Ecological Restoration and Rehabilitation Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the key difference between physiochemical and vegetative degradation?

Vegetative degradation has a more severe impact on the soil and hydrological cycle compared to physiochemical degradation.

Physiochemical degradation and vegetative degradation have similar impacts on the soil and hydrological cycle.

Physiochemical degradation is a natural process, while vegetative degradation is caused by human activities.

Physiochemical degradation has a more severe impact on the soil and hydrological cycle compared to vegetative degradation. (correct)

Which of the following is an example of a 'catastrophic impact' that can degrade a forest?

A landslide or volcanic eruption (correct)

Selective logging

Grazing by livestock

Conversion to industrial oil palm plantations

What is the 'restoration pathway' referred to in the passage?

The stages involved in converting a forest to an industrial oil palm plantation.

The process of restoring a degraded ecosystem to its original, undisturbed state. (correct)

The different levels of degradation that an ecosystem can experience.

The various types of disturbances that can degrade an ecosystem.

Which of the following is an example of a 'severe impact' that can move an ecosystem 'all the way down' the 'restoration pathway'?

Conversion to industrial oil palm plantations Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the 'stairway' analogy used in the passage?

To illustrate the different levels of degradation an ecosystem can experience. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the 'reclamation side of restoration' mentioned in the passage?

Rehabilitating the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between restoration and rehabilitation?

Restoration aims to restore everything back to its original state, while rehabilitation focuses on rehabilitating core ecological processes. Signup and view all the answers

Which term is used for the most severely degraded lands such as those impacted by mining?

Reclamation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor governing the level of rehabilitation needed for a particular area?

Social circumstance Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the degradation of certain elements of the original vegetation structure or composition?

Degradation Signup and view all the answers

Which restoration approach is considered nearly impossible and economically expensive?

Rain Forest Restoration Signup and view all the answers

In what context might reclamation typically occur?

In severely degraded lands from activities like mining Signup and view all the answers

What type of degradation is generally associated with chronic issues and relates to rehabilitation strategies that tweak the system?

Low severity degradation Signup and view all the answers

In medium severity degradation, what kind of strategies are often associated with land conversion?

Strategies that only tweak the system slightly Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of high severity degradation systems that require remediation of the soil for restoration?

They have intact productivity despite changes in vegetation Signup and view all the answers

Which restoration strategy is mostly associated with facilitating planting, changing vegetation, and competition between species through weeding?

Rehabilitation without manipulating the soil Signup and view all the answers

What type of rehabilitation strategy involves not changing the hydrology or manipulating the soil but altering composition and facilitating planting?

Low severity rehabilitation strategies Signup and view all the answers

Which level of degradation is often associated with small tweaks in system changes or protection but not significant alterations to hydrology or soil?

Low severity degradation Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Physiochemical vs Vegetative Degradation

Physiochemical degradation focuses on changes to the soil and water, impacting physical and chemical properties.
Vegetative degradation involves changes in plant life, affecting species composition and abundance.

Catastrophic Impact on Forests

Catastrophic impacts on forests can include large-scale events like wildfires, deforestation, and invasive species.

Restoration Pathway

The restoration pathway refers to the process of returning a degraded ecosystem to its original state.

Severe Impact and Restoration Pathway

Severe impacts, such as clear-cutting or intensive agriculture, can push an ecosystem "all the way down" the restoration pathway, requiring more significant interventions.

Stairway Analogy Purpose

The stairway analogy illustrates different levels of degradation and the corresponding restoration strategies, highlighting the gradual process of ecosystem recovery.

Reclamation Side of Restoration

Reclamation focuses on stabilizing the land, mitigating environmental risks, and preparing it for new uses.

Restoration vs Rehabilitation

Restoration aims to return the ecosystem to its original state.
Rehabilitation aims to improve the ecosystem's function and services, even if it doesn't fully resemble the original state.

Term for Severely Degraded Lands

Reclamation is often used for the most severely degraded lands, such as those impacted by mining.

Factor Determining Rehabilitation Needs

The degree of degradation is the primary factor determining the level of rehabilitation needed.

Vegetation Structure and Composition Degradation

Degradation of certain elements of the original vegetation structure or composition is referred to as "physiognomic degradation."

Nearly Impossible Restoration Approach

Complete restoration, aiming to fully replicate the original ecosystem, is considered nearly impossible and economically expensive.

Reclamation Context

Reclamation typically occurs in highly degraded areas with significant environmental risks, such as mine sites.

Chronic Degradation and Rehabilitation

Chronic degradation is typically associated with long-term issues that require rehabilitation strategies focusing on tweaking the system's function.

Medium Severity Degradation and Land Conversion

In medium severity degradation, land conversion strategies are often used to shift the ecosystem to a more desirable state.

High Severity Degradation and Soil Remediation

High severity degradation often requires remediation of the soil to support plant growth and facilitate ecosystem recovery.

Planting, Vegetation, and Competition

Facilitative restoration focuses on encouraging plant growth, altering vegetation, and managing competition between different species.

Rehabilitation without Hydrology or Soil Manipulation

"Composition-based rehabilitation strategies" involve changing the plant composition and facilitating new growth without altering the soil or hydrology.

Low Severity Degradation and System Tweaks

Low severity degradation often requires small adjustments to protect existing resources and maintain ecosystem function without significant alterations to soil or hydrology.

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Description

Test your knowledge on ecological restoration and rehabilitation strategies, including discussions on the concept of least severity degradation and its relation to tweaking natural systems for restoration purposes.