Ecological Restoration

What is Ecological Restoration? The Society for Ecological Restoration defines ecological restoration as “the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.” Ecological restoration requires extensive knowledge of the biotic and abiotic environments that sustain biological communities and ecosystem processes. It also requires an understanding of the societal framework of values, ethics, and policy that influence the causes of degradation, the feasibility of its prevention, and the implementation of restoration efforts when degradation occurs.

The Wildland Restoration major provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to work in the area of ecological restoration. Ecological restoration is the fastest growing area of focus and employment in natural resource management. Students completing a major in Wildlands Restoration at The University of Montana will be qualified to work in a number of fields concentrating on restoration or ecologically-based management of forest, grassland, riverine, and riparian ecosystems in both the private and public sector. The curriculum is also designed to prepare students for entry into graduate school for those who wish to pursue a higher education.

The University of Montana is ideally situated to offer an undergraduate major in wildlands restoration. Montana possesses a great diversity of forest, grassland, and aquatic ecosystems. These ecosystems include some of the most pristine in the world as well as many that have been degraded or altered by biological invasions and/or years of natural resource extraction and fire exclusion. These ecosystems provide exceptional outdoor laboratories for experiential learning to prepare students to work in the field of restoration ecology locally, nationally, and abroad. Furthermore, faculty teaching courses supporting this major are active researchers in the area of ecological restoration.