Landscape Restoration

In the past two decades, landscape restoration has increasingly become a field of research and applied science addressing the multifaceted nature of environmental problems, and it has developed an integrated theoretical framework. Whereas maintenance denotes some regular and relatively slight work directed at conserving a humanized environment, restoration consists of a set of actions designed to improve a degraded or simplified environment. Etymologically, “to restore” derives from the Latin word restaurare and from the Old French word restorer, which means “to repair,” “to rebuild,” or “to renew.” For environmental purposes, this term implies the memory or knowledge of previous conditions, the negative evaluation of recent alterations and the present context, and the will and means to reestablish an ancient equilibrium.

Many restoration models and practices have ...