Basic Ecological Renovation: Problems and Activities

Kim D. Coder
Professor, Silvics/Ecology
Warnell School of Forest Resources
The University of Georgia

August, 1997

In ecological renovation, assessment is a critical first step. Once the assessment has been properly completed, a renovation program can be designed to restart, accelerate, or broaden ecological processes, enrich or maintain biological units, and conserve life-essential resources. Ecoplex renovation will only be effective over long periods of time when managers clearly define and recognize the foundations of basic problems.

Major Problems

For example, in many highly developed areas there are three major ecological problems that are seen continually:
  1. Hard surface increases (i.e. more non-evaporative / non-infiltrating surfaces, more concentrated water flows, higher water velocity flows, larger water volumes, shorter water pulse rates, more erosion, less biologically available water, greater heat generation, and wider fluctuations in heat / humidity);
  2. Decline in total ecologically active volume (i.e. more surface area per volume (more edge effect), more isolated islands, narrower corridors, greater distances across hardscapes, less open soil surfaces, smaller number of energy capture systems, less eco-diversity, and less connectively); and,
  3. Changes in past and current ecosystem functions and processes (i.e. disruption and destruction of ecological processes, large scale intense disturbances, inadequate mitigation and renovation, inadequate resources provided, and essential resources removed or destroyed).

Appropriate Responses

For each ecological problem listed above there are some appropriate renovation responses that will fundamentally change present and future ecoplex functions.
Appropriate responses for #1 (hard surface increases) - developing more actively evaporating surfaces, more canopy volume, more crown coverage, more low density organic
mulching, more soil infiltration areas, more shade structures, and more shading or blanketing of hard surfaces.
Appropriate responses for #2 (decline in total ecologically active volume) - developing more canopy coverage, correcting soil limitations, more biologically active volume, larger areas of soil and organisms conserved, more readily usable organic materials on soils, and help reconnect system components.
Appropriate responses for #3 (changes in past and current ecosystem functions and processes) - improving soil health (aeration, organic matter, no erosion, etc.), careful water
conservation and use, developing more biological volume (open soil surface areas,
plant canopies, more composted organic material covered with low density, organic mulch, etc.), conserve and enrich ecological diversity, and keep essential resources
on-site.

Generic Renovation Activities

Every site needing renovation is different from every other site. The functions and values from each site varies by management objective and by all the resources present and interacting. Using a careful assessment process, many appropriate responses are possible for renovating ecoplex structures and functions. All responses should be targeted at key development indices of an ecoplex which include an energy (trophic) distribution grid, biological diversity, and effective and efficient material cycling. Ecological fuel to power the ecoplex and its renovation comes from sunlight and from decaying organic matter.
Expected long-term outcomes arising from ecoplex renovation activities are: viable native populations; biotic / abiotic interactions approaching normal distribution; facilitation of evolutionary and ecological processes; long periods (multi-generational) of time; and, accommodation of human use and occupancy. Remember this process is about individual quality of life and community sustainability and livability, not about museum preservation of resources.
For any site, a number of simple, low cost treatments can be used to begin the renovation process. These treatments are listed below. Activities range from habitat modification to fencing. The bottom-line is that treatments must be cost-effective for a given management plan, but they must also try to halt or reverse processes leading to ecoplex decline and exhaustion. Renovation is a prescription process where there is not an end-point, only way-stations that allow coarse corrections. In renovation, it truly is not the destination that is important, but the journey utilizing ecological fundamentals.

Further Information

Coder, Kim D. 1997. Ecoplex Form, Structure and Function: Ecological Renovation Targets. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service Forest Resources publication FOR 97-21. pp.2

Coder, Kim D. 1997. Ecological Renovation: Assessment Steps For Development Sites. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service Forest Resources publication FOR 97-22. pp.3

Coder, Kim D. 1997. Ecological Renovation In Communities: Conceptual Underpinnings. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service Forest Resources publication FOR 97-20. pp.3

Coder, Kim D. 1997. Selected Bibliography: Ecological Restoration. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service Forest Resources publication FOR 97-10. pp.8

Partial List of Ecoplex Renovation Activities and Treatments

Habitat Stuff

Tree Stuff

Organics

Soil / Water

Stress Management

Survival

Site Control

Ecologically-literate Management