Summer School Restoration Ecology 2009

Basic data for this project

Description

In summer 2009, a 5-day summer school programme on "Species introduction and management of biodiversity in restoration projects" was held at the University of Münster under the auspices of the Society of Ecological Restoration Europe (SER Europe). This course was primarily intended for PhD students who work in restoration ecology and related fields.The programme included lectures of specialists to provide theoretical background, field work and excursions to train practical research skills and learn about restoration projects on-site, as well as short presentations of research projects by the participants. Thus, the course providee students with a general overview on restoration ecology as well as detailed information on projects, techniques and skills. It also gave a frame for intensive exchange between participants and lecturers. Traditionally, abiotic factors such as raised nutrient levels and changes in hydrology were thought to be the major constraints to the restoration of endangered communities and ecosystems. The experience of the past decade taught us that factors such as habitat fragmentation, seed bank depletion, dispersal-, seed- and microsite limitation are of similar or even higher importance. Besides these natural constraints the wise and sustainable management of semi-natural habitats is often a major challenge after successful restoration.The course will provide contributions to all these aspects including abiotic site conditions, seed bank persistence and dispersal, recruitment, population genetics, techniques for the re-establishment of target species and communities and the implementation of suitable management schemes to maintain habitats and preserve biodiversity.