An ecological perspective of riparian and stream restoration in the western United States
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Authors: J. B. Kauffman, R. L. Beschta, N. Otting, and D. Lytjen
Date: 1997
Journal: Fisheries
Volume: 22
Number: 5
Pages: 12-24
Summary of Methods: This article is a scientific opinion reviewing restoration definitions on a selection of case studies on riparian restoration.
Article Summary / Main Points: Ecological restoration is the return of a degraded ecosystem to pre-disturbance conditions and is either passive or active. Passive restoration allows the system to recover naturally, typically by removing disturbances such as livestock grazing. Active restoration is assisting an ecosystem towards recovery and may include re-vegetation, addition of large debris in stream channels, and stream channel alterations. Passive restoration of riparian areas should take precedence over active restoration because many riparian systems are resilient to anthropogenic disturbances and will often re-vegetate naturally. It is important to understand the ecosystem in question and match the degradation with proper restoration methods.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Reclamation
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Scientific Opinion
Keywords: watershed restoration, stream restoration, reclamation, ecological restoration
Annotation: Passive restoration is often overlooked and is an economical and effective way to restore many types of riparian areas. Removing or reducing livestock or other anthropogenic disturbances from a riparian area will almost always allow that ecosystem to recover. The ideas discussed in this paper are applicable to many regions, not only western forests and shrublands.
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