Humans and animals are part of one community. Restoration ecology can be more successful by taking animal welfare into account when planning recovery projects.
Photo by Benjamin Wong on Unsplash
Restoration ecology is the scientific study that supports ecological
restoration. It provides the science that informs the most effective
approaches to restoring damaged ecosystems. In his book “The Land Ethic”,
conservationist Aldo Leopold expanded the idea of community to include
soils, waters, plants, and animals. A land ethic puts humans back into the
role of member or citizen of the land rather than its master. We are
supporters of the community rather than engineers or conquerors.
Despite how the land ethic values animals, there is still no consensus on
whether or how to support their well-being. Researchers in the restoration
ecology field continue to debate how or whether the well-being of wild
animals should factor into restoration efforts. The authors of this opinion
piece offer three ways to incorporate the perspective of wild animal welfare
into restoration ecology.
Read the entire article at We're All In This Together: Restoration Ecology And Animal Welfare
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