animal species, such as birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders, and others. Hence the ecosystem with its native biodiversity is, at least in large part, successfully restored. Restoration ecology follows two important rules of thumb:
These two rules of thumb have particular importance to endemic species (a species that exists in a particular area and nowhere else on Earth) and species in peril. Fragmentation of ecosystems does cause loss of biodiversity. These two concepts are important in conservation decision making, for example, the establishment of corridors to connect a fragmented ecosystem. ...to be continued...stay tuned....
2 Comments
Jack Land
11/14/2019 10:20:01 am
You have knocked it out
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Johnny Armstrong
12/4/2019 09:17:23 am
Jack - just saw your lovely comment this moment. Thank you so much!
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Johnny Armstrong, Author
#Biodiversity advocate. Ecosystem Restorationist. Steward of an old-growth forest and woodland in northern Louisiana. #ForestFolkMatter #ScienceMatters Rescuing Biodiversity (publishing in June 2023) tells the story of Johnny's attempts at Wafer Creek Ranch to preserve a vanishing Louisiana ecosystem and restore the animal and plant species that once lived there.
“An avowed student of life and restoration ecology, Johnny Armstrong expertly teaches us how to restore an imperiled southern ecosystem based on deep research, firsthand experience, and delighted observation of the species that return to his beloved Wafer Creek Ranch. Driving his devotion is the alarming truth that loss of biodiversity poses a threat on par with climate change and his impassioned belief that society can alter that trajectory, one acre at a time.”
Cindy Brown, Executive Director Land Trust for Louisiana “Up there on your bookshelf between Tolkien and Watership Down is where this book belongs. As an anthropomorphic adventure that winds through the realm of animals possessing courage, savagery, perseverance, and ultimately wisdom in the face of mounting evil threats – humans disconnected from the natural world – the tale is relevant, if not necessary.”
Kelby Ouchley, Author Bayou Diversity: Nature & People in the Louisiana Bayou Country Find an Indie Bookstore
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