Ecological Restoration is a process of intentionally repairing and rehabilitating the intrinsic functions and self-meaning of damaged ecosystems, with the goal of restoring their ecological functionality and biodiversity. It has become increasingly important in recent years due to the growing awareness of the impacts of human activity on the environment, including the effects of climate change, and the urgent need to mitigate and adapt to these changes. In various countries and regions of the planet, ffforts are being made to address the problem of climate change by restoring biodiverse and native forests in large scale, as forests are one of the most effective ways to regulate our relationship with the atmosphere in a healthier way. To meet the demand for education and training in Ecological Restoration, a comprehensive course called “Ecological Restoration in Climate Scale” has been designed for individuals who want to deepen their understanding of the subject and become leaders in the field.
The 120-hour course covers a wide range of topics, including the principles of ecological restoration, ecosystem structure and function, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation. Students will also learn about plant and animal interactions, soil health, water management, and community involvement in restoration projects. The course emphasizes a holistic approach to learning, incorporating integral visions of human beings in harmony with the environment and exploring the psychology of learning and the art of teaching.
Participants in the course will have opportunities for hands-on fieldwork and curriculum development, understanding key factors of pricing in ecological restoration and how to set them, as well as commerce in short circuits and fair trade, culminating in the presentation of their own course designs.
The topics and subtopics of the course include the following:
- Introduction, Course Overview, and On-Site Orientation
- Principles of Ecological Restoration
- Learning Patterns from Traditional Cultures
- Energy Flow
- Patterns 1 – Presentation
- Patterns 2 – Finding Patterns
- Basic Ecology
- The Inseparable Cycles of Homeostasis, Resilience, Autopoiesis, and Self-Organization
- Entropy, Negentropy, and Dissipative Structures
- Water in the Landscape
- Soil and the Pathways Through Time
- Plants and Fungi
- Plants, Soils, and Water 1
- Stratification
- Succession
- Soil Formation
- Reading the Site and Landscape
- Making Soil – Practice
- Design Patterns
- Design Methods
- Design Tools
- Tools and Management in Rural Life
- Design Exercises in Movement (Zones 0 and 1)
- Design Exercises Ahead (Zones 2 and 3)
- Design Exercises Forward (Zones 4 & 5)
- Energy Resources and Conservation
- Culture and Society in Deep Ecology
- Economics and Justice in a Possible World
- Marketing of Ecological Restoration Products and Services
- Tools for Consumers, Farmers, and Intermediaries
- Participative Methodologies and Tools
- Community Involvement Tools
- Climate and Biomes
- Microclimatology
- Microclimates and Ecosystems
- Plants, Soils, Water 2
- Forests and Ways of Life
- Design Exercises Inward
- Water Systems – Cycle and Recycle
- Community Involvement and Learning of Ways of Life
- Succession and Structure of Living Systems
- Landscape Reading
- Climate, Forest, Soil, Landscape, Rainmaking
- Climate Design
- Building and Living in Homes – Zone 0
- Gardens, Edible Landscapes, and Accessible Food – Zone 1
- Holistic, Integrated Farming and Prospective – Zone 2
- Neighborhood and Beloved Dwellers – Zone 3
- Life in the Countryside – Zone 4
- Live and Let Live – Zone 5
- Practical Work: Designing a Farm and Beyond
- Practical Work: Understanding Design 1 and 2
- Practical Work: Building a Basic Course Curriculum
- Practical Work: Building a Hands-On Course Curriculum
- Educational Methodologies and Approaches 1 and 2
- Integral Visions of Human Beings in Harmonic Convergence