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BIO402 River Restoration and Protection (8)

Abstract

This subject focuses on the theoretical and practical frameworks that underpin the restoration of riverine environments following disturbance. As such it is assumed students undertaking this subject already have a good knowledge of river geomorphology and ecology. The ecology of restoration covers the following specialised areas of knowledge: principles of restoration ecology; decision analysis in deciding recovery goals; restoration constraints; methodologies and techniques, monitoring, and criteria for determining the degree of recovery and relevance assessment. During the residential school students visit a range of field sites where restoration works have been undertaken.  Students completing this subject have the knowledge and skills needed to make sound judgments regarding the recovery goals for a river and have an ability to critically assess existing or planned restoration efforts.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Session 2
Distance*Albury-Wodonga Campus
*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BIO402
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
One sessionHD/FLSchool of Environmental Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • have a broad understanding of the key ecological principles on which successful restoration projects must be based
  • have a broad and coherent understanding of the current state of riverine ecosystems in Australia and understand the causes and nature of degradation processes in riparian systems and floodplains
  • be able to use specialised skills to develop monitoring criteria and systems for determining rate and degree of recovery
  • be able to make sound independent judgments regarding the prioritisation of river restoration works in Australia
  • be able to reflect critically on case histories
  • be able to critically assess restoration works in the light of technical, social and legal constraints and problems of cost and timing
  • be able to review, consolidate, and synthesize knowledge in order to make sound independent judgments for deciding recovery goals, in the light of restoration constraints and available restoration methodologies and techniques

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:
Restoration ecology theory;
  1. River degradation issues;
  2. Current state of riverine ecosystems in Australia;
  3. Institutional arrangements and community engagement in restoration projects;
  4. Evaluation of tools for prioritisation of restoration projects including the 12-step process for rehabilitating Australian streams;
  5. In-channel and riparian intervention tools;
  6. Monitoring and evaluation of restoration projects.

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 3 day residential school. During the residential school students visit a range of field sites where restoration works have been undertaken and developing an ability to make sound independent judgmentsabout  recovery goals, in the light of restoration constraints and available restoration methodologies and techniques.

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The information contained in the 2016 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 06 September 2016. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.